Me Time When You Have NO Time

I love the idea of self-care. Really, I do. But for me, “me time” is hard to come by. Taking time out of your busy day to unwind and show yourself some love? Sounds magical.

And for me, time to myself is magical–in that it doesn’t exist. Like a beautiful, glittery unicorn, it is simply a fairytale I dream about. One day, I think to myself.

I see articles all over Pinterest about these beautiful self-care routines. Moms who are just as busy as me, but make it a point to give themselves a little pampering. Moms who swear that their “me time” is the only way they survive.

So, if you are one of those moms; congratulations, that is awesome! But if you aren’t, I’ve got some hacks for you! These simple self-care ideas take literally no time out of your day.

I received these samples free of charge from Yardley London in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting this site! Learn more here.

Me Time Simplified

When you think of self-care and me time, you probably think of a bubble bath, candles, and a creamy body butter afterward. But who has time for that?

I’ve found that the only way I will be able to pamper myself is if I can add it on to things I already do. If it’s going to take me more time than I usually spend, I just won’t do it. I know, bad me! But here are some ideas.

Me Time In the Shower

Why not light a few candles before hopping in? I know you don’t have time for a bath, but who says you can’t jazz up your shower a bit?

Once you’re standing under those sweet, sweet streams of water, don’t let the pampering end! One of my favorite things to do is apply a face mask while I’m showering.

There is no way I’d be able to wear a face mask outside the shower. I can just imagine my son (a) freaking out because mommy’s face looks different, and then (b) trying to get it off me and getting it all over his hands… Not relaxing.

What about the products you use on your body? Have you ever considered using something special that will elevate your mood?

Yardley London has a huge array of scents to choose from. I was lucky enough to be able to try their English Lavender, Oatmeal & Almond, and Creamy Coconut Bath Bars. (Keep reading for a fun giveaway!) Here are my recommendations for using these bath bars as your form of self-care:

English Lavender

Because lavender is so relaxing, I definitely suggest using this at night. I don’t know about you, but I take showers whenever I can squeeze them in. Sometimes that’s in the morning, sometimes it’s just before bed, and, heck, sometimes it’s in the middle of the day. Do not use this one in the middle of the day. Unless you enjoy being sleepy, then, proceed!

This bar is made with pure lavender extract and essential oils. I basically melted into my shower! The smell is ahhh-mazing. If you (like me) have trouble falling asleep at night, even though you’re tired, you should give this a try. There’s something about lavender that just soothes the mind.

Oatmeal & Almond

My husband works outside all day and (despite my nagging about sunscreen) he’s gotten a gnarly sunburn over the past couple weeks. I convinced him to try this and let me know if it helped his sunburn. I figured if an oatmeal bath is good for itchy skin, why not an oatmeal bath bar? The oatmeal also gently exfoliates, which is good for his peely skin. (Gross, I know!)

The verdict? He said it felt awesome on his sore skin. And the scent is so good! I was a tiny bit worried he’d think it was girly, but he liked it and continues to use it. I’m honestly not surprised that this is a best seller. I knew I’d love it because, hello, oatmeal plus almonds? Match made in heaven.

Creamy Coconut

This is a new scent and boy is it delicious! I am a total sucker for coconut. Something about the scent is just so summer-y. I think this is the perfect scent for those middle-of-the-day showers. It’s soothing enough that you’ll get a mini escape from reality, but it won’t put you to sleep like the English Lavender. It’s a perfect balance of calm and rejuvenating.

Plus, it’s great for hydration! Aside from coconut, this bar is packed full of Aloe, Vitamin E, and Shea butter. That is a total win for the skin! 😉

Why Yardley?

I’m glad you asked! My favorite reason is that this soap is uber affordable! Head to Walmart to grab a bar for under a buck! (Seriously) You can find Yardley at most major drugstores and supermarkets (Walgreens, The Dollar Tree, Publix, etc)

I also love that they use essential oils and moisturizing ingredients. Their cartons are 100% recyclable (so please recycle if you pick some up). And the lather is unreal, which I honestly didn’t expect from bar soap. It’s a no brainer, go grab a bar and let your stress melt away during your next shower! (Even if that shower doesn’t happen for a few days, no judgment, momma!)

Things You Can Do Throughout the Day

I’m a big believer in taking advantage of even the smallest moments. After all, sometimes those small moments are truly all we have.

Use the Fine China

One year, my mom introduced me to the book The Happiness Project. It changed her life so much that she bought all of the girls in the family (not really sure why she skipped my brother) a copy for Christmas.

The book is truly amazing, awe-inspiring, and life-changing. There’s no denying that. But there is one part that resonated so deeply with me. She tells us all to use the fine China. You know, the stuff reserved for “special occasions”. The stuff you only dig out for the holidays or maybe you’ve never dug it out but keep it just in case the opportunity arises.

Use it.

What better way to pamper yourself than to treat yourself to something special? Using your fine China is a simple reminder that each day is special and worth celebrating. You are worth celebrating.

Of course, the China is just a metaphor. You could also:

• Wear your expensive perfume
• Pull out that blanket you keep tucked away for fear of stains
• Wear something that is dry clean only
• Have a glass of champagne or sparkling cider
• Open that bottle of wine you’ve been saving
• Pull out that antique vase and fill it with flowers
• Eat something you normally wouldn’t

The possibilities are endless. All that matters is you do something that makes you feel special. Something you’d normally only do or use on an important day.

Related: The Most Inspiring Motherhood Quotes

Include the Kids in Self Care

Depending on the age of your kids, this will vary wildly. Assuming you probably have toddlers who aren’t yet going to full-day school, (since that would potentially give you some time for this TLC) here are some ideas.

• Painting nails: paint one of their fingers, then one of yours!
• Massage: I know kids aren’t particularly great at giving massages, but it sure is cute. If you take turns massaging one another, it’ll at the very least give you some time off your feet!
• Take a bath together with lots of bubbles–and some relaxing Yardley soap!
• Do a craft together! I know that for me, painting is incredibly relaxing.

The sky is the limit. The point is just to do something that feels good that you can all enjoy. Whatever that looks like for you, go for it!

Related: The Best No Prep Kids Activity

Breathe Intentionally

Do you know what we all do every day? We breathe! Duh. Rather than sitting down for some meditation (because… kids!), how about we simply breathe more intentionally?

While you’re doing the dishes, try this technique, referred to as the 4-7-8.

1. Exhale through your mouth (you should make a whoosh sound)
2. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
3. Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
4. Then, exhale through your mouth again for 8 seconds.

This article goes into more detail as to why it works and also addresses a few other breathing techniques. I personally love doing this at night when I’m trying to fall asleep. He advises that you keep your spine straight (which is just good advice in general). So, be mindful, straighten your spine, and remember 4-7-8.

Tell me…

What does your me time look like? Don’t forget to elevate your me time with a super affordable bar of Yardley soap! Grab it the next time you swing by the store. You can find Yardley on Facebook, as well!