💬 Because you can’t “romanticize your morning” when you’re already late for drop-off.
Let’s be honest — working mom life is basically a full-time job on top of your full-time job. Between meetings, daycare runs, and remembering who’s bringing snack day snacks, wellness can feel like another item on the to-do list.
These are the small, realistic habits that actually fit into a workday — things that make you feel more like yourself again, without the guilt or pressure to do it perfectly.
☀️ Morning (Real Life Edition)
Mornings can feel like chaos wrapped in caffeine, but a few tiny shifts can make a big difference in how you start your day.
- 🧴 Face Mask Multitasking: Pop on a depuffing mask while you get the kids ready — or wear this one to drop-off. Nobody will even notice.
- 💦 Cold Splash Reset: A cold splash of water (or full shower if you can manage it) helps wake up your system fast.
- ☕ Protein + Collagen Coffee: Add a scoop of quality collagen to your coffee for a quick hit of nutrients before the day starts.
- 🚗 Driving Meditation: A few minutes of peace in the car counts as self-care — try this 5-minute driving meditation on YouTube next time you’re alone post-drop-off.
💻 During Work
Once work starts, it’s easy to stay glued to your screen for hours. A few intentional tweaks can completely shift your energy.
- 📅 Time-Block Smarter: Schedule calls for 25 or 50 minutes instead of the full 30/60 to give yourself mini breaks.
- 💧 Hydration Habit: Drink one full glass of water before every meeting. It’s small but it adds up.
- 🕯️ Peppermint or Citrus Oils: A diffuser with clean essential oils gives you that afternoon refresh — no caffeine needed.
- 🚶♀️ Move While You Work: Take walking calls or use a foldable walking pad ($20 off link) when you’re mostly listening.
- 🍽️ Protect Your Lunch: Add a recurring 30-minute lunch block to your calendar every day so no one can book over it.
🥤 Midday Pick-Me-Up (No Caffeine Needed)
That 2 p.m. slump hits hard — but you don’t need another coffee to survive it. These are my go-tos for an energy reset that actually lasts.
- 🥤 Adrenal Cocktail: My go-to adrenal cocktail recipe keeps energy steady without the crash.
- Shop the ingredients here.
- Or grab my favorite high-quality electrolytes (15% off) — better quality and cleaner than LMNT.
- ☀️ Get Outside: Even 10 minutes of sunlight after lunch helps reset your circadian rhythm and energy.
- 🎧 Happy Podcast Only Rule: No “self-improvement” podcasts mid-day — give your brain a break. I rotate The Toast and Giggly Squad for good energy.
🏋️♀️ Schedule Your Movement (And Actually Go)
You’re not skipping workouts because you’re lazy — you’re skipping them because they’re not scheduled like everything else on your calendar.
- 🗓 Recurring Workout Invites: Add your favorite classes to your calendar weekly so they’re non-negotiable.
- 💳 Save with ClassPass: I use ClassPass — it saves money per class, and you can try 20 credits free with my link.
- 🧍♀️ Something > Nothing: Even a quick 5-minute YouTube stretch before bed counts.
🍽 Dinner When You’re Fried (Real Food, Minimal Effort)
By the time dinner rolls around, you’ve given 97% of your energy to everyone else — so meals need to be quick, satisfying, and not made of drive-thru regret.
- 🥦 Keep it Simple: Grab one of my 10-Minute Meal Guide recipes — they’re realistic, nutrient-dense, and taste like something you actually want to eat.
- ❄️ Prep Smart: Stock a few freezer bag crockpot meals so dinner cooks itself while you work.
- 🍗 My Formula: Protein + fiber + something green + a sauce that distracts everyone = dinner success.
🌙 Nighttime Wind-Down
You made it through the day — now it’s about calming your nervous system and letting your brain unplug before bed.
- 💡 Red Light Therapy: My favorite Omnilux red light mask (10% off) = skincare and self-care in one.
- 🧠 Gratitude Reset: Skip the full journal if it feels like too much — just think of 3 things that went well today.
- 📵 Sleep Smarter: Keep your phone across the room and use a sunrise alarm clock dupe. It’s a small shift that changes your mornings.
🌿 The Real Takeaway
You don’t need a perfect morning routine or hours of free time to feel better — just micro-habits that help you take care of yourself in the middle of the chaos.
Start small, be flexible, and give yourself credit for the things you are doing — because it all adds up.
For more realistic wellness ideas, you can always find me sharing my favorites, recipes, and everyday mom hacks over on Instagram @kee_to_wellness. 💛
