Whenever people talk about self-care, it always seems to involve bubble baths, spa days, face masks, and endless amounts of free time.
And honestly?
As a busy mum, I’ve often wondered where exactly we’re supposed to find the time for all of that.
Between work, family life, the house, the dogs, appointments, and everything else that needs doing, most days feel full before they’ve even started.
For a long time, I thought self-care was something I would do once everything else was finished.
The problem was that everything else was never finished.
There was always another job to do, another load of washing, another email, another responsibility.
So instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, I’ve learned that self-care needs to fit into real life.
Not Instagram life.
Real life.
Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy
These days, some of my favourite forms of self-care are actually really simple.
I love going for bike rides.
There’s something about being outdoors, moving, and getting some fresh air that helps clear the noise in my head.
I love nature walks too.
When life feels overwhelming, being surrounded by trees, birds, and open space reminds me that the world is bigger than my never-ending to-do list.
Sometimes I’ll sit down with my watercolours and paint.
Not because I’m trying to create anything amazing.
Just because it’s relaxing and gives my brain something different to focus on.
Other days, self-care looks like putting on some music I love or watching a film with a bag of chocolate and giving myself permission to switch off for a while.
None of these things cost much.
None of them are particularly glamorous.
But they help me feel more like me
The Self-Care Tool I Couldn’t Live Without
One thing that helps me more than almost anything else is my weighted blanket.
After a long day, especially if I’ve been feeling overwhelmed or my brain has been running at full speed, I’ll sit on the sofa and completely wrap myself up in it.
Arms tucked in and everything.
It probably looks a bit ridiculous from the outside.
But the feeling of being completely cocooned helps me relax in a way that very few other things do.
It’s become one of those little things that signals to my brain that it’s okay to stop now.
The day is done.
I don’t need to keep carrying everything.
And after a particularly busy or overwhelming day, that feeling is priceless.
Why Mums Often Put Themselves Last
I think a lot of mums are guilty of putting themselves at the bottom of the list.
I know I am.
We’re so busy looking after everyone else that we forget we need looking after too.
We make sure everyone else has what they need.
Then we try to squeeze ourselves into whatever time is left.
Usually, there isn’t much.
The irony is that when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on empty, everything feels harder.
We’re less patient.
Less focused.
More emotional.
More stressed.
Looking after ourselves isn’t selfish.
It’s necessary.
Small Moments Matter
One thing I’ve learned is that self-care doesn’t need to take hours.
Sometimes it’s ten minutes.
Sometimes it’s five.
Sometimes it’s simply sitting quietly under a weighted blanket and letting your brain slow down.
Those small moments add up.
They help us recharge.
They help us breathe.
They help us show up as the people we want to be.
If You’re Waiting for More Time
If you’re waiting until life gets less busy before you start looking after yourself, I completely understand.
I’ve done exactly the same thing.
But here’s what I’ve learned.
Life doesn’t suddenly become quiet.
The laundry never stops.
The responsibilities never disappear.
The to-do list always grows.
So don’t wait for a whole day.
Don’t wait for a free weekend.
Start with ten minutes.
Go for a walk.
Listen to your favourite song.
Read a chapter of a book.
Wrap yourself in a blanket.
Eat the chocolate.
Do something that reminds you that you’re a person tooFree ResourceIf you’re trying to create more space for yourself without adding more pressure, download my Self-Care Planner designed for busy mums who need realistic self-care that fits around everyday life.
Final Thoughts
These days, I don’t think of self-care as a luxury.
I think of it as maintenance.
It’s the bike ride that clears my head.
The nature walk that helps me breathe.
The watercolour painting that slows my thoughts down.
The film and chocolate on the sofa.
The weighted blanket wrapped around me after a long day.
None of it is perfect.
None of it is fancy.
But it helps.
And sometimes that’s exactly what we need.
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