Self-Care Tips for Busy Homeschool Moms

We all have had those days. When we are touched out, tired, overwhelmed, and we think to ourselves, “All I want is 15 minutes to myself! No unnecessary questions, no interruptions, and no one asking anything of me.

You hurry through lunch and towards nap time or you plop the kids in front of a tv show so you can get 15 minutes of quiet time to yourself.

Then comes the million dollar question. The kids will be entertained for the next 15 minutes. I have this time all to myself. What on earth do I do that isn’t watching Netflix or mindlessly scrolling social media?

Enter the list! A list of 30 self-care ideas you can complete in just 15 minutes. These self-care ideas are specifically screen free and are designed to relax, energize, and recharge you for the rest of the day.

Importance of Self-Care

Honestly, I want longer than 15 minutes. I want 5 days in the Caribbean or a five hour lunch with my bestie. But I am a grown-up and if I have learned anything in my almost 40 years of life is that you don’t always get what you want. You work with the hand you have been dealt. I can daydream about a solo vacation to Bora Bora, and I can save and plan for a getaway with my husband, but what I really need to do is show up in my everyday life and do the work.

The amount of time and what you specifically do to practice self-care doesn’t really matter. What matters is you take the time to focus on yourself and your basic needs. What will help you feel more centered? What will help you become more energized and help you with the rest of your day?

First, let’s talk about the various kinds of self-care.

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Types of Self-Care

1. Physical

Physical self-care involves fueling and taking care of your physical being. Don’t worry. I’m not talking about working out. Working out involves putting (good) stress on the body in order to strengthen and condition it. Physical self-care means doing something to make your body feel better without the stress of a full-fledge workout.

Deep cleansing breaths. Bonus for going outside!
Aerobic exercises like jumping jacks, burpees, or squats.
Stretching or Yoga poses
Have a healthy snack.
Enjoy a glass of water.
Freshen up by applying moisturizer or styling your hair.
Power nap
Walk around the block.
Dance party

2. Mental

Mental self-care includes bettering our emotional and spiritual well-being. I think this is what most people believe ALL self-care is, but it’s just one category. Think of mental self-care as what helps you relax. 15 minutes is awesome for mental self-care because they are quick wins. You may thing you need a whole afternoon of pampering to truly relax, but relaxation techniques give you the best bang for your buck. They help you focus on the present moment, giving you a break from your worries.

Meditate
Write in a journal. You can write down your feelings and emotions or start a gratitude journal
Read positive affirmations.
Light a candle and watch it flicker.
Sit down and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Go outside.
Pet your dog.
Listen to your favorite song or ambient sounds
Cry. Because we all know sometimes you just need a good cry.
Snuggle under a cozy blanket.
Lay down on the grass and stare at the clouds

3. Intellectual

Taking care of our physical and mental health is great, but what about those times when we want to DO something. I can sit out in my silent backyard and do nothing for 15 minutes but sometimes I need to engage my brain. It could be some something creative like coloring or something analytical like a crossword puzzle. This could be being creative or solving puzzles or organizing your life. Small household tasks are great for this type of self-care also. You may not feel like doing it at the moment, but future you will thank you for it!

Read
Work on a puzzle like a jigsaw, crossword, word search
Color or doodle
Clean or declutter something.
Clear out your mind by doing a brain dump.
Work on whatever hobby you may have: crafting, knitting, sewing, or scrapbooking

4. Social

Social self-care is very important but I find it hard to do it justice in just 15 minutes. If you have a friend you can call anytime and talk for 15 minutes, that’s great! I limited this list to things that require you to step away from your phone so emailing or texting a friend is kind of hard with out a phone. BUT there are some ways to get in social time without social media.

Talk to a friend on the phone or set up a regular time to chat with a friend
Look at photo albums
Write a letter to a friend or family member
Make a list of people you would like to be in regular contact with via email or letters

How to find 15 minutes

Mothers can often be martyrs because we simply think we don’t have time to practice self-care. But you know what? You have to make time. Stop making excuses because I know there is 15 minutes in your day where you won’t be interrupted. Whether it is nap time, or screen time you can find 15 minutes.

Nap time
Screen time
Send kids to the library. When your kids get older, they can leave the house without you. It’s pretty amazing! My kids walk to the library almost every day.
Wake up early
Stay up 15 extra minutes
Straight up tell your kids, I need 15 minutes

Self-care looks different for homeschool moms because we have to find time to practice it in the margins. In between meal times, sibling fights, and actually teaching our children! But we can’t be afraid to take a little pocket of time to take care of ourselves because we keep the trains running on time. Mom life can be lonely and overwhelming but if we take just 15 minutes to ourselves it can prevent us from getting into a funk. You can do this!!

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