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It’s the holiday season and moms are going into high gear and it can be really stressful. But I want to encourage all you mommas to remember to take some time out for Mom Selfcare so that you can actually enjoy this season of joy. So here is a selfcare advent calendar for moms for the holiday season with 25 days of selfcare.

25 Days of MomCare: A Selfcare Advent Calendar For Moms

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It’s the holiday season and moms are going into high gear and it can be really stressful. But I want to encourage all you mommas to remember to take some time out for Mom Selfcare so that you can actually enjoy this season of joy. So here is a selfcare advent calendar for moms for the holiday season with 25 days of selfcare.

    1. Do less. The reality is the holidays can be a really stressful time especially for moms. We tend to be the ones that make all the holiday magic happen and that’s a lot to carry on one person’s plate. And although we can’t really choose to dump the holidays all together, we can do some things to make the holidays a lot less stressful. Sometimes that means saying no, sometimes it means spending less and other times it means prioritizing yourself in the midst of holiday chaos.
    2. Move your body. Whether you work out in a gym, do a little stretching, or take an afternoon walk it is important to move your body throughout the day. I get not wanting to do it because you are tired or too stressed or whatever but it gets the blood circulating and changes your mood. Start small or go big but just give something a try.
    3. Play. Whether it’s taking time out to play with your kids or doing your own thing… we have to find more time to play. So often we get caught up in the doing and the every day grind that we forget to stop and have a little fun. When was the last time you played?
    4. Schedule a doctor appointment. That doctor appointment that has been on the bottom of your todo list for the longest time…go make that appointment today. So many of us are running around taking care of every one in our families and neglect or dare I even say avoid caring for our own mental and physical health. So what appointment do you need to make before the year is over… a mammogram, a therapy appointment, a visit to the obgyn, the dentist, an eye appointment???
    5. Make a delicious meal. Good food is good for the soul. And taking time to make yourself a delicious meal is a beautiful act of selfcare that nourishes your body. Make the time to prepare yourself your favorite meal. Or find a recipe that you have been wanting to try out. And if cooking isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Take yourself out to your favorite restaurant and enjoy a meal with zero guilt. The point is to get a delicious meal and take the time to sit down and actually enjoy it instead of shoveling food in your mouth while doing 10 other things.
    6. Connect with a loved one. Your best friend, mom, dad, sibling, cousin, old neighbor, your momma tribe…That person that makes you laugh, that gets you, that can pick up a conversation like time hasn’t passed. These days we spend way too much time sending emails and text and not actually having a conversation with anyone or seeing them face-to-face. So call that person you have been meaning to call for the last few months or setup a get-togther and relish in some real talk or a good catch up. Let’s just hope you can get in a good 20 minutes before your children realize you are on the phone and try to destroy the house or need to ask you every unnecessary question.
    7. Take yourself on a date. How often do you do something just for yourself with no intention of trying to please anyone else? I am going to guess almost never. So here is your prompt to take yourself out on a date a do something that you will truly enjoy. Take yourself to your favorite restaurant, spend hours browsing the bookstore or window shop in peace. It doesn’t matter what it is and it doesn’t even have to cost you money just make sure it brings you and only you joy.
    8. Practice grace. It is so easy to go through a day taking note of all the things that are going wrong especially when you tired and your kids are on your last nerve (aka… me all day today ?). And during the busy holiday season it is so easy to get caught up in the stress of it all and lose sight of what is important. But practicing grace can help you slow down and be more mindful about how we interact with ourselves and others.
    9. Buy yourself a present. Mommas. You most likely have a mile long list of gifts to buy for everyone from your kids, to your husband, to your in-laws, right down to the mailman and your kid’s teacher. Frankly, you deserve to add yourself to that list too. I bought myself a few things and I wrap them and put them under the tree like I don’t know what they are ?. So go buy yourself something nice, wrap it and stick it under the tree.
    10. Get social. One of the things that is really hard about being a mom is the isolation. Yes, the lack of interaction with other adults can feel really lonely sometimes. So take the time to catch up with friends over coffee or a meal, plan a girls night out, date night away from the kids or just have a few friends over. Some one-on-one face time with other adults can be good for your soul.
    11. Take a class. We are constantly signing our kids up for classes, activities and experiences to help them grow and learn. But when was the last time you did that for yourself? Just because we are adults doesn’t mean we should stop searching out opportunities to grow or learn or just have a little fun. Take a class you are interested in. It can be a one off or something a little more longterm… a pottery class, yoga class, cooking class, photography class, a new language. Take your pick.
    12. Breathe. Breathing is a powerful stress reliever that we all too often DON’T take advantage of. A few deep breaths gives you a little time to stop and think, feed your body with oxygen and release some tension. When you find yourself losing it, when your toddler is throwing their 437th tantrum of the day, when your teenager rolls their eyes for the umpteenth time, when you find you have the death grip on your steering wheel, or when you are about to give someone a piece of your mind…Just breathe! Take 5 deep, intentional breathes and then see how you feel.
