You love your kids. You love being a mom. But some days, you feel like you’re running on fumes—juggling snacks, schedules, and meltdowns while trying to hold yourself together. You get a rare moment to yourself… and instead of feeling better, you feel numb, restless, or unsure what you even need. This is where self-care for moms comes in.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not failing.
In a world that praises self-sacrifice and nonstop doing, it’s no wonder so many mothers feel depleted. That’s why one of the most important questions you can ask yourself right now is: why is self-care important—really—when you’re a mom?
Here’s the truth: Self-care for moms is not a luxury. It’s a lifeline. It’s how you reconnect with yourself. How you show up for your family without losing you in the process. And how you move from survival mode into something more sustainable.
In this guide, we’ll explore what self-care really looks like in motherhood—not the picture-perfect kind, but the kind that meets you in the messy, beautiful, exhausted middle. You’ll learn how to make space for your needs, build support around you, and shift the guilt that says you have to do it all.
As someone who’s navigated both PMDD and modern motherhood, I’ve learned: struggling doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you need support—and a better way.
Let’s find it together.
What self-care for moms really means (hint: it’s not about spa days)
“Self-care” gets thrown around a lot these days. It often comes packaged as a face mask, a yoga retreat, or a fleeting moment of quiet while you drink your coffee before it gets cold. But here’s the truth: real self-care isn’t about escaping your life. It’s about finding moments to recharge in the situation that you are in.
That’s especially true for moms.
Most traditional self-care advice assumes you have:
- Time alone
- Money to spend
- Energy to spare
- A break from care-giving
…and that’s simply not the case for many mothers—especially those navigating hormonal shifts like PMDD, postpartum exhaustion, or just the constant overstimulation of raising little humans.
So let’s reframe it.
Self-care is how you come back to yourself. It’s not one big, all-or-nothing act. It’s layered, flexible, and personal. What self-care for moms looks like can shift from day to day, depending on your situation and your capacity.
Sometimes it’s five minutes of breathing. Other times, it’s asking for real support. And it can show up in many areas of your life—from emotional and physical to social, practical, and beyond.
The seven areas of self-care include:
- Emotional – tending to your feelings with kindness
- Physical – caring for your body in ways that feel good, not punishing
- Mental – managing thoughts, boundaries, and overwhelm
- Spiritual – connecting to what gives you meaning (faith, nature, meditation)
- Social – surrounding yourself with safe, energizing people
- Practical – organizing your daily life to reduce chaos
- Professional – honoring your ambitions, skills, and sense of purpose
Self-care isn’t another item on your to-do list. It’s the foundation that makes your whole life more sustainable.
Small acts, big shifts: daily self-care for moms
Now that we’ve let go of the idea that self-care has to be all-or-nothing, let’s explore what it can actually look like in your daily life. You don’t need hours of alone time or a complete lifestyle overhaul to start caring for yourself. There’s real power in small, intentional moments—especially when they’re repeated with love and consistency. These little acts of care are how you begin to show up for yourself, one gentle choice at a time.
Give yourself permission to feel
Being a mom means riding a daily rollercoaster of emotions—and sometimes those emotions are big, messy, or uncomfortable.
Emotional self-care is about honoring those feelings without judgment.
Give yourself permission to say:
- “I feel overwhelmed, and I’m allowed to.”
- “I snapped today, and that doesn’t make me a bad mom.”
Try:
- Affirmations like “This is hard, and I’m doing my best.”
- Grounding techniques like breathing, holding a warm mug, or pressing your feet into the floor
- Checking in with your inner self like you would with a child: “What do you need right now?”
The more emotional space you give yourself, the more capacity you’ll have for the people you love.
Taking care of your body
Mothers are often taught to ignore their bodies—push through the exhaustion, skip meals, live on crumbs and coffee.
But your body deserves care, not just so you can keep going, but because you’re alive and worthy.
Focus on:
- Sleep: Go to bed earlier than you think you need. Protect your rest like it’s sacred.
- Food: Aim for nourishment, not perfection. Regular meals, colorful snacks, hydration.
- Movement: Walks with a stroller, stretching in the kitchen, dancing with your kids. It doesn’t have to be a workout—it just needs to feel good.
Even one small act of physical care can change the course of your day.
Making space in your mind
Mental self-care helps quiet the noise of shoulds, guilt, and never enough.
Start with:
- Letting go of mom guilt. You don’t need to do it all to be a good mom.
- Setting boundaries. Say no when it protects your peace.
- Asking for help. This isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. Whether it’s asking your partner to take over bedtime or texting a friend for support, let people in.
Your mental load matters. Offloading even one small thing is a powerful act of self-respect.
Build your village!
You weren’t meant to mother alone. And yet, many moms feel isolated—especially when they’re struggling with things like PMDD, anxiety, or burnout.
Here’s the truth: support doesn’t make you dependent. It makes you strong.
Start with:
- Talking to your loved ones. If PMDD or cyclical mood swings are part of your story, find simple language:
“There are parts of my month when everything feels heavier. It helps when you ask how I’m really doing.” - Finding your village. Online or in-person, you need spaces where you’re not the only one holding it all together. I’m builidng a Mom-village on Facebook, come and join us for a place with good conversations and no judgment.
- Getting professional help when you need it. That might mean coaching, therapy, or medical support. It’s not failure—it’s care.
You don’t have to prove your strength by going it alone. Let yourself be held.
Self-care for moms = self-care for kids
Let’s be honest: many of us grew up internalizing the idea that a “good mom” is selfless, tireless, and always last in line for care.
But that’s a harmful myth.
You don’t have to burn out to be worthy.
Your needs don’t make you a burden.
You don’t have to earn rest, softness, or joy.
Self-care for moms isn’t something you sneak in when everyone else is asleep. It’s something you model, day by day, for your children—so they grow up knowing how to care for themselves, too.
When self-care becomes part of your identity—not just an emergency patch—you start showing up as your whole self. That’s what empowered motherhood looks like.
Self-care for moms: resources & tools
Here are some tools to support your next steps:
Free Self-Care Plan
Use my free self-care plan to help you check-in with yourself and take the right action in that moment, when you are almost losing it. Download the self-care plan here.
Helpful Apps
- Cycle tracking (e.g. Clue, Flo)
- Mood tracking (e.g. Daylio)
- Meditation (e.g. Headspace, Let’s Meditate)
Products I love
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Magnesium supplements (always check with your provider!)
- Acupressure mat
I’ve tested all of this not from theory, but from the trenches of motherhood. Take what works, leave what doesn’t.
Dear overwhelmed mom: you are enough
Motherhood is complex and exhausting and beautiful. And you’re doing it under constant pressure, without enough support, and probably on very little sleep.
Let me remind you again:
You’re doing better than you think.
You deserve care—not later, but now.
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Share it with a mom friend, comment below, or DM me over on Instagram @claudiakroon.mentoring.
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You’ve got this. And I’ve got you.
