My At-Home Wellness Reset Routine: A Full Day of Self-Care as a Busy Mom

There’s a phrase that gets tossed around way too often: “Everyone has the same 24 hours.”

Please don’t ever say that to a working mom.
Actually—just don’t say it to anyone.

It carries this obnoxious effortless success vibe, like “I accomplish everything I want with ease and so should you with no excuses.” Meanwhile, I’m over here just trying to keep two tiny humans alive, teach second graders how to read and write, build a side hustle in my so-called spare time, and occasionally remember to brush my teeth.

Totally the same 24 hours as a childless influencer with a weekly housekeeper. Right.

During the school year, when I’m in full teacher-mom mode, restorative self-care is pretty much a fantasy. If I have the energy to slap on some moisturizer before bed, I’m doing great. Face masks? Red light therapy? Frownies? I love the idea of them. I would kill for a red light mask. But actually using it? Not happening when I’m knee-deep in lesson plans, tantrums, and laundry.

That said, I’m making it a goal this coming year to change that. I need to find a rhythm that allows me to rest and reset in real, attainable ways—even during the chaos of the school year. That doesn’t mean waiting for time to magically appear (spoiler: it won’t). It means making time. And protecting it like my sanity depends on it—because it does.

So this summer, I’m treating my time at home as a reset. I’ve got two glorious days a week when both kids are in daycare, and those are my Wellness Reset Days. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for going all out: trashy TV with a face mask on, a seven-step skincare routine, a long walk, some yoga, maybe even scheduling a massage or a nail appointment.

Then on the other days, when I’m home with the kids, I’ll scale it back and practice a “lite” version. The goal? Build habits now that I can take with me into the school year.

So here’s what my summer reset days will often look like—aka when I pretend I’m Gwyneth Paltrow, minus the jade eggs and with more caffeine.

Before the Kids Wake Up – The Calm Before the Chaos

• Water + LMNT/Just Ingredients + Thorne creatine
  LMNT gives you high-quality electrolytes with no sugar or junk fillers, and Thorne’s creatine helps support muscle recovery, brain health, and energy levels—without upsetting your stomach.
  
• Seed probiotic
  Unlike most probiotics that die in your stomach acid, Seed’s double capsule delivers clinically-studied strains right to your gut, improving digestion, skin, and even focus. I have had a noticeable difference in digestion since starting it a year ago.
  
• French press coffee with collagen + MCT oil
  Using a Bodum French press brings out richer flavor without needing wasteful pods or using any plastic, and adding collagen + MCT oil gives your coffee a creamy texture with added protein and brain-boosting fats. It also helps with blood sugar regulation.

Post-Daycare Drop Off – Trash TV + Self-Care

• Kardashians (or whatever trash TV I’m on)
  Watching reality TV lets my brain chill in a way no podcast or social media app ever could—sometimes zoning out is essential.
  
• Primally Pure 5-step skincare routine
  Their products are made with clean, non-toxic ingredients that actually work—no weird fragrances or hormone-disrupting chemicals, just legit nourishment for your skin. I use the dry skin regimen. Check it out here
  
• Under-eye patches + Lumineux whitening strips
  These eye patches reduce puffiness and hydrate with hyaluronic acid, and Lumineux is one of the only non-toxic whitening strips that doesn’t cause sensitivity—plus, they actually brighten your teeth in just a few uses.
  
• Second cup of coffee (yes, really)
  This cup is less about caffeine and more about enjoying the ritual—I use it to reset and recharge before the next phase of the day.

Breakfast + Movement Prep

• Protein smoothie with 56g of protein
  I use a combo of grass-fed whey, plain greek yogurt, walnuts, chia seeds, frozen spinach and cauliflower, and frozen berries—eating a high protein and low carb breakfast is ideal for women’s metabolism, hormones, satiety, and blood sugar balance throughout the day.
  
• Mid-morning blog writing or creative work
  I use this time to work while I’m still in my high-focus window—if I don’t have a productive morning, I will be stressing about it all day, so I like to get at least an hour or two in right away.
  
• Mountain bike ride or long walk + weightlifting session
  This is my therapy. Getting out for a ride gets my heart rate up, exposes me to sunlight for natural dopamine, and gives me a hit of endorphins I can’t get any other way. If I’m not feeling that, I’ll walk and weight lift instead. I use this weighted vest and I LOVE it. It really helps me with my posture and strengthening my core.
  
• Sunlight + quiet movement or yoga
  Being outside helps regulate my circadian rhythm, boosts vitamin D, and always boosts my mood.

Midday: Cleaning as Self-Care (Yes, Really)

• Quick, protein-packed lunch
  I try to eat something balanced and satisfying with around 50g of protein so I don’t crash later—and it helps me avoid snacking on my kids’ leftovers on the way home from daycare.
  
• Cleaning + laundry without interruption
  Cleaning in peace means I’m not being interrupted every 3 minutes, which turns an ordinary chore into a surprisingly restorative task. I use Branch Basics for all my cleaning, and a few different non-toxic detergents for laundry.
  
• Tidy house = calmer brain
  Studies show visual clutter increases cortisol levels—so yes, folding laundry and wiping down counters is literally stress relief. But don’t let that stat fool you. Our house regularly looks like a tornado just came through. But in the summer I make an effort to deep clean one area of the house once or twice a week to stay a little more on top of it than I do during the school year. This year, I am considering trying Kate Strickler’s (@naptimekitchen) Home Reset. I haven’t committed yet, but it’s tempting. 

Daycare Pickup

Eventually it’s time to switch gears and go back into mom mode. I take a quick shower—I use a variety of non-toxic shampoos, and my dermatologist actually just got me into this one to help with my dry skin. I use this for body wash. Then I throw on some real clothes, grab a snack, and head out the door for daycare pickup. 

Wellness reset: complete!

It’s not a spa day in Bali, but it’s a reset that works for me. These little rituals remind me that I deserve care, quiet, and nourishment—even if it’s just for a few hours before I’m back in full-on mom mode. It’s amazing what just 2 days of restorative alone time can do for your mental health. I’m more patient, a better mom, and my stress levels are so much lower.

Let me know in the comments—what do you do to rest and reset when you finally get a moment to yourself?

Let’s not lose our minds together,

Tori