10 Ways to Refuel Your Mom Tank Every Day

Breaks from our kids are nice and maybe even necessary. But we can’t depend on them to keep us going. Instead, here are 10 simple ways to refuel your mom tank every single day.

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Every few weeks or so, someone watches my kids while I have a “kid-free day”.

I usually spend these days writing and working on upcoming projects. (Things that are easier with more focus than I get with three little kids running around me!) But I often spend a little bit of that time running errands, taking a walk, studying my Bible, or reading a book, as well.

Those days are fabulous. I schedule them eagerly and unapologetically. They’re good for my work, good for my mental health, and good for my mothering. I’m almost always a calmer, happier mom after one of those days.

… for a little while.

The truth is, the effects of those “kid-free days” wear off pretty quickly. As they do after any mom break, no matter how brief or extended.

That’s why it’s SO important we don’t rely on the occasional vacation, getaway, or “kid-free day” to fill our tanks. We have to learn how to refuel on a regular basis so we can be the peaceful, joyful, and intentional moms we were created to be.

10 Ways to Refuel Your Mom Tank Every Day

How do we do that? I can’t speak for you, but here are 10 simple ways I refuel my mom tank every day:

1. Start the day in God’s Word.

I can’t overstate the necessity of filling my mind, heart, and spirit with God’s Word to stay fueled for the demands of life and motherhood. There are no ifs, ands, or buts for me.

And while some people say other times of the day work better for them (to each his own!), I prefer morning Bible study because a) there’s a much greater chance I’ll do it, and b) it sets the tone for my entire day. Do I love waking up early every day? No, honestly, I don’t. But I’m always glad I did.

I know it’s hard to keep a consistent habit of reading God’s Word as a busy mom. If it’s a struggle for you, I encourage you to read this post of ways to have a consistent quiet time as a mom with small kids.

2. Pray for God’s grace

The second-biggest way I refuel as a mom is to pray daily for God’s help. I pray for His grace to give me what I need. I pray for His strength when I’m feeling weak and worn down. And I pray for His provision in my lack, whether that’s time, energy, resources, etc. I may not always be able to fill my own “cup”, but God sure can.

3. Maintain healthy habits

I find it much easier to refuel my mind and spirit when I’m fueling my body well. This includes eating nourishing food, drinking plenty of water (something I’m always trying to work on), getting good sleep, and exercising every day.

4. Find a bit of quiet

I have three young children. Two of them are boys and one is an extremely vocal girl. All of them are talkers. Trust me when I tell you my days are far from quiet!

So I have to intentionally carve out time and space for it.

Why is it that important? For one, I learned some fascinating facts about our human need for silence (and our current lack of it) in the book Calm, Cool, and Connected that convinced me it was worth pursuing. Plus, as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), I know I have an even greater physiological need for it than most.

To get a bit of quiet every day, I get up before all the kids, keep nap time/rest time quiet, send the kids outside with Levon for a bit in the evenings, take evening walks, and/or do quiet activities after the kids go to bed (rather than turning on the TV, watching a video, or listening to a podcast).

5. Read

Reading is my absolute favorite pastime, anyway, so it’s not hard for me to squeeze some in every day. But it’s so much more than simple entertainment.

Depending on the book, reading fuels my mind, my heart, my spirit, my motivation, my creativity, my passion, and my joie de vivre (if you’re feeling fancy). It’s a simple habit that makes a huge difference in my vitality.

6. Remember my purpose

One of the best ways I refuel as a mom isn’t so much something I do as much as something I think. When I’m feeling especially worn down, frustrated, or grumpy in motherhood, I remind myself of the purpose of what I’m doing.

I remind myself why my daily mothering matters, why it’s important, and what effect it’s going to have long-term (even if I can’t see it right now). These reminders of the value of my work never fail to revive my zest and put a pep back in my mothering step.

7. Work towards a goal / pursue a passion

I love raising my kids to pieces. It is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things I have ever done with my life. BUT, being a mom is not all I am. It’s not all I was created to be.

So, I feel refreshed when I’m able to tap into those other parts of myself. I feel refueled for motherhood when I make time every single day to work towards a goal or pursue a passion other than parenting.

8. Talk to an adult

As entertaining as my kiddos are (and they are a serious hoot), after a full day with them, I need some adult conversation. (And all my fellow SAHMs said, “Amen!”) It may sound silly, but as an extrovert, especially, finding a way to have meaningful adult conversation every day is one effective way for me to refuel as a mom.

9. Take a weekly break

Ok, this one is weekly rather than daily, but it is something I do on a regular basis. In Judeo-Christian circles, we call it a Sabbath, but you can call it whatever you like. Basically, it’s a weekly day of rest.

I skipped this for a looooong time, but over the last year, I’ve been making an intentional effort to unplug and unwind for at least a few hours every single Sunday.

I don’t work, I do minimal cooking and cleaning, and I take some time to fill my soul (usually that looks like a little Bible study or a good book). And you know what? I hit the ground ready to GO on Mondays now.

10. Have fun!

As a mom with a household to manage and needs to meet, I can so easily fall into “task mode”… and stay there. But that’s really draining after a while! So, the final way I refuel as a mom is to try to have a little fun every single day.

Whether that’s getting silly with my kids, sharing laughs with my husband, adventuring as a family, or doing something delightful on my own, I try to take time every day to do something that brings me life and joy.

Everybody is different, so I’m not necessarily prescribing these things for you. But these habits and practices refuel my mom tank on a regular, ongoing basis.

Whatever it looks like for you, I encourage you to find something you can do every day to fill your cup. Don’t wait for “days off” that may or may not come as often as you’d like. Do something today.

SHARE WITH US: Do you have any activities that have done wonders to refuel your mom tank? Share them in the comments!