9 Realistic Ways for Moms to Recharge

Mothering is hard work. In fact, it’s so challenging that saying it is “hard work” might be an understatement.

As a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, I find it very difficult to recharge. I’m on the job 24/7. There’s no lunch break. There’s no vacation. Most of the time I can’t even go to the bathroom without a child hollering at me because she needs something!

Getting a break and recharging is critical for moms’ well-being. However, this is one of those things that is easier said than done. Because of my kids’ ages and my family’s circumstances, it is not possible for me to take a weekend trip or something like that. It’s rare that I can even get out of the house for a few minutes without my kids. Thus, I need ways to recharge that can happen in my home and with my kids around.

Is this possible? I think it is. Here are nine realistic options.

How moms can recharge

• Socialize with someone who understands. This has become one of my go-to approaches for recharging. I get on the phone with another mom, usually my sister, and chat. This gives me a few minutes to have a conversation with another adult, to get things off my chest, to get advice, and to share camaraderie with someone who understands. It is important to remember that using time like this simply to complain may not provide any benefit. After all, you don’t necessarily feel better after you’ve complained (you may, in fact, feel worse). However, connecting with another person by touching on a variety of topics can be refreshing.
• Do nothing at least once a week. I’m not the sort of person who sits around and does nothing. Unless I’m asleep, I’m generally trying to get something accomplished. While this might help me get things checked off my to-do list, it doesn’t give me time to recharge. I’m learning that it is critical to take time to “do nothing.” Of course, I don’t mean to literally sit around and stare at the wall; I mean to do something that is relaxing and refreshing to you. For me, this often means reading a book or taking a bath. For you, it may mean doing your nails, working on a hobby, or meditating. Whatever it is, remember that it isn’t wasted time. Getting refreshed actually helps you be more productive when you begin tackling your work again.
• Get some exercise. Exercise often seems like yet another item that needs to be checked off the to-do list. It does take time and effort to exercise, but it offers so many mental health benefits, including reduced anxiety, improved mood, increased energy, improved cognitive function, and stress relief. These benefits help us be successful at getting everything else done! Thankfully, exercise is something we can do together with our kids. We can go on walks, complete kid-friendly exercise videos, play games like tag, and go climb at the playground.
• Get more sleep. It’s not easy to get more sleep. One reason is that we can’t control when our kids will wake up and need us. Another reason is that we can’t sleep while doing things like loading the dishwasher, showering, or making a grocery list. The need to complete these latter things often keeps us from going to bed early. The reality is that we are not our best as moms when we are tired. Therefore, we really need to figure out how to get the rest we need. This will look a little different for everyone, but we must make it a priority if we are going to be recharged.
• Get up before the kids. Getting up early so we have some time to ourselves before the kids wake up may seem contradictory to what I just said about getting more sleep. It doesn’t have to be. We don’t necessarily have to get up hours and hours before our kids. However, having a little time to ourselves to drink some coffee and plan our days can be very refreshing. For me, this alone time early in the day also provides time to read my Bible and pray. These are a couple of ways that I start the day off right. When you get up, you can do whatever it is that creates a solid and peaceful foundation for your day.
• Take advantage of small pauses. Every now and then there are moments when all three of my girls are engaged in play. These fleeting moments are rare, but I’m learning to take advantage of them when they happen. These are opportunities for me to refill my coffee cup and take a few deep breaths. They are opportunities for me to check in with a friend via text message. They are opportunities for me to sit in relative silence and mentally list a few things for which I am grateful or read an encouraging Bible verse. What refreshing things can you do during these times? Meditate? Stretch? Treat yourself to a piece of chocolate? Get creative and take advantages of these pauses!
• Go for a drive. Just because I feel like I want to get away for a few minutes doesn’t mean that I can. However, sometimes we have nothing critical on our schedule and we are able to get into the van and go for a drive. This activity doesn’t really allow me to get away from my kids (they are with me in the van, of course), but it does give us a change of pace. My kids are pretty content to sit in their car seats and look at the scenery or at books while we drive. No one can take a toy from someone else, no one can dump a tub of Legos all over the floor, and no one can ask if it is time to watch TV yet. This definitely qualifies as refreshing!
• Teach kids to do things for themselves. The more kids are able to do for themselves, the less we have to do for them. When kids become potty trained, then we don’t have to change their diapers. When kids can independently get their shoes on, then we don’t have to do it for them. When kids can make their own sandwiches, then we don’t have to prepare them. Even though it takes effort initially, teaching our kids how to do things for themselves is a great way to lessen the amount of work we have to do. This, by itself, can be refreshing.
• Make naptime/rest time mandatory. When babies nap in the afternoon, it gives moms a little bit of a break. As kids get older, moms don’t get this break because older kids don’t nap. I learned a long time ago that I really need a bit of a break in the afternoon, so I instituted a rest time when my oldest child stopped napping (read about this here). I’m now doing this same thing with my middle child because she is napping less frequently. Rest times can be done a variety of ways. Each child can be required to remain on his or her bed or everyone can sprawl out in the living room. It can be time to read books or do puzzles. It can be time to listen to music. There are no rules, so do what works for your family!

Final thoughts

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I don’t have time to recharge. I feel like I just need to keep going and get things done. Unfortunately, this approach leads to burnout. Have you ever heard the adage that you can’t pour from an empty cup? This is very relevant to parenting. We can’t pour out love, support, encouragement, attention, correction, and guidance on our kids if we are empty. Let’s put forth the effort to recharge ourselves so we have full cups.

I’d love to hear about what works for you! How do you recharge yourself?

Shared at the following:

Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Busy Monday, Over the Moon, and Encouraging Hearts and Home.