The Truth About Self-Care for Working Moms
Let’s get real.
When you’re a working mom, the idea of self-care often feels like a joke.
You barely have time to go to the bathroom alone—when are you supposed to fit in a bubble bath, yoga, and journaling before sunrise?
That’s the problem with most self-care advice.
It’s made for women who don’t have toddlers throwing fruit snacks or teenagers slamming doors while you’re trying to join a Zoom meeting.
You need something doable.
Something fast.
Something that fits into your daily chaos.
That’s what these 9 tiny acts of self-care are all about. They’re realistic, low-effort, and designed to help you feel human again—even if you’re running on fumes.
1. Take a 10-Minute Guilt-Free Hideaway
This one is essential.
Find a quiet corner—your parked car, the bathroom, the laundry room—and take ten minutes just for yourself.
No kids, no partner, no guilt.
Scroll your phone, sip your coffee, stare at the ceiling, meditate, cry, laugh—whatever you need to do.
It’s not selfish. It’s essential. You’re allowed to hit pause.
Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what your nervous system needs.
2. Text Your Hype Woman
Every mom needs at least one friend who reminds her that she’s not crazy, she’s just doing too much. So text that person.
Say something like, “Tell me I’m not a hot mess.” Or, “Can you remind me that I’ve got this?”
Support doesn’t have to be deep or dramatic. Just having someone in your corner—someone who sees how hard you’re trying—can be a form of self-care all by itself.
3. Say No Without Explaining Yourself
Working moms are notorious for overcommitting.
We say yes because we don’t want to let anyone down—until we’re the ones who are totally burnt out.
Here’s your permission slip to say no.
Say no to that committee, that carpool, that extra work task that’s not your job.
You don’t need to explain or apologize. Your energy is limited.
Protect it.
One strong “no” is worth ten half-hearted “yeses.”
4. Add One Beautiful Thing to Your Space
Self-care doesn’t always mean doing something. Sometimes it’s just changing what you’re looking at.
Light a candle. Buy yourself fresh flowers. Change your phone background to a beach or a quote that makes you feel seen.
Even swapping out the clutter on your desk for something cute and calming can lift your entire mood.
It’s not about aesthetics for Instagram—it’s about giving your senses something peaceful to rest on.
5. Eat a Snack You Don’t Have to Share
How often do you eat cold leftovers, sneak bites of your kid’s mac and cheese, or skip meals altogether?
Feeding yourself properly is a basic form of self-care, yet many moms neglect it.
Choose one thing you love—a fancy chocolate bar, a bag of trail mix, a smoothie—and keep it hidden if you must.
Eat it slowly. Sit down. Enjoy every bite.
You’re allowed to nourish yourself.
You’re allowed to enjoy food without being interrupted.
6. Blast Music and Pretend You’re on Tour
There is something powerful about music. It wakes you up. It shifts your energy. It helps you feel like you again.
Create a playlist that makes you feel alive, powerful, happy, or calm. Whatever you need.
Play it while driving, cleaning, cooking, or hiding in the bathroom.
Dance. Sing. Be dramatic.
The world will keep spinning, but you’ll feel better doing it.
7. Treat Yourself Like a Toddler
Are you hydrated? Have you eaten something nutritious today?
When did you last get some fresh air or rested your eyes?
The truth is, many moms would never let their kids live the way they live.
We prioritize everyone else’s needs, then wonder why we’re snapping, exhausted, and running on fumes.
So today, treat yourself like a toddler.
Give yourself snacks. Get cozy. Go outside. Take a break.
You deserve the same kindness and care you give your family.
8. Take a Lap (Even If It’s Just Around the Kitchen)
Movement helps shake off stress, even if it’s something small.
You don’t have to hit the gym or schedule a workout class. Just move.
Walk around the block. Stretch in your living room. Do a few lunges while folding laundry. Turn on a five-minute YouTube yoga video.
Your body holds your stress. When you move, you release some of it. Think of it like hitting the reset button on your day.
9. Celebrate the Tiny Wins
Did you drink water today? Did you respond to that one email you’ve been dreading? Did you survive bedtime without losing your mind?
Celebrate it.
Working moms are pros at dismissing our own progress.
But those little wins are huge when juggling work, kids, relationships, and your sanity.
Make it a habit to acknowledge one small win each day. Even if it’s “I made it through the day without crying in Target.”
That counts. That’s real. And it deserves recognition.
Final Thoughts: Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Pretty
Self-care isn’t always cute.
Sometimes it’s boundaries.
Sometimes it’s saying no.
Sometimes, it’s eating cookies alone in your car in the Target parking lot while your kids are with their dad.
The point is, it has to work for you.
So start small.
Choose one thing from this list today. Then another tomorrow.
The more you practice self-care, the more you remind yourself that you’re not just a mom, worker, or partner.
You’re a whole person and deserve to be cared for too.
