Why Self-Care Matters for Special Need Moms.
For moms living a busy and stressful life—especially those who are caregivers—self-care often feels like a luxury instead of a necessity. When your days are dictated by school schedules, medical appointments, therapies, work, and household responsibilities, it’s easy to put yourself at the very bottom of the list.
But here’s the truth: when moms don’t intentionally build self-care into their routine, burnout quietly takes over. Over time, exhaustion turns into frustration, frustration turns into resentment, and resentment begins to block personal, emotional, and even career growth.
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s smart.
A Simple Self-Care Exercise for Busy Moms
Years ago, I facilitated a workshop for caregivers focused on incorporating self-care into daily life in a realistic way. This wasn’t about spa days or weekend getaways. It was about reclaiming small moments of control in a life that often feels unpredictable.
Here’s the exercise.
Step 1: Create a Self-Care Wish List
Start by grabbing a piece of paper and writing down anything you want to do for yourself. There are no rules. The list can include small, simple activities or bigger experiences.
Examples might include:
Taking a 10-minute walk
Going to the gym for 40 minutes
Having a cup of coffee with your best friend
Sitting alone in silence
Going on a rock-climbing adventure with your husband
Getting a manicure
The size of the activity doesn’t matter. What matters is that it’s something you want, not something you “should” want.
Step 2: Identify What’s Short and Doable
Next, look at your list and highlight the items that are short and simple. These are the activities that can realistically fit into your current schedule.
For each one, ask yourself:
Can this be done on a weekday?
Or does this need to be scheduled on a weekend?
If you decide, for example, that getting a manicure is too difficult during the week, treat it like any other important responsibility and schedule it for a Saturday. Make the appointment. Work out the childcare logistics the same way you would for your child’s needs.
This step is key: you are making an appointment for yourself, just as you do for everyone else.
Step 3: Build the Habit of Choosing Yourself
Once you start thinking about your needs and intentionally making space for them, something shifts. You begin to build the habit of self-care—not occasionally, but consistently.
Over time, this practice:
Boosts self-esteem
Creates a sense of empowerment
Restores a feeling of control in a life often dictated by the clock
When so much of caregiving feels powerless and unpredictable, self-care becomes a way to remind yourself that there are areas of your life you can control.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
When moms ignore their own needs for too long, burnout is inevitable. And burnout doesn’t just affect energy levels—it breeds resentment. That resentment can quietly spill into relationships, parenting, and even your ability to pursue personal or career goals.
Choosing self-care doesn’t mean you love your family any less. It means you’re protecting yourself so you can continue showing up without losing yourself in the process.
Self-care isn’t about escape.
It’s about repairing, refreshing the mind to carry on with your responsibilities.
