Let’s be real- summer with kids is not exactly a vacation for everyone. Sure, there’s sunshine, water fun, popsicles, and family memories, but there’s also nonstop noise, endless snacks, toys everywhere, and you’ve heard the word “Mom” so many times that you’re ready to declare it a bad word! 😅
And somewhere in the middle of all that, we’re supposed to magically find time for ourselves too?
The truth is this: YOU deserve to enjoy summer too.
So today, I’m sharing simple, realistic summer self care for moms tips that actually work in real life- no expensive spa days or fancy routines required (unless that’s your thing, then go for it! 😉).
These are small, doable ways to take care of yourself during a busy season of life, because when Mom feels a little better, everything tends to run a little smoother too.
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What Summer Self-Care for Moms REALLY Looks Like
Real self-care for moms usually looks a lot less glamorous than Instagram makes it seem.
Sometimes self-care is:
- drinking water before your coffee
- sitting in the car alone for 5 extra quiet minutes
- buying pre-cut fruit instead of cutting it yourself
- saying no to one more activity
- going to bed instead of folding laundry
- asking for help without feeling guilty
- eating an actual meal while it’s still warm
Self-care isn’t always adding more to your plate. Sometimes it’s removing pressure.
During summer, “survival mode with tiny moments of peace” totally counts.
1. Wake Up Before the Chaos- Even Just 10 Minutes!
A quiet start to your day can be a real game-changer. You do NOT need a perfect 5am morning routine. (Could never be me 😂.)
But even 10 intentional minutes before the house wakes up can help you feel more grounded before the noise and requests begin.
Here are some simple summer self care ideas for moms for those sacred early-morning moments:
- Do a few gentle stretches or a short yoga video. Here’s a playlist of 10 minutes or less yoga videos by Yoga with Adriene.
- Write 3 things you’re grateful for in a journal.
- Listen to a calming song, devotional, or audiobook.
- Read one chapter of a book (or even a few pages!). I’m enjoying
The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, & Accomplish What Matters Most, by Crystal Paine. - Whisper a prayer, Bible verse, positive affirmation or mantra to yourself, so that you can start out the day on a positive note!
- Actually drink your coffee or tea without reheating it 3 times. 😅
- Water your plants or step outside barefoot and get some sun (if it’s up yet) or fresh air.
- Sit outside or facing towards the sun with your coffee/tea and just breathe, or do some deep breathing exercises.
You don’t need a full hour, I will barely get up a few minutes earlier, but just a few minutes to center yourself before the house wakes up can still make a difference!
Feeling overwhelmed & like you need a reset or just some help to take the first step even before trying to wake up a little earlier?
I created a simple, FREE Busy Mom’s Reset Guide to help you clear your head, focus on what actually matters, and take one small step forward. Get your copy below!
2. Keep a “Mom Stash” of Summer Essentials
One of my favorite summer self care tips for moms is creating a simple “Mom Stash” you can grab anytime you head outside with the kids.
You could include:
- Your favorite sunglasses (so you’re not always borrowing the kids’ Paw Patrol ones 😂).
- A book you’ve been meaning to read (I’m still reading this one and love it, but only have time for 5 pages at a time, lol!), a devotional book, or your Kindle.
- Lip balm, hand/body lotion, and/or nail polish.
- Wireless earbuds for your favorite music or podcast.
- Crossword/Sudoku/word find or other puzzle book. Have you seen these new fun puzzle mystery books??
- A mini fan, neck fan, or cooling towel.
- Don’t forget a hat & sunscreen for sun protection!
- Drink mix to add to your water- electrolytes mixes or ones just for flavoring.
- Favorite snacks you can grab quickly (more on that next).
Put it by the door so that it’s ready whenever you’re heading outside with the kids. Tiny conveniences can reduce so much mental load.
3. Stay Hydrated & Snack Smart
If you’re serving snacks all day, you deserve to have your favorites ready too!
