Parenthood is a 24/7 job, and moms rarely get any time to themselves. This is especially true the younger your children are. Still, it’s important to carve out a little bit of time out of your day for yourself. Being able to relax and indulge yourself with a hobby or two is a necessity to your mental health. Without it, the negative consequences can affect both you and your family. But how can you do such a thing with such little time to spare in your everyday life? Here are a few relaxing and low-effort hobbies for busy moms that you could consider.
Gardening
Gardening may seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually a very flexible hobby that can fit any lifestyle. There are plenty of plant types that are beginner-friendly. Snake plants are great indoor plants that only require watering once a week. If you have an outdoor area or a balcony, you can expand your plant collection to include pothos and philodendrons, which are also great for beginners and only need watering once a day.
If you want something that needs more time-investment, you can try growing flowers, such as geraniums or petunias. These flowers are great for balcony gardens, as they thrive best with plenty of sunlight. Finally, if you have the time, space, and money to go all in, you can create a vegetable garden and add some free nutrition in your family’s everyday meals. You can start off simple by growing herbs, tomatoes, or microgreens.
Paint by Color
If you’re a creative soul, then painting would be a great hobby for you. Even if you’re starting out as a complete beginner, it can be fun and fulfilling to see yourself grow and improve your skills over time. But if you’re not usually the creative type, there is still a way for you to be able to experience the joys of painting. Paint by color sets are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason.
You can think of it as like a coloring book. Each set provides a canvas with an uncolored outline of the picture you want to paint. Every part of the uncolored outline is divided into smaller sections, each with a particular number assigned to them. You also get small numbered pots of each color that the picture requires.
From there, all you have to do is paint each part of the picture with the corresponding color. It’s a very relaxing hobby, especially since you don’t have to worry about the composition of the work. Plus, you get a nice piece of artwork for your home afterwards!
Journaling
What started as a simple hobby of writing down your thoughts in a notebook has evolved into something heavily creative. There are now plenty of stationery supplies that are solely made for journaling enthusiasts, such as templates, special pens, washi tapes, and more. If you’re the creative type, journaling is the perfect hobby for you to express yourself. But if you’re pressed for time, there’s nothing wrong with simply writing in a plain notebook for a couple minutes before bed. Do whatever method feels best for you!
Reading
If you’re busy and constantly on the go, reading is the most portable hobby you can do, especially in these modern times. The rise of e-books has made it so that your books are always with you, stored in your phone or tablet. You can carry hundreds of books with you and read whatever you want, anywhere you want. But if you prefer buying physical copies, you can still put your favorite paperback in your bag and bring it out whenever you have a few minutes to breathe.
Any kind of reading stimulates your brain, from fictional novels to self-help books, so don’t hesitate to read whatever you want. Even comic books are great easy reads, especially if you don’t have a lot of free time.