5 Ways to Give Mom A Break

Do your weeks fly by like mine do? Between getting kids to school, doctor appointments, keeping up with housework, and just remembering to shower, all of the sudden it is Monday all over again. There are so many things I want and need to do, and just never enough time to get to it all! This always seems to leave me feeling defeated and exhausted.

I received compensation and samples for this post, all opinions are my own.

As moms I feel like we put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything. We constantly worry so much about others that we forget to take some time to give ourselves a break too! Here are some ways I have found to give myself a break, because let’s be honest, if I am not happy and healthy, no one else in my family is either!

A Night Off Duty-

I have found that since I became a mom, I rarely make time to be alone. I make time to date my husband, I make time for appointments, but I never make time to just be. My husband and I sat down and talked about a night that would work and decided that Thursdays would be my night off duty. It gives him a fun night with the kids to look forward to, and me a night to do whatever I want. Sometimes I roam Target, ALONE. Sometimes I catch up on a hobby or a favorite TV show. And Sometimes I just read a book in our room! The point is I get a minute to be alone with my thoughts and destress. It is such a game changer and doesn’t cost a dime! If this is not something that works with your spouse, find a friend in a similar situation and swap nights.

Say Yes-

This sounds like a crazy solution. How is saying yes instead of no going to give me a break. I will tell you how. Happier Kids make for a happier mom. Someone gave me this tip a few years ago and it makes a huge difference. I ask myself this silent question before answering my kids, “Can I say yes?” In the huge scheme of things does it really matter if my son wants to wear silly socks with his shorts to the grocery store? It really doesn’t. And it makes him happy to be so independent. The thing is, saying yes doesn’t mean giving my kids everything they want, most of the time it is just changing how I answer them. “Mom, can we go to the park?” Instead of saying no, try saying, “Sure, let’s find a day this week that we can go and plan on it!” Write it on the calendar and follow through! How about this one, “Mom, can we watch a movie?” “Yes! As soon as your homework is done!” Your kids get tired of hearing you say no as much as you get sick of saying it. Give everyone a break and say yes as much as you can!

Delegate-

If it does’t have to be you, then let someone else do it! I know you love having your dishwasher loaded a certain way, but it turns out the dishes get clean even if they are on the wrong rack, and you didn’t have to do it! Let your kids pull some weight around the house. It will teach them accountability and give you one less item on your to do list.

Treat Yo’ Self-

If chocolate is your thing, do it. A long run, do it. Pedicures, do it. New shoes, do it! Not all the time, not once a week, but when you really need it, do it and stop feeling guilty about it. Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do moms feel guilty doing something for themselves? Stop feeling guilty.

Take a Break From What You Hate-

I hate grocery shopping and meal planning, like a lot. I love to cook and I really love to eat, but the planning part of it gets so old, so fast. Here is my favorite way to give myself a break- Chef’d. Chef’d is a gourmet delivery service that sends everything you need to make an amazing meal, right to your front door.

You can sort through their recipes from your favorite chefs, once selected they will send the freshest ingredients straight to your door in an insulated box. Everything is measured and there is very little prep work to be done on your part, maybe chop an onion or some herbs. It is almost like having your own little cooking show right in your kitchen. The recipes vary in difficulty, so depending on how handy you are in the kitchen, you can choose the one that is right for you.

We tried the 40 Cloves of Garlic Chicken with Purple Mashed Potatoes and Rack Of Lamb with Black Rice and Carrots. One was an easy recipe and the other was more difficult, but both were like eating at a fancy restaurant in our own home. The best part was I didn’t have to do any planning or shopping! A total win in my book! After only about a half hour in my kitchen, we sat down to this at the dinner table:

HELLO! Talk about yummy and impressive. Chef’d is such a great way to give yourself a break or think of what an amazing gift this might be for a mom in your life! You can find information about ordering your first box here. I want to give the shrimp tacos a try next!

What recipe would your try first? How do you give yourself a break?