5 Top Tips for Taking Time Out When You’re a Mum

Taking time out when you’re a mum can sound simple in theory and feel almost impossible in real life. There is always something that needs doing, someone asking a question or a mental list quietly running in the background.

Even when you do get a few minutes to yourself, it can be difficult to properly switch off. You might finally sit down, only to remember the washing, tomorrow’s lunches or the message you forgot to reply to.

The thing I have learnt about self-care is that it does not have to be an entire afternoon at a spa. It can be five minutes with your skincare, a quiet cup of tea, a walk around the block or asking someone else to take over for half an hour.

Small moments count. In fact, they are often much more realistic and sustainable than waiting for the perfect free day that never seems to arrive.

Taking care of yourself is not about becoming a more productive version of yourself. It is about recognising that your energy, comfort and wellbeing matter too.

Why Taking Time Out Matters

Mums are often encouraged to look after themselves, but the advice can feel frustrating when it ignores the reality of childcare, work, household responsibilities and mental load.

Taking time out does not need to mean disappearing for an entire weekend. It can simply mean creating a short period where you are not solving a problem, organising something or responding to someone else’s needs.

These small pauses can help you feel more like yourself again. They give you space to notice how you are feeling rather than continuing on autopilot.

There may also be seasons where self-care looks very basic. It might mean having a shower, eating something properly or going to bed instead of completing one more task.

That still counts.

If you are rebuilding your routine, our guide to new year, new self-care essentials includes simple ideas for introducing more supportive rituals into everyday life.

1. Create a Simple Skincare Ritual

Skincare is one of my favourite forms of realistic self-care because it can fit into the day without needing a huge amount of time.

I am not talking about a complicated ten-step routine performed in total silence. Even cleansing your face properly and applying moisturiser can create a small sense of reset at the beginning or end of the day.

The key is to make the routine simple enough that you can maintain it when you are tired.

A Quick Morning Routine

In the morning, focus on the basics:

• Gently cleanse or rinse your face
• Apply a hydrating serum if you use one
• Follow with moisturiser
• Finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen

This does not need to take more than a few minutes. The goal is to help your skin feel comfortable and prepared for the day.

A Simple Evening Routine

At night, remove makeup and sunscreen with a gentle cleanser, then apply any treatment products you already use and finish with moisturiser.

If you have an extra ten minutes once or twice a week, add a face mask or facial oil. Put your phone down, tie your hair back and let it feel like a small ritual rather than another task.

It is also worth keeping products somewhere visible and easy to reach. A routine is much more likely to happen when you are not searching through drawers while someone is calling your name from another room.

Do not put pressure on yourself to use every product every day. Consistency with a few essentials is often more useful than an elaborate routine you rarely have time to complete.

2. Create an At-Home Spa Moment

A proper spa day sounds lovely, but it is not always practical. An at-home spa moment can be much shorter and still help you mentally shift out of mum mode for a while.

The important part is not recreating a luxury treatment room. It is giving yourself a small pocket of uninterrupted time.

Choose one or two things that make you feel relaxed:

• Take a warm bath or longer shower
• Apply a face or hair mask
• Use a body scrub
• Massage in a body oil or moisturiser
• Light a candle and play music
• Put on clean pyjamas or a soft robe

If you do not have a bath, a shower can still feel restorative. Use a body wash you enjoy, apply a treatment to your hair and take a few extra minutes with your body care afterwards.

You could also soak your feet in warm water while reading, watching something light or listening to a podcast. It may not look like a traditional spa treatment, but it creates the same idea of stopping and tending to yourself.

Try to resist using this time to multitask. Folding laundry while wearing a face mask might be efficient, but it is not really a break.

Even 15 minutes where you are not completing another job can help the experience feel more restorative.

3. Find a Way to Release Physical Tension

Motherhood can be surprisingly physical. Carrying children, lifting bags, sitting in awkward positions and moving through the day without much rest can leave tension sitting in your neck, shoulders and back.

A professional massage can be wonderful, but it is not the only option.

Try Gentle Self-Massage

Use a body oil or moisturiser and spend a few minutes massaging your shoulders, hands, feet or legs. The movements do not need to be complicated. Slow, comfortable pressure is enough.

A massage ball or foam roller can also be helpful for areas that feel tight, provided you use them carefully and avoid anything painful.

Stretch for Five Minutes

A short stretching routine can help you check in with your body at the end of the day. Focus on gentle movements for your neck, shoulders, hips and lower back.

