Fall Self-Care for Moms - Ways to Slow Down

It’s officially fall and I’m back! I took a little break from blogging over the summer because you know life happens aka my son broke his arm (totally fine now!) - but it feels so good to be back and writing! Summer was a pretty stressful time, so I thought what better way than to blog about some much-needed fall self-care I’ll be doing. I’ll start by saying that self-care doesn’t need to be hours on end, but a time to give yourself permission to step away from the everyday chaos to just breathe and reset.

Fall Self-Care Ideas for Moms that take Less than 20 Minutes

1. Drink your coffee somewhere quiet (5–10 minutes)

Not while unloading the dishwasher. Not while answering a text. Somewhere quiet, sitting down, holding a warm mug or in my case an iced coffee (anyone else drink iced coffee year-round?!) like a person who is allowed to sit and not always in a rush. Your bedroom counts. Your car in the driveway counts. Your front porch counts. It’s the same coffee you were going to drink anyway. You’re just choosing to be present for it.

2. Read before bed instead of scrolling (10–20 minutes)

I’ve been reading some decorative magazines before bed instead of endless scrolling on my phone and it’s done wonders for my mind. A book or magazine at the end of the day does the opposite of what your phone does. One winds you down; the other winds you up and then keeps you there until midnight (been there, done that, never again!) Keep a book on the nightstand where your phone usually goes. Small change, big difference.

3. Take a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood (10 minutes)

Not a workout. Not steps to be tracked. Just around the block, with the crunchy leaves, in a jacket that isn’t quite warm enough. I feel extra lucky this time of year as fall in New England is so picturesque. This form of self-care was hard for me at first since I love to track my steps, heart rate, etc. but there’s something so freeing about just going on a leisurely walk where nothing is being monitored. Ten minutes of moving your body outside does something for an overstimulated brain that ten minutes of scrolling never will. You come back with a slightly different nervous system than the one you left with.

4. Light a fall candle (no time!)

This one costs you nothing but a match. The kitchen still has to get cleaned. But cleaning it in a room that smells like all things pumpkin spice feels different than cleaning it under a bright light at 9 pm with nothing but the sound of the dishwasher. You’re not making the task longer. You’re making it warmer. I’ve been loving this fall candle!

5. Take a longer shower (10-15 minutes)

Not a bubble bath with candles and rose petals, even though that sounds amazing but a shower. The one you were already going to take- just five extra minutes of standing in the warm water before you get back to it. Makes all the difference and you feel like a new human.

6. Listen to a podcast or music while you do the boring stuff (however long the boring stuff takes)

Folding laundry. Driving to pick up. Wiping counters for the millionth time today. A podcast turns the invisible chores into something you’re getting to do while something good happens. It’s one of the easiest ways to fold a little bit of you back into a day that’s mostly about everyone else. I love listening to Jay Shetty’s podcast!

7. Last but not least, put your phone away early (however long it takes)

This was challenging for me at first, but necessary. The endless scrolling does take a toll on you, especially right before bed. Your phone can feel like rest, but it usually isn’t. It’s more input at the end of a day that already had too much input. I started to “Brick” my phone which has been an amazing way of limiting my screen time. You don’t realize how much you are on your phone, until you aren’t. My kids are only little once, so being fully present is something I’m always striving for.

Five Minutes can sometimes feel like “too much” and that’s ok

Some days it will. That’s not a failure; that’s just a hard day. On those days, the goal isn’t self-care. It’s just one small thing that makes the next hour feel a little more bearable. Calling a friend or family - I voice memo my friends and family once a day:), sitting in bed, or stepping outside and getting some fresh air truly makes all the difference. Remember that we as moms are humans too, superhumans, but just like everyone else. You don’t need a child-free afternoon to take care of yourself this fall. You need five minutes and permission- and I’m handing you the permission part. Pick one idea, do it today -with someone probably calling your name from another room, but at least you did something for you! It still counts, and so do you.

XO, Heidi