Let’s face it . . . parenting can be rough, and it’s more of a journey than a quick race. The days are long and it certainly takes a toll on our health and well-being. I think we can all admit that there have been points of highs and lows in our mental health along the way–and that it’s not always easy to find ways to support our mental health.
Everyone’s view of self-care is going to look different. From prioritizing sleep, to weekly therapy sessions, to making time to hang out with friends–only you personally can know which ways will help fill your cup and allow you to be the best version of yourself.
Just as each person is different, so is every mom within our community. Take a look at all the ways we find self-care for ourselves to best support our mental health in the Detroit Mom community.
Here’s how our team supports their mental health:
Amanda P.
“I’ve been making small but meaningful changes to support my mental health. I stopped rushing through errands when my husband is home with the kids and give myself permission to move at a calmer pace. I let myself read as much as I want, guilt free, and I make sure to get outside every day, not just for my kids, but for me too. I also try to stay consistent with exercising regularly and making sleep a priority. I’ve noticed how much those two habits impact my overall well-being.
“I make space for connection by spending time with other women and moms, which always leaves me feeling supported and less alone. And on the days I really need quiet, I’ll load the kids into the car, put on music or an audiobook they love, grab myself a drive-thru drink, and just cruise for a while. It is such a simple reset, but it works.”
Annie
“I participate in regularly scheduled therapy sessions with a trusted therapist that I have had for years. Some meetings are celebratory and some are deep and emotional. I always leave with a sense of relief, closure, and/or [an] action step. It is something I will forever do whether life is in its peak or valley state. It is an essential piece of my mental health wellness.”
Ashley
“Honestly, taking daily salt baths, simple breath work, therapy, grounding in nature, disconnecting from social media, not reading comments on social media, and simple mindfulness techniques like redirecting my thoughts and throwing negative ones in the trash.”
Brittany
Casey
“Supporting my mental health means safeguarding time for myself. Whether this looks like going on a walk, taking a bubble bath, reading a book, writing, or praying. I try to make sure to do little things that bring me joy every day as well. I also give myself grace and try not to get too tangled up in what other people think. Moms matter too and it’s imperative we don’t forget it.”
Christina
“My hot tub nightly, sauna when I can, and just cozying up after my son goes down with my favorite snacks and drink (usually Diet Pepsi or sparkling water) and watching a movie.”
Emily
“I say I’m overstimulated and need me-time. We both have learned to work with each other to make it happen. We each get at least one night a week to fill our cups. And that’s in addition to my 45 minutes a day to do a workout!”
Faten
Fotini
“I wake up 30 minutes earlier and do a quick 20 minute workout. I have learned to say no, and set boundaries. My family comes first now.”
Jackie
“My mental health is often a mess. I don’t always make myself the priority, though I’ve made more steps then ever recently! I’ve done ‘well-baby’ check ups for myself. I finished my college degree taking a class at a time online, which has given me the biggest sense of pride. I make my kids do the crafts I like to do–they get my attention, I get a creative outlet even though I have no skill. I’ve taken on audiobooks–which helps slow the doomscrolling, makes me feel fancy that I ‘read,’ and didn’t add anything to my busy, hectic life. I made a pie–just one, but damn, it was so good.
“Small things that are within my control add up to pride and self-esteem. Dabbling in random things without striving for perfection makes me feel more interesting and social and really improves my mental health.”
Jennifer
“I aggressively prioritize things that bring me joy and improve my well-being. It takes a lot of planning and effort but it’s worth it!”
Karissa
“I stopped feeling guilty of doing MULTIPLE things that support my mental health throughout the day. Currently my routine is using my planner daily to set me up for success, journaling with my favorite app Activations, going for a silent walk outside, and five minutes of breathing exercises. That may seem like a lot but it’s probably a total of 40 minutes broken up throughout the day which is less than FOUR PERCENT of the day!”
