Summer Self-Care: Activities that will Take Care of You AND Entertain the Kids

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC

You may find at certain points the world and the people in it place greater demands on your time, energy, and emotions than you might be able to handle. When school lets out and moms have more of their time occupied with children at home, it can be awfully hard to get in any self-care time.  Between all the responsibilities busy moms have these days, it is amazing that moms get any time to themselves as it is.  It is important to remember that with out proper self-care, it is harder to get done all that needs to get accomplished.  Don’t be like most busy moms and put yourself at the bottom of the priority list this summer.  Remember what they tell you when you get onto an airplane, apply your oxygen mask before assisting others.  So how can you squeeze yourself into this all-important activity list you have once the school year ends? Get creative, and do it with your kids!

Here are some ways to enjoy self-care that’s also fun for kids to do with you:

Cook healthy meals and snacks together.

Let your kids help you in the kitchen. It can take some steps out of what you need to do and it is often fun for kids to help with preparing food.

Have a spa day at home.

Give each other facials, mini massages, foot rubs and/or paint your nails.

Exercise Together.

Go for a walk, bike ride or try yoga together.

Find a forest.

Walking in the woods – also called forest bathing- has immense wellness benefits for both adults and kids. At the very least your kids will be distracted by all the cool stuff in nature, and you can take some deep breaths of fresh air and feel rejuvenated.

Get some rest.

Snuggle up and nap together.  Sleep is the most underrated self-care, anti-aging, energy-lifting remedy there is!

Dig into a good book.  

Read together or you each dig into your own favorite book.

Be silly.

Turn on some music and dance together.  Tell jokes.  Blow bubbles.  Laugh!

Get Creative.

Plant a garden. Paint a picture.  Do something artsy.

Practice gratitude.

Make a gratitude list.  Write a thank you note to someone.

Journal.

It is often fun for kids to keep journals of their summer adventures to look back on in future years.  While you can write down your personal thoughts.

Do something you both love. 

Next time you find yourself saying, “I really need to do something for myself,”  find something fun you can do with the kids.  Be silly, be caring to others, and make your self-care a priority! In most cases, taking care of yourself doesn’t even have to cost anything.   Self-care is as unique as the individual performing it, so do what feels good to you.  What is it that rejuvenates your mind, body and spirit?  Practicing self-care can help you manage the ups and downs of life.