22 Self Care Routine Ideas for Single Mothers
Single mothers are always in the habit of hustling and caring for their kids. In the process of being the best single mother in the world, you tend to care less about yourself.
When you only work around the clock attending to work matters, house chores and your kids without breaks or rests, you could burn out or fall ill.
You need to adopt some self care routine ideas for single mothers so that you can be healthy enough to cater to your child. Spare some time for yourself to walk, see your favourite movie, visit friends as these practices help de-stress and restore the body and mind.
You deserve to be cared for, especially by yourself. If you are blank on what to do, continue reading to grab and practice our self-care routine ideas for single mothers.
Before we dive right into our self-care routine ideas for you, let’s find out what self-care routine is about, types and how you can create them.
What is a Good Self-Care Routine?
WHO explains self-care as a vast concept that includes personal and general hygiene, self-medication, nutrition, lifestyle, socioeconomic, and environmental factors.
So a good self-care routine is the daily, weekly or monthly habits you adopt to take care of yourself so that you can stay emotionally, mentally and physically healthy, work effectively, care for others, and accomplish your everyday tasks.
What is Poor Self-Care?
Poor self-care is the habit of neglecting self-care due to your busy schedule at work and home. Unlike a good self-care routine, this act can negatively affect your mind, body and those around you, including your kids. Long-time poor self-care practice can lead to mental, emotional or physical damage that might be difficult to reverse.
How Many Types of Self-Care are There?
We have about eight types of self-care, including physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, professional, and financial.
1. Physical Self-Care
It involves body movement, nutrition, rest and sleep, and health. Examples of physical care include:
- Talking a walk
- Having a warm bath
- Getting adequate sleep
- Eating foods rich in nutrients
2. Mental Self-Care
Mental self-care involves practicing mindfulness, learning new things, and unleashing your creativity. Some examples of mental self-care are:
- Practicing mindfulness
- Reading a book
- Learning a new skill
- Listening to a motivational podcast
3. Emotional Self-Care
These are practices that enhance emotional literacy, increase empathy, navigate emotions, and manage stress effectively. Some examples are:
- Saying No
- Creating time for reflecting on feelings
- Practicing self-compassion
- Knowing your emotional boundaries
4. Social Self-Care
It typically involves having a supportive and trusted network and group of relationships to rely on. Some examples are:
- Honouring commitments to people
- Asking for help when needed
- Meeting new people
- Spending time with friends and family
5. Spiritual Self-Care
Includes values and beliefs that are important to you guide your existence. Some examples are:
- Reflecting in a spiritual book or journal
- Meditating
- Going on a retreat and conferences
- Enjoying nature
6. Environmental Self-Care
It is the practice of having an organized and clutter-free home, work or business environment. Some examples include:
- De-cluttering your home or business, or work environment
- Keeping a clean and safe surrounding
- Cleaning up after meals
- Staying up-to-date with technology
7. Professional Self-Care
Professional self-care is the practice of sharing your talents and strengths, clarifying your concerns, and setting professional boundaries.
- Eating a balanced diet lunch at work
- Negotiating your concerns and needs
- Knowing and keeping professional boundaries
- Engaging in professional development opportunities
8. Financial Self-Care
This type of self-care involves having a wise spending plan and financial responsibility. Some examples are:
- Tracking your income
- Staying debt-free
- Paying your tax on time
- Saving and spending your money wisely
How Do I create a Self-Care Routine?
It is not easy to create a realistic routine and implement them every day.
To help you create a self-care routine that you can stick to, follow our tips below.
- Begin by writing down the things you love, and enjoy doing. Your list may include activities like yoga, reading, strolling, and hangouts.
- Brainstorm on how you can include these activities in your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.
- Set SMART goals for including these self-care behaviours every day, week or month. E.g. A 30-minute walk after dinner.
- Evaluate your performance and feelings after a month. A positive result could fuel the continuation of your routine.
- Be flexible and adjust your self-care routine when it doesn’t favour you or on a tight schedule.
22 Self Care Routine Ideas for Single Mothers
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Take a Long Walk and Enjoy Nature
Create some spare time for yourself to cool your head outside. Get lost in the wonders of nature. Observe the sunrise or sunset, listen to the singing birds, or be mindful of the events around you. Who says you must travel far to enjoy nature?
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Practice Yoga
If you have a flexible time, register for yoga classes to help you relax, de-stress and stay healthy. Several studies have shown that yoga exercises decrease cortisol (a stress hormone) levels while fighting depression and fatigue.
You can also practice yoga at home. Watch YouTube yoga videos and imitate the trainers. Make it a habit to practice this exercise twice per week.
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Listen to Music
Music helps to improve mood, lower anxiety and stress. Find that time, probably when your child is asleep, to listen to soothing or motivational songs to calm the body, allowing your mind to wander. Let your feelings out through music and find strength once more.
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Watch a Favourite TV Program
The burdens of being a single mother can make you forget about the things you enjoy doing. Self care routine ideas for single mothers involves activities like watching your favourite show on TV. Schedule your day properly to make out time for your program. Doing what you love helps you to ease stress and feel happy.
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Read a Novel
Reading fictional books makes the mind wander in imaginations. At that moment, you tend to forget that any other thing exists apart from the characters in the novel. Reading fictional stories is one of the beautiful self-care routine ideas you should consider.
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Read a Magazine
Magazine reading has a similar approach to fictional books as their primary purpose is to entertain readers.
Magazines feature a mix of real-life and fictional stories, interviews, beauty, wellness, and fashion segments that can inspire you positively. You can look for magazines that target women to draw inspiration to keep you going.