You do not need workout clothes or a full yoga session. Stretch beside the bed, on the lounge room floor or while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Ask for Help

If you have a partner, family member or trusted friend available, ask them to take over for a short period. You do not need to earn the break by finishing everything first.

Use the time for something that genuinely supports you rather than immediately filling it with errands.

Sometimes the most useful form of self-care is simply allowing someone else to carry part of the load.

4. Take a Mindful Pause

Meditation can sound like one more thing you are supposed to be doing perfectly, but it does not need to involve sitting still for half an hour with a completely empty mind.

A mindful pause can be as simple as taking five slow breaths before moving onto the next part of your day.

Sit somewhere comfortable, place both feet on the floor and notice your breathing. You do not need to change it immediately. Just pay attention to the inhale and exhale.

If thoughts appear, let them be there without trying to solve each one. The aim is not to stop thinking. It is to create a little space between you and the constant stream of tasks.

Try a Short Guided Meditation

If silence feels difficult, use a short guided meditation or breathing exercise. Choose something around five or ten minutes so it feels achievable.

You can do it in the car before school pick-up, in bed before sleep or while someone else watches the children.

Go Outside Without Your Phone

A short walk can also become a mindful break. Leave your phone in your pocket, notice what is around you and let your mind settle without needing to consume more information.

If a walk is not possible, step outside with a cup of tea or sit near an open window for a few minutes.

The pause does not need to be long to be worthwhile.

Understanding what self love means can also help shift the idea of self-care away from occasional treats and towards the everyday choices that support your wellbeing.

5. Prioritise Rest Where You Can

This is often the hardest tip because telling a tired mum to get more sleep is not particularly helpful when children, work or night-time wake-ups are outside her control.

Rather than aiming for a perfect eight-hour night, look for realistic ways to protect the rest you can access.

Create a Simple Bedtime Routine

Choose a few actions that help signal the end of the day:

• Put your phone on charge away from the bed
• Dim the lights
• Complete a simple skincare routine
• Make a caffeine-free tea
• Read a few pages of a book
• Write down tomorrow’s most important tasks

The routine does not need to be long. A consistent 15-minute wind-down can feel more manageable than waiting for an uninterrupted hour.

Let Some Tasks Wait

There will always be another load of washing or something that could be organised. On some nights, going to bed is the more useful choice.

Try choosing a time when the household tasks stop. Anything unfinished can be revisited the next day.

Rest Without Sleeping

Rest is not limited to sleep. Sitting down, watching something comforting, reading or lying quietly for 20 minutes can still help when a nap is not possible.

You do not need to turn every spare moment into productive time.

If poor sleep is ongoing, significantly affects your daily life or is accompanied by low mood or anxiety, speak with a qualified healthcare professional for personalised support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can mums make time for self-care?

Start with short, realistic periods rather than waiting for an entire free day. Five minutes of skincare, a short walk or sitting with a cup of tea can all count. Ask for help where available and try not to fill every break with household tasks.

Is it selfish for mums to take time for themselves?

No. Taking time to rest, care for your body and protect your emotional wellbeing is not selfish. It is a normal and necessary part of looking after yourself.

What is an easy self-care routine for a busy mum?

A simple routine might include cleansing and moisturising your skin, taking five slow breaths, drinking water, stretching and going to bed at a reasonable time. It does not need to involve expensive products or lengthy rituals.

What can I do when I only have five minutes?

Apply your skincare without multitasking, step outside, stretch your shoulders, make a cup of tea, write down your thoughts or listen to one calming song.

How can I stop feeling guilty about resting?

Remind yourself that rest is not something you need to earn. Notice when guilt appears, but try not to let it make every decision. Start with small breaks and allow them to become a normal part of your routine.

What if I do not have help available?

Focus on small moments that can fit into your existing day. Simplify routines, lower expectations where possible and choose self-care that does not require leaving the house or arranging childcare.

Taking Time Out Does Not Need to Be Complicated

Self-care as a mum is rarely going to look perfectly calm or uninterrupted. There may be noise in the background, someone may need you five minutes later and the bath might not stay relaxing for long.

That does not make the effort pointless.

A simple skincare routine, a quiet cup of tea, a short stretch or going to bed instead of finishing another chore can all help you feel more supported.

The aim is not to add more pressure to your day. It is to create small reminders that you are a person with needs of your own, not only the person responsible for everyone else.

Take the five minutes. Ask for the help. Let something wait until tomorrow.

You deserve care too.