One of the biggest things I notice in summer is how easy it is to feel exhausted simply because we’re dehydrated, overstimulated, and skipping meals without realizing it. Even mild dehydration can affect energy, mood, and headaches!
Here are a few easy ways to take better care of yourself:
- Keep pre-cut fruit and veggies in a clear container so you see them and eat them.
- Add lemon, cucumber, or berries to your water to make it feel fancy and add in some vitamins.
- Keep a water bottle with you and refill it 2-3 times a day (depending on size).
- Set a reminder on your phone to drink water every hour.
- Make smoothie packs ahead of time (or buy them) for quick breakfasts. Check out these videos for some smoothie ideas!
- Stock your favorite snack protein items like string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, hummus, or meat sticks.
- Don’t forget to eat meals too- not just make them for the kids!
- Keep a chocolate stash for emergencies. It’s self-care!
Taking care of your body doesn’t have to be perfect, just intentional. 💪
Helpful Posts for Moms:
End-of-School Checklist for Moms
How to Plan Your Fun Family Staycation
30 Activities to Beat the Summer Slide + FREE Printable!
75 Summer Family Fun Ideas – FREE Printable!
4. Simplify the Summer Routine
Sometimes the best form of summer self care for moms is simply making everyday life easier.
Here are ways to simplify your summer days:
- Create a flexible daily rhythm instead of a strict schedule.
Example: breakfast → outside play → lunch → quiet time → free play. - Use theme nights for dinners, like Taco Tuesday, Breakfast for Dinner, Snack Dinner, Leftover Friday, etc.
If you’d like more ideas for meal planning, check out my other post How to Simplify Meal Planning for Busy Families.
- Make a laundry schedule.
Ex: towels on Mondays, delicates on Tuesdays, kids clothes on Wednesdays, etc. Or whatever works best for you! - Write out a “go-to” list of easy meals and snacks to save your brainpower.
- Have a grab-and-go bag ready for outings with all the things.
- Pick one day a week to run errands so they don’t scatter across your whole week- and you can save money on gas!
- Temporarily lower your housekeeping expectations. Some things can wait!
- Say no to one thing a week (yes, that counts as self-care!).
- Plan one low-effort fun day a week- think sprinklers in the backyard and popsicles, or popcorn/snack mix and a movie marathon.
- Let kids be bored sometimes without feeling responsible for entertaining them 24/7.
You don’t have to do it all. You’re allowed to make things easier on yourself.
If everyone is fed, reasonably clean, safe, and loved, then the day was successful. That’s enough!
And honestly? Kids usually remember connection more than perfection anyway.
Some of their favorite memories will probably come from popsicles in the driveway, movie nights, sprinkler runs, staying up too late catching lightning bugs, or making a mess outside having a watermelon seed spitting contest!
Not whether the house stayed spotless.
Trying to keep all of this organized without losing your mind?
I created a simple Summer Planner for Busy Moms to help you keep everything in one place. So easy to print and use at home to help you be more organized this summer!
5. Use Your Phone…to Help Your Mental Health
Let’s turn our phones into self-care tools, not just distractions. Here’s how:
- Download a short guided meditation app (Calm, Insight Timer, or Headspace) and use once a day.
- Use the notes app on your phone to brain-dump your thoughts or plan your week.
- Follow social media accounts that inspire or uplift you- not stress you out and make you feel not good enough, or like you need to buy more things to make you happy.
- Unfollow those social media accounts that make you feel “less than,” anxious, only make you want to buy stuff, or are rage baity.
- Set “self-care reminders” throughout the day, like: “Drink water,” “Breathe,” or “Listen to a fun song,” or “Walk in place for 1 minute.”
- Take a photo of something that brings you joy each day, and save them together in an album.
- Create a “Mood Boost” playlist of fun songs just for you.
- Use the “Do Not Disturb” mode during your quiet moments so notifications don’t interrupt.
- Listen to an audiobook or podcast while cleaning, folding laundry, or walking.
A little intention goes a long way. You deserve breaks that fill you back up.
