As a mother (especially a mother of multiple littles), it can be hard to sneak encouragement into your day. Your days are filled with feeding your people, cleaning up messes, changing diapers, playing with the kids, playing referee . . . the jobs go on and on.
Being a busy mom is exactly that. Busy.
The days are long and the nights are longer, especially when your babies aren't sleeping or there is sickness in the family. But take heart Mama, you are not alone and this season will pass before you know it.
To be the mom God created you to be, you can't run on empty. Unfortunately, many mothers take the martyr stance on filling their own tanks and would rather pour themselves out until they burn out.
Don't be a martyr!
There are many ways so steak inspiration and encouragement into your days.
7 Ways for Busy Moms to Sneak Encouragement into Their Days
Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to get a little “me time”, even if your me time is happening while you do the dishes. You can listen to podcasts while you dust, sweep, fold laundry, nurse the baby . . . really any time.
Whether you're listening through earbuds or just your phone audio, podcasts are a great option even in a busy house.
A few podcasts we recommend for busy moms are
In the shower
Don't knock it until you try it! Listening to podcasts or the radio while you're in the shower is a great opportunity to get some encouragement with minimal interruptions (well, mostly minimal, right?).
The next time you're planning to take a shower or bath, grab your phone or radio and choose something inspiring to listen to!
In the car
This might seem like a no brainer, but so often we listen to kids music in the car even if we are the only one in the car. It's just what you do, right? What if each time you got in the car alone, or even with the kids, you chose music that lifts everyone up?
Ditch the nursery rhymes and Kids Bop for a while and see what happens!
Read a book
You'd be surprised at the small nuggets of time we waste each day. There's a book called The Fringe Hours that every mother should own. Here's a description of the book.
Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time they already have in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love. Turner uses her own experiences and those of women across the country to teach readers how to balance their many responsibilities while still taking time to invest in themselves.
Doesn't that sound amazing?
Like most moms, you probably have a “to be read” pile of books somewhere, right? Well, start reading them! Find those nuggets of time and use them to invest in yourself.
Listen to an audiobook
Audiobooks can be listened to just like podcasts. Listening to an audiobook will help you read those “someday books” much quicker than actually sitting down to read a paper book because your hands can be busy while you listen.
Just like regular books, audiobooks range in topics from self-help to historical fiction. Find something that interests you and give it a listen. You'll be onto your next book before you know it.
Wake up before the kids
Now this one might not work for everyone, but if you can, wake up just 20 minutes before the kids to get some me time in. Those few moments of silence are precious.
Starting your day with quiet will lead to a better morning. Of course, it doesn't take much to make a morning better than waking up to screaming children, right?
If you want to take it a step further, consider making an overnight breakfast. By preparing ahead, you're setting yourself up for a much smoother morning.
Stay up a smidge later
Even if you only stay up 15 extra minutes a night, that's 105 minutes a week! Imagine what you could accomplish in those 105 minutes each week.
Take some time to think about the extra minutes in your day and how you can maximize your time. Use that time to pour back into yourself because remember Mama, you can't run on empty for long.