    13. Find time for quiet. As a mom, quiet moments are rare. It seems every second of every day is filled with something to do or at least a to-do list to go over. It’s not often that we get to sit and enjoy the quiet so we have to be intentional about finding a quiet moment and enjoying it. Drive in your car in silence, take a moment before the kids get up and sip your coffee or sit in silence after everyone has gone to bed. If you find yourself in need of more quiet and stillness, a practice of meditation or prayer will serve you well.
    14. Declutter. All the cleaning combined with the limited time that comes along with raising kiddos can leave your home with at least a few messes scattered throughout. The messes seem to appear out of thin air and then keep growing. The mail pile in the kitchen, the laundry pile, pile of crap on your desk, the mess on the bathroom counter… Eventually it reaches a point where it becomes stress inducing.  So if you spend just 15 minutes a day to declutter one space at a time it seems manageable and and there is one less thing to add to the chaos.
    15. Volunteer. Giving to others can be selfcare. It can give you perspective, purpose and connection outside of the day-to-day chaos and remind you to be grateful for the things you do have. Give your time to an organization, make a donation, pick up trash in your neighborhood or the kid’s school, help a neighbor in need or be a secret Santa for someone struggling this year.
    16. Read. A good book can be a great escape from a stressful day. So go buy an actual book and find the time to read even if it’s just for 15 minutes at the end of the day or while you take a bathroom break?. But if buying and reading an actual book is just not in the cards for you you can always download audible and listen to a good book during the many hours you spend in the car. I promise you where there is a will, there is a way.
    17. Zone out. As moms, our minds run a mile a minute from the moment we wake up to the moment we lay back down for the night. Am I right? We have to find ways to give our mind a rest throughout the day. Zoning out and doing a mindless activity that doesn’t include an electronic device can work wonders… a puzzle, knit or crochet, doodle, play solitaire (with real cards). It can feel like a meditative practice.
    18. Show love and appreciation. Let someone know you love and appreciate them. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of every day life and feel annoyed and overwhelmed. But expressing your love and gratitude for someone else can do a lot for you. It takes you out of our head and reminds you to practice gratitude for the people in your life and accept the love of others. It can really change your perspective. Reach out to someone today and show them some love and appreciation…your kids, spouse, sibling, friend, neighbor…Who can you reach out to today?
    19. Practice a bedtime selfcare routine. At the end of a long day of momming, it’s easy to veg out on your cell phone or just crash from sheer exhaustion. But what if you took just 10 or 15 minutes to love on yourself a little? Rub your hands and feet down with cream, write in a journal, read a good book or spray your pillow with some essential oils. I have created a bedtime routine and I keep a basket of goodies that I keep at my bedside that help me wind down a bit before I get some shuteye and it makes such a difference in my quality of sleep.
    20. Positive affirmations. Negative selftalk is something that seems to come naturally to us mommas. Truthfully, it’s not easy for me to say positive things about myself or graciously accept compliments. But I am making an effort to change that narrative in my head. I tell myself…I am a great mother…My beauty shines from within…I get shit done! What positive affirmation do you need to repeat to yourself throughout the day?
    21. Be creative. Making something can feed your soul. It helps you slow down, be in the moment and enjoy the process. Write, cook, sew, paint, craft, garden, color in a coloring book. The options are limitless. Keep it simple and remember not to look for perfection in the product but enjoy the process.
    22. Get some fresh air. A little time outside can go a long way. Some deep breathes and a dose of vitamin D can be just what you need to get that second, third  or tenth wind to get you through the day.
    23. Rest. Let’s be honest… us moms (really all parents) rarely get the sleep we need. And, unfortunately, the reality is sleep is a luxury for moms especially if you have little ones. So some times we may have to settle for rest and force ourself to prioritize it. So take that power nap or zone out on the couch. It will give you a good refresh before you wrap another present, bake another dessert, or run to Target for the 10th time this week.
    24. Dance it out. Blasting your favorite song while dancing around your kitchen or bedroom is like free therapy. It releases tensions, gets you moving and puts a smile on your face. Right at that moment when it seems like all the kids and you are on the verge of a breakdown, blast the music and get moving.
    25. Indulge. Make yourself something yummy and do something for yourself that you normally wouldn’t do. Not something your kids want but what you want. Eat some cheesecake for breakfast, binge watch a show in one day, buy something luxurious…just go all out for yourself.

Did you find this selfcare advent calendar for moms helpful? What is something you do for selfcare?

It’s the holiday season and moms are going into high gear and it can be really stressful. But I want to encourage all you mommas to remember to take some time out for Mom Selfcare so that you can actually enjoy this season of joy. So here is a selfcare advent calendar for moms for the holiday season with 25 days of selfcare.

It’s the holiday season and moms are going into high gear and it can be really stressful. But I want to encourage all you mommas to remember to take some time out for Mom Selfcare so that you can actually enjoy this season of joy. So here is a selfcare advent calendar for moms for the holiday season with 25 days of selfcare.

Elisha Beach is a stay-at-home mom to four kids and four step-kids…Yes, you read that right—eight kids. She is a wife, home cook, taxi driver, herder of children, terrible housekeeper, selfcare advocate and founder of The Mom Forum. 

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