Karli
“My husband and I each get one night “off” a week, where we aren’t responsible for bedtime tasks. Having that one guaranteed night a week helps me stay regulated. And, I have complete autonomy to choose what I do that night. Sometimes I’ll go browse a bookstore, meet a friend, take a bath–whatever I am feeling that day. I focus on spending my time getting out of the “motherhood” headspace, which is the source of a lot of my anxiety. My husband typically goes to the gym to workout or plays video games. We try to keep it the same night every week (like I take Mondays and he takes Thursdays) but depending on schedules and events it switches around.
Kate
“Honestly, it varies depending on what season of life we’re in. We have a newborn in the house, so life is turned upside down right now. But something I started during my pregnancy that I’ve kept up with pretty much every day is a hot shower ritual. It’s the time where I do my deep breathing and listen to my favorite podcast. And I do a skincare routine after. It’s simple, but it’s been incredibly healing. I find time in the evening when my husband can be with our kids and I prioritize it.”
Katie
“I take medication unapologetically. I love taking epsom salt baths before bed to help unwind the mind and body for a good night’s sleep.”
Kelly
“I prioritize time in nature and commit to it in all seasons with the right gear! I have a practice of walking and layering sensory exercises into it to ease my tired eyes and deepen a sense of groundedness. Going in my infrared sauna a few times a week centers me and allows me to to release toxins while I visualize also releasing stress! Since time is tight I layer other activities in the sauna while I sweat such as organ and emotion exercises, gua sha, or cupping. I practice what I promote and do full nervous system repatterning [once per] week or a few mini repatternings if I can’t find the time for a full one.
“I have a few non-negotiable night time rituals including red light therapy (helps me sleep and dials down inflammation) and adrenal rituals to help replenish my mind and body! I’m grateful to have creatively woven these practices into my full days and it makes a HUGE difference for my mental and physical health!”
Laura
Megan J.
“As a work-from-home and stay-at-home mom, I make sure to get fresh air every single day for my mental health. On a busy day it could be a walk in front of my house. On a slower day, a three-mile walk [to] downtown Wyandotte to get an ice cream cone. The fresh air and sounds outside are an instant reset.”
Natasha
“I really live by the idea that 10 minutes a day can be life-changing, sometimes even more impactful than a full day off or a vacation. Taking just 10 minutes to slow down, disconnect, and come back to yourself can shift everything.
“For me, that looks like taking a walk alone, going to bed a little earlier so I can read or journal, a quick dance or karaoke session, pulling a tarot card, or just sitting in silence. The key is that it’s something that makes me feel like me again. It’s less about what you do and more about creating space for yourself in a day that’s often filled with everyone else’s needs.
“When you start doing this consistently, even in small ways, you begin to feel more grounded and supported in your own life. I really encourage you to try giving yourself just 10 minutes and see what it shifts for you.”
Molly
“I ask for it. We are not married to mind readers. Actually saying that I am ‘mommed out’ works for the family members that support me. I may only need an hour however, everyone knows that it ALWAYS makes a difference, so they actually listen when I voice my need.”
Paige
“Practicing gratitude has been a huge help to my mental health. I also collect houseplants and taking care of them has been like therapy for me.”
Rana
“I do a few things: I try and schedule time for myself monthly—for whatever it is I want to do for just me. I wake up earlier than my kids to have quiet time alone daily. And, [I] journal at night before bed to help clear my mind. I outsource when I can such as cleaning, babysitting, and groceries. Most importantly, when I get too busy to make time for me, I remind myself I’m just as important as the family I’m taking care of, and without my mental health being a priority, their mental health might also suffer in a domino effect.”
We know it can be difficult to carve out time for yourself on top of everything else you do on a daily basis. But it is so incredibly important to do so. We hope that we shared a few practical ways to support your mental health that you can incorporate into your day. We are here for you!
There are even more ways to support our mental health that we didn’t mention in this post. Renee shares how to set intentions to make a difference in your day!
This post was originally written by Lauren Dalton and updated in 2026 by Whitney Cornelli.
