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Okay…we thought this episode was going to be practical, like: “10 easy self-care tips for moms.”
Maybe a conversation about bubble baths. Maybe a Target run. Maybe one of us would say “drink more water” and we’d all nod in agreement…instead, we somehow ended up questioning the entire concept of self-care (because, of course we did). 🫣
Here’s why: somewhere along the way, self-care started feeling like another thing moms were supposed to optimize.
Another thing to buy, another thing to earn, another thing to perform, and a lot of the time, it still leaves us exhausted.
The MRI That Accidentally Became Self-Care
This episode starts with Anna getting an MRI on Mother’s Day weekend.
Which sounds stressful… except she somehow found it relaxing.
No phone, no interruptions, a warm blanket, and permission to lay still for 45 minutes…basically a spa day.
And while most people would describe an MRI as claustrophobic, Anna’s immediate thought was:
“Wow. Nobody can reach me.”
Which honestly says a lot about modern motherhood. That story became the jumping-off point for a bigger conversation:
What if self-care isn’t always about escaping your life, but about finding ways to feel more grounded inside your life?
Maybe Real Self-Care Is More Proactive Than Reactive
One of the biggest themes from this conversation was this idea that self-care isn’t always the thing you do after you hit your breaking point. Sometimes it’s the tiny systems that help prevent the breaking point in the first place.
Like:
organizing the makeup drawer that irritates you every morning
finally dealing with the chaotic shoe basket by the front door
prepping the coffee the night before
creating rhythms that reduce mental friction (something we also talked about on an episode with Productivity Coach Jennifer Sise and her idea of “naming your time” - seriously, drop everything and go listen now.)
cleaning the kitchen before bed so tomorrow-you feels calmer
Not because these things magically fix motherhood, but because little moments of frustration add up. And when every part of your day feels slightly harder than it needs to be, eventually your nervous system notices.
The Difference Between Dopamine and Restoration
We also talked about how easy it is to confuse:
fun
distraction
treats
shopping
scrolling
“I deserve this” energy…
with actual restoration.
To be clear: we are not anti-fun.
Nobody here is trying to take away your Target run or your TJ Maxx stroll or your iced coffee.
But we are asking a deeper question:
What actually helps me show up better for myself and for the people I love?
Because those aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes self-care is a massage. Sometimes it’s texting your girlfriends and putting dinner on the calendar before another month slips by. Sometimes it’s finally fixing the thing in your house that’s quietly stressing you out every single day.
The Word We Kept Coming Back To: Reset
At one point in the episode, we realized maybe what we’re all actually looking for isn’t “self-care.”
It’s a reset.
A reset for:
your nervous system
your environment
your expectations
your mental load
your attitude
your capacity
Not necessarily escape. Just enough space to feel like yourself again.
A Few Practical Self-Care Tips We Shared
Yes, we did finally get into the practical. Here are some of the little things that genuinely help us feel more grounded lately:
waking up before the kids for quiet coffee + reading time
doing as much life as possible with other moms instead of alone
keeping the kitchen reset at night
creating tiny organization systems that reduce decision fatigue
scheduling “me” tasks and kid tasks throughout the day to make sure everyone is happy instead of trying to do it all at once
reading instead of endless scrolling
making plans with girlfriends before burnout hits
None of these are revolutionary. But honestly? That’s kind of the point. We don’t need one more thing to do or buy, we just need to find stillness and joy in the day-to-day.
Get Mom Ready Coaching
A lot of what we talked about in this episode comes back to something we believe deeply at Get Mom Ready:
Most moms don’t necessarily need more information. They need support creating lives that actually feel sustainable. Sometimes that looks like:
processing identity shifts.
reducing mental load.
learning how to stop living in constant overstimulation, resentment, or survival mode.
or having someone help you figure out what actually helps you feel more like yourself again.
That’s a huge part of what we do in coaching.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or like you’re constantly running on fumes, we’d love to talk with you.
You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready.
Maybe real self-care isn’t about constantly trying to escape motherhood. Maybe it’s about creating small rhythms, systems, and relationships that help motherhood feel a little softer to live inside of.
If this episode resonates with you, send it to a mom friend who’s tired of being told self-care is just buying another candle.
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