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Write It Down
At certain times you could feel tense, with your mind racing non-stop. Probably you are trying to solve a problem in your head and can’t seem to figure things out. You could find yourself unconsciously entering every room in your house countlessly.
You can avoid increasing your stress and anxiety level by writing down your feelings and thoughts to control your emotions and boost your mental health.
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Try a New Recipe
If you love cooking, you can practice a new recipe you discovered on YouTube and share it with your children. Don’t stress how best the recipe with come out.
Just have fun learning the food. If the food comes out well, celebrate your work both at home and on social media. But if what you made wasn’t the expected, laugh about it and try next time.
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Talk to a Friend
Sometimes you might feel that your single or married friend may not understand your struggles as a single mother, might not have experienced separation, divorce, or a loss.
But sharing your challenges and thoughts with a trusted friend can help relieve you. Someone out there is willing to listen to you, even if he or she may not fully understand your plight. Friends are always there to support and show care to you.
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Get Help
Acting the “Wonder woman” character every time could cause burnout. You cannot handle motherhood alone unless you want to get frustrated and depressed.
Accept any help you can get to make the work at home easier and give you the time to hang out. You could get a babysitter to watch over your child while you attend a comedy show, see a movie, or party all night.
As a single mother, unwinding to the fullest could be what you need to get back on track with your life.
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Laugh Always
One of the best self care routine ideas for single mothers is laughter. Laughter is indeed the best medicine for various mental and even physical conditions. Make it a habit to fix your mind to wake up happy. Laugh often; find fun out of every situation as it helps fuels your body, mind and soul.
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Wake Up to Positivity
Irrespective of what happened the previous night, begin your day on a positive note. Be optimistic about the outcome of your day. Meditate and say affirmative words to yourself and position your mind to stay positive.
Ensure to eat breakfast (regardless of the quantity) before stepping out. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it helps to stabilize your blood sugar and keep you energetic all through the day.
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Have Fun With Your Kids
Doing what you love with your kid tends to foster a strong bond between you. Knowing that your child also enjoys such activities can place you in a happy mood all day long. If your kids are grown, you could play games like basketball, soccer, or badminton. Alternatively, you can bring them to the gym to workout, while having fun.
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Feed Well
Eating foods rich in nutrients fuels your body and protects you from falling ill. We understand that you always put your kids first before thinking of yourself, but you should eat well and at the appropriate times.
Remember that you are your children’s role model, and it will be amazing to see them watch you practicing self-care. Get foods from natural products, prepare homemade dishes, avoid junk foods, and replace sodas with water. Also, jot down the food items to stock your fridge to enhance easy, quick and healthy meals.
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Get Adequate Sleep
We can never stop emphasizing the benefits of sleep to your body. It is a norm for mothers to sleep late and wake up earlier normal to get things done. Some research recommends 6 to 8 hours of sleep to help the body fully recuperate from stress.
Chronic inadequate sleep can contribute to weight gain, increased depression, heart disease, and type II diabetes. Doctors also warn that you stay away from late-night food, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as these can affect your chances of sleeping early.
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Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Like other mothers, you are doing beautifully well. Being a single mother is not a piece of cake as you are left to also act like the dad.
It is inevitable to overthink your current struggling situations, but always remind yourself that you are doing your best whenever you are caught in that thought. The last thing you should do is to compare yourself to other women or mothers.
Comparing yourself to others places you under unnecessary pressure. Besides, you don’t know the issues they are secretly experiencing, regardless of financial status, marital life, and job.
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Hangout With The Girls
When was the last time you hung out with your girlfriends? You know that it doesn’t have to be a regular meeting, right!
You can plan to see once per month to unwind and gist in a bar, the beach or Spa.
If they also have children, you could keep them at a location to be watched by a babysitter or relative. Being around old friends helps you to loosen up, forget your struggles and truly be yourself.
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Get a New Look
It’s normal to want to live for your children and forget about you. But you have to remind yourself of your existence and beauty. Schedule your daily routine and create time for you.
Go to the salon and get your hair and nails done. Watch recent makeup tutorial videos to improve your makeup game. New looks have a way of boosting self-confidence and self-esteem as you will feel alive and beautiful again.
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Go Shopping
As part of getting a new look, go clothes and accessories shopping alone or with a “fashionista” friend. Because you are a single mother shouldn’t make you lose track of style and trendy fashion. Get as much as your budget can afford because you deserve them.
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Have a Bubble Bath
While your kids are asleep, soak yourself in a warm bubble bath for 20 to 30 minutes, surrounded by scented aromatherapy candles, a bottle of wine, and soothing music to calm the atmosphere. Trust me! A bubble bath treat is one of the best self-care routine ideas for single mothers to de-stress and relax after the day’s hustle.
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Be Open to Change
You must learn to accept that change is the only constant thing in life. Keep your mind and heart open to change. Expect anything, stay ready and grab any great opportunity that presents itself.
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Seek Professional Help
Contacting a professional therapist, pastor or counsellor should be your last option for a self-care routine. But if you find yourself stuck at a spot and not making any progress in creating time for yourself, you may want to contact a professional.
Most mothers cannot pinpoint the course of the unhappy moments, and this where an expert steps in to help you process your pain and grief and offer steps to move forward. Seeking professional help might not provide a long-term solution, but it will place you on a healing track to get back your life.
Don’t forget that you are unique and trying your best for your children. But you also deserve to be happy. Practice any of our simple self-care routines ideas to find your inner strength and looking stunning for your kids.
Can you relate to the struggles of being a single mother? Kindly share your self-care routine ideas with us in the comment section below.