You do not need to consume content all day that makes you feel behind, overwhelmed, or like you need to constantly buy more things to be a good mom.
Sometimes protecting your peace IS self-care.
6. Try a 5 Minute Reset
One thing I’m personally trying to work on is realizing that self-care doesn’t have to happen in huge chunks of time to matter.
Sometimes 5 intentional minutes can completely reset your mood.
Here are some easy “tiny reset” ideas:
- Sit outside alone for 5 minutes.
- Wash your face and put on lotion, a face mask, or fresh lip balm.
- Change into comfy clothes.
- Stretch for 60 seconds.
- Stand in the sunshine.
- Drink a cold glass of water.
- Listen to one favorite song.
- Diffuse a calming scent.
- Put your phone down for a few minutes.
- Take 10 deep breaths before responding to sibling fighting.
Short breaks still make a difference!
7. Do One Thing That’s Just for YOU Each Day 🥰
You matter too! Try adding at least one extra and intentional joyful thing to your week:
- Go for a solo walk or stretch outside (without your phone!).
- Take a short drive listening to your favorite music.
- Say “No” to something and don’t apologize for it!
- Write out 3 things you’re doing right as a mom, and 3 things you love about yourself.
- Declutter one small area while listening to music. Decluttering actually helps with anxiety, stress, and cortisol levels!
- Watch a comfort movie or episode(s) of a show you enjoy after the kids go to bed.
- Do something creative, like write in a journal, color, doodle, or even try creative writing if that fills your cup.
- If you like to talk on the phone, call a friend or family member who “gets you”- even a 10-minute chat or check in can help.
- Two for one deal: if the kids are schedule for a summer class, use that time to meet a friend for a quick bite or walk around Target together.
- Treat yourself to something small (fresh flowers, travel size item from Ulta, something from the Target Dollar Spot, Crumbl cookie, etc.).
- Take a guilt-free 20 minute nap while the kids are having quiet time, or watching a show.
- Try a gentle yoga or stretching video before bed. Again, here’s that playlist of 10 minutes or less yoga videos by Yoga with Adriene.
- Do a hobby you used to love or a new one you’ve wanted to try– puzzles, crochet, scrapbooking, anything! I really enjoy doing puzzles doing the summer and catching up on playing videogames, but I’ve always wanted to try finger knitting.
Taking care of yourself is NOT selfish. Constantly running myself into the ground doesn’t actually help anyone!
Your joy matters. You don’t need a reason or permission to have some fun in life!
Remember, I created a simple, FREE Busy Mom’s Reset Guide to help you clear your head, and focus on what actually matters. Get your copy below!
BONUS: Make a “Things That Fill My Cup” List
Sometimes when we finally get a free moment, we don’t even know what to do first! Let alone what to do that sounds relaxing anymore.
Try making a simple list of things that genuinely help you feel calmer, happier, or more like yourself.
Some ideas include:
- iced coffee/tea/smoothie, etc.
- sunshine
- reading
- music
- walking (inside around the house, or outside)
- quiet
- baking
- Target walks 😂 (or any window shopping!)
- podcasts
- crafting
- being outside
- organizing
- calling a friend
Put it on your phone in your notes app so that you can easily find it. Then when you’re overwhelmed, you already have ideas ready instead of just scrolling your phone exhausted and making it worse!
💛 Final Thoughts, From One Mom to Another…
You’re doing a lot- and that’s to say the very least. You’re giving your heart and your time and your energy to the people you love. But you can’t pour from an empty cup.
This summer, let’s choose simple. Let’s choose ease. Let’s choose ourselves, too.
You don’t have to wait until the kids are older or the house is quieter. You deserve peace and joy now, in the middle of the mess and the noise.
Remember: summer self care for moms doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming, or Pinterest-perfect to matter.
You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on every step of the way! 💕
Love,
Another Mom Who Gets It
If you have more ideas you’d like to share about how to add in some self-care to your summer, please leave a comment below. Happy Summer! ☀️
