10 Simple Habits of Happy Moms

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I consider myself to be a happy mom.

I live a good life. I am satisfied with my choices, and I manage stress easily. I like my work, I love my family, and I have hobbies that fulfill me.

Are you ready to be a happy mom? Let’s get started.

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Simple Habits of Happy Moms

Happiness isn’t always innate. It’s a state of being that you must work toward and continue striving for every day.

In most cases, happiness comes from living a life that’s relatively stress-free with obstacles that can be managed.

Mostly, as the old adage says, happiness comes from within.

1. Not Comparing Yourself to Others

One of the biggest obstacles modern moms face is comparisons to others.

Looking at other people’s lives on social media can make you think everyone out there is living a happy, carefree existence with perfect children, a perfect home, and a perfect spouse.

Though you logically know this is never the case, it’s hard to remember that when you see post after post of smiling families and their ideal existences.

People almost always put their best faces forward when appealing to the general public.

Even one-on-one, it can be impossible to know what is going on behind closed doors. Comparing yourself to someone’s perceived life is the best way to be unhappy with your own.

2. Making Smart Money Choices

The quickest way to stress yourself out is to live with money worries.

Sometimes money problems are unavoidable, especially when cost-of-living continues to increase while wages remain low. Other times, they are self-induced.

The average debt of the typical American is a whopping $90,000. This debt might include student loans, medical bills, mortgages, and car payments. It also includes credit card debt used to pay for both necessary and unnecessary items.

Keep your money woes as small as possible by consolidating credit cards and paying the most you possibly can each month.

Consider buying a used car rather than a new one to save about $10,000. Don’t buy a home that is larger than you realistically need.

I know, all too well, that money problems aren’t always easy to solve. However, making a plan to get out of debt can lower stress and make you feel happier even if that debt is still looming.

3. Choosing Your Battles Wisely

Fights and arguments should be reserved for those things that really matter to you. This should be the case regardless of whether the argument is with your spouse, your children, your family, or friends.

Wasting your mental energy on menial arguments will only lead to frustration and stress for you and those around you.

There are certain things you can and should let go of. Small annoyances that don’t have any weight on your family’s health or safety are often things you can push aside.

Save your arguments for those larger issues that truly do matter.

Did your husband leave the toilet seat up again? As long as it’s not a safety issue for young children, let it go.

Did he spend your retirement savings on lottery tickets? Time to have a talk.

Knowing which battles are worthwhile in the heat of the moment can be difficult. Stop and think to yourself, will this matter a month from now? Will it matter a year from now?

If the answer is no, focus your energy elsewhere.

4. Controlling Only What You Can

My best friend died from cancer when I was 14.

I was worried for years that another friend of mine would develop cancer and have to go through the same long, painful, horrible death. It was a constant state of anxiety for me that almost consumed me.

At one point, I realized that worrying about this type of cancer only served to make my life miserable. It didn’t keep me cancer-free and didn’t protect my friends.

As a parent, these concerns creeped back in.

What if my kids became ill? What if I lost my husband and had to become a single mom? What if the aliens finally decide to invade and make us their food?

Truthfully, it’s hard not to worry, but it doesn’t help you in any way.

My philosophy is to control the things I can and let go of the things I can’t. I can do my best to ensure my family is healthy and protected, but beyond that, there are some issues that are out of my control. Those are the things I let go. You should too.

5. Putting Your Health First

It’s difficult to be happy if you’re unhealthy. Physical pain and mental stress weigh you down in a big way. Try your best to eat healthy foods, exercise daily, and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

I have a chronic illness that will always be a part of me. I am living proof that you can live with illness and still be a happy person.

However, it does take some extra work.

I have to be more focused on my nutrition and exercise than a physically healthy mom might because if I let it go for even a day, I pay a hefty price. Just ask my family: When I don’t feel well, I am not a happy person.

6. Taking Up a Satisfying Hobby

Hobbies are a wonderful way to focus your creative efforts in your spare time.

If you feel like you don’t have spare time away from your kids, incorporate them into your hobby with you! Take them birdwatching. Ride bikes together. Teach them how to cook.

Whatever your hobby is, your family might enjoy it as well.

Maybe your hobby is something you like to do solo. That’s okay. Talk it over with your spouse or hire a sitter once a week so you can have some time to focus on the thing that you find most satisfying.

Not sure what your hobby should be? Take a quiz to find out! According to this quiz, I should take up yoga. Wouldn’t you know it, I’m already a yogi who practices daily!

7. Allowing Yourself Some Me Time

Me time might be used for your hobby, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can use your me time for having a quiet meal, reading a book, getting a manicure, chatting with friends, riding a bike, going for a walk, or doing anything that brings you joy.

Me time is alone time that you use to gather your thoughts or rest your mind. I love to take long bubble baths that allow me to close my eyes, unwind and revel in my solitude. It invigorates me.

Your spouse may need me time as well. My husband loves to shop. It’s his favorite thing, which works well for us because I hate shopping. We trade me time moments so we can each do what we love while the other takes care of the kids.

8. Getting Enough Sleep

Sleep is elusive for moms but also necessary for a happy, healthy life.

Proper sleep helps your mind reset itself each day. It also gives you a feeling of wellness and boosts your immune system. In fact, recent research shows that a full night of sleep can make you as happy as winning the lottery.

How does a busy mom manage sleep? It’s a great question that doesn’t have an easy answer.

Experts often tell new moms to sleep when their babies sleep, but that’s often unreasonable. You need your baby’s sleeping hours to manage other responsibilities.

In some cases, as with my second child, the baby doesn’t sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time. What do you do then?

If you have a partner, balance sleeping and waking times with them. Take turns with who is in charge of the children overnight. If that doesn’t work, ask for a couple of nights that are your nights to catch up on sleep, but don’t expect to do this long-term.

At a minimum, you need to get at least seven hours of sleep a night. If you can’t get them all at once, there is no shame in taking a nap with your children.

9. Having a Fulfilling Career

I always tell my children to never dream of money. If your goal in life is to have as much money as possible, you will never have enough. This applies to you, as a mom, as well.

You need a career that covers all of your expenses and offers benefits like health insurance. You also need a career that gives you personal fulfillment.

What is fulfilling for one person might not work for another. Just because your best friend has found happiness working as a substitute teacher doesn’t mean you will as well.

The question about what career works best for you is one that only you can answer.

Are you in a situation where you don’t technically “have” to work? It might be a good idea to have at least a part-time job anyway.

Having responsibilities outside of your children can give you a sense of identity that you desperately need.

10. Setting Achievable Goals

Achieving goals is one of those things that makes everyone happy.

There’s something extremely satisfying about making a plan and seeing it come to fruition. Set a reasonable goal for yourself, and then watch as you make it happen. Your happiness will increase ten-fold.

What’s your goal? What do you want to achieve? Make long-term goals and short-term ones that will sate your need for instant gratification.

For example, when I decided I wanted to run a marathon, I set daily, weekly and monthly goals. It was a true reward to see my daily goals achieved.

Some projects are considered the most rewarding for those who want instant gratification that also leads to something bigger. For instance, knitting, crocheting, and doing jigsaw puzzles allow you to watch your progress minute-by-minute.

Set a goal to crochet a blanket, knit a sweater, or put together a 10,000-piece puzzle. You’ll feel great when it’s done, but you’ll also be happy every day.

Key Takeaway

Are you going to try one of these simple habits? What are some of your tips for happiness? Tell us in the comments!

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