Self-Care Strategies to Help Re-Charge

I saw a meme the other day that made me laugh. It said that when people tell you to practice self-care, it just adds another thing to your to-do list. Then, you get to feel guilty about two things at once!

I had to laugh because I have felt that way so often in life. Don’t tell me to take care of myself when I’m already overwhelmed by all the other things I am taking care of.

I’m not that great at self-care. I’ve never gone to a spa. I don’t get manicures or pedicures or facials. I have my hair cut about twice a year and I add no color to it. I don’t belong to a gym and exercise is not my idea of a good time. I love sweet treats, but I’m diabetic now. Shopping for myself bores me to death. So, how in the world am I supposed to practice self-care and how do I keep it off my to-do list?

The answer is making it simple with little to no planning or exertion on my part. I’m better at life when I take baby steps. I tend to try and leap into things and before I know it, I am exhausted and overwhelmed (even with “fun” things). I forget that tiny steps in the right direction still accomplish goals.

Here are some easy ideas to recharge your mommy batteries without adding too much stress to your life:

Have lunch with a friend. Schedule this each month before your calendar fills up. Treat it like a doctor’s appointment and make sure you get there. There’s nothing like a girls’ lunch to recharge your batteries.

Turn off your phone. I don’t know about you, but the first thing I pick up when I’m tired is my phone. All the mindless scrolling I do ends up making me more tired and it does nothing to recharge me. Put your phone in a drawer and focus on your blessings (even if they’re being loud and obnoxious at the moment).

Go outside. No, not to work in the yard. Just sit quietly and listen to the birds. Breathe deeply and thank God for the beautiful nature He created.

Serve others. This can be as small a gesture as a loving text or phone call. Maybe you like to bake and can share goodies with someone who needs some care. Serving others recharges like nothing else.

Take some alone time. I know, moms rarely get alone time, but if you can sneak off for a walk around the block or to sit on a park bench, do it.

Read a book. Go to the library and check out a mindless book, something that isn’t stressful. Make yourself a cup of tea and read a chapter after everyone goes to bed. Take in the joy of the written word.

Rethink date night. Go out to breakfast with your honey instead of a stuffy dinner. It’s easier to find a babysitter in the morning and if you have teens, let them sleep in while you and your hubby take some time to reconnect.

Stretch it out. Lay on your bed and slowly and gently stretch out each part of your body. Marvel at the unique way our Father created us.

Read the Word. Not because you’re supposed to, but because you want to be fed. Start at any chapter you want to. Let the words and the wisdom flow over you. Do a search on peace and see what the Bible says about it.

Talk to Him. Speak gently and kindly about yourself and what is stressing you out at the moment. Take the time to quietly soak in His love for you.

As you can see, recharging doesn’t have to be complicated or just adding one more thing to your to-do list. Self-care can be easy and peaceful and fun (and that’s the way it should be). As moms we do need to recharge our batteries without frying our circuits.

How do you recharge?