20-minute Me-time Ideas for Busy Moms

Photo by Jess Watters on Unsplash

If there’s one thing I have learned during my parenting journey, it’s that me-time should be at the top of my priority list as a mom. Ironically, given the number of tasks on our to-do lists as parents, self-care often falls to the bottom of the list. However, what we usually fail to understand is that it’s much more a question of prioritizing and mindset than of available time.

The importance of me-time

I used to think that self-care was something that I could only envisage when all other “more important” tasks were accomplished. Needless to say that this says a lot about my mindset at the time: I’m less important than others, I need to take care of others before I can think of myself, being a mother means that your needs come last, etc. Fortunately, being a single mom made me understand that planning in me-time is key if you want to be able to take care of others. More than that: Self-care is actually an act of love towards yourself and others.

Self-care is an act of self-love.

The time you spend with yourself is essential to keep you energized and performing at your best potential. Skipping me-time only makes you exhausted, resentful and unfulfilled.

25 me-time ideas that can be fitted into 20 minutes

Now that we know how important self-care is for our well-being, the question is: How on earth do we fit it into our busy schedules?

I used to think that me-time was referring to a morning/afternoon or even a week-end that you would spend without the kids. However, self-care is something you need on a regular basis. It took me some time to realize that self-care is a mindset in which you decide to take every opportunity to be good to yourself – even if it’s only a five-minute timeout in the bathroom to breathe when you are with the kids.

Here is a list of me-time ideas that can be fitted into your day. The best is to schedule a time block to make sure your self-care plans do not get lost among the daily activities. Yet, these activities are also a good pick when you turn out to have an unexpected gap in your schedule.

1. Meditate
2. Go for a walk/run
3. Read a book/magazine
4. Listen to an audiobook/music/podcast
5. Take a power nap
6. Lie down and do nothing
7. Take care of your body: Apply face or hair mask, do your nails
8. Take a bath/long shower
9. Workout
10. Have a cup of tea/coffee
11. Journal
12. Look through family/holiday photos
13. Draw/doodle/color (e.g., a mandala)
14. Do a puzzle
15. Practice a hobby you like: gardening, playing an instrument, knitting, etc.
16. Do a crossword/sudoku puzzle
17. Start a vision board
18. Practice gratitude
19. Do a yoga session
20. Treat yourself with a snack/smoothie
21. Dance
22. Play/cuddle with your pet
23. Take photos
24. Check in on yourself: How do you feel? How does your body feel?
25. Call a friend

Even though 20 minutes of alone time might sound very short, if practiced on a regular basis, these breaks can have a significant impact on your well-being. And if you struggle with guilt feelings when taking time for yourself, remember that you are just as important as your family: A happy mom is a better mom.

Let me know about your favorite me-time activities!