A Mama’s Guide to Finding Rest & Recharging in February

February can feel a little… tender. The major holidays are long gone. The excitement of resolutions/goals may be fading. The glitter has settled.

If you’re anything like me, this is the month when you feel a little dip — the exhaustion you didn’t have time to feel in December. The new routines that haven’t quite clicked yet. So this is a note from me to you — mama to mama — offering a gentle reminder:

You’re allowed to rest. You don’t need permission. And it doesn’t have to look perfect.

Below are a few things that have helped me step out of survival mode and into a slower, deeper kind of care. I hope they meet you where you are and bring a little breath back into your February.

Ditch the “shoulds.” They’re draining you.

“I should be doing more.”

“I should keep the house cleaner.”

“I should be more patient.”

“I should wake up earlier.”

We all have that inner drill sergeant. But here’s the truth I’m learning: Any thought that starts with “should” usually comes from pressure — not intention. Try replacing it with: “I could…” “I want to…” “It would help me if…” It shifts you from guilt → grounded choice. And that’s where rest begins: inside the mind.

Your body remembers everything — so listen to it.

Motherhood makes us experts at ignoring our own signals.

But rest isn’t always a nap. Rest might look like:

• Sitting in your parked car for 5 quiet minutes before going inside (I love a little extra car time!)

• Drinking your coffee HOT— before reheating it

• Turning the shower into your escape room (a long hot shower does wonders for me!)

• Not responding immediately to the 10 notifications on your phone (I’m a PRO at this!)

Your body will tell you what it needs if you pause long enough to hear it. This month, try honoring one cue each day. Just one.

Build “micro-rest” into your day. It matters more than big breaks.

Most moms don’t get long spa days or many weekend getaways. We get mom-sized rest — and that’s okay.

Here are small-but-powerful ways to recharge: 

• Light a candle, sip a glass of wine while you clean or cook 

• Put on music that calms your nervous system 

• Step outside for a few minutes of fresh air 

• Text a friend who “gets it” 

• Let the kids watch a show or iPad without guilt if you need to breathe

You do not have to earn rest. You need it to function.

Say “no” more often — your energy has limits.

Practice boundary-setting. No to things that drain you. No to overbooking weekends. No to feeling like you must entertain your child every moment. I’ve realized my home feels calmer when I’m calmer. And guess what? That calm begins with protecting my energy, not people-pleasing.

Create one grounding ritual — something that’s just for you.

Rituals bring rhythm to the chaos. Below are some of my favorite things to do! Yours might be:

• A cup of tea after bedtime (it may sound cheesy, but I truly look forward to choosing which tea to drink- lol)

• Journaling (or in my case, I write in my calendar to-do list BUT I decorate it with quotes, stickers)

• Stretching for 5 minutes before bed (I used to do this often, and need to add it back into my routine!)

• Listening to a podcast while folding laundry (my personal go to is to turn on some old school tunes)

The point isn’t the activity — it’s the consistency. A daily anchor does more for the soul than a once-a-month reset.

Be gentle with yourself. Motherhood is hard.

You’re raising tiny humans. You’re shaping hearts. You’re doing invisible work that no one claps for — but it matters more than anything.

So if February feels heavy, slow, or quiet, maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe this is the month you learn to soften instead of sprint. To breathe instead of hustle. To ask for help instead of holding everything inside.

You deserve rest, mama. Not because you’ve “earned” it — but because you’re human.

And because your peace pours directly into your children.

Stay grounded & grateful,

Maria