3 easy ways for overworked moms to relax and regroup
By Aimee Heckel
Real talk: Right after dinner, do you ever just lie there on the carpet/couch/kitchen table and wonder how you can possibly heave your exhausted body up out of fetal position — much less get the kids ready for bed? And clean up their hurricane? And pay the bills? And exercise/organize/freelance/fix things/plan life/cry?
Um, or is that just us?
If you think your kids’ schedules are overbooked these days, stop and look at the agenda of the person organizing it all.
Being a modern mom is beyond hard work. It’s ridiculous. That’s why it’s important more than ever to stop and do the little things that can help you relax, refresh and regroup — before the next storm hits.
Here are three easy ways to pull yourself back together, so you can at least brush your kids’ teeth before bedtime:
1. Carve out a short window to do yoga, alone or with your kids. Preferably alone, but let’s be honest here. You don’t need an hour and a yoga studio to do this. Download free, 20-minute podcasts at Yogadownload.com. Start with Yin Yoga, which is more restorative. Or make it a nighttime ritual to do a Yoga For a Good Night’s Sleep. You can even find yoga for kids, if that’s the only time you can squeeze it in.
2. Spa yourself silly. Designate every Sunday evening Mommy’s Spa Day. Get a babysitter or call grandma to watch the kids, and give yourself a full 90 minutes to groom. Shave. (Admit it, you haven’t in a week.) Take a bubble bath. Crank up your favorite music or watch your favorite so-bad-it’s-good show while you paint your nails.
Once a month, stock up on a few goodies from Ulta.com. Right now, you can buy two select bath products, get one free — like Earth Therapeutics anti-stress massage lotion, $9.99. Pair it with Stress Less Bath and Body Oil from Aromafloria, $17.
Save money on your beauty goodies by using Ulta coupons, like free shipping on orders of $50 or more, plus 8 percent Cash Back from ShopAtHome.com.
Read more articles about Ulta here.
3. Do something creative — for yourself. Who doesn’t love finger paints and handprint turkeys? But occasionally, it feels so good to stretch your adult creative brain. Create a Pinterest board of easy DIY projects that intrigue you, whether it’s painting a piece of furniture, repurposing an old ladder or making personalized stationary. Find something that inspires you, and take time every day to work on it — even if that just means daydreaming or pinning. Keep that creative spark alive and your life will not grow dull or dark.
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