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Last Updated on September 30, 2023 by Samantha Flores
Remember the Bruno Mars song? Those words usually ring true on several days— you just don’t feel like doing anything. After a long and stressful week, the opportunity to have an afternoon of doing nothing seems like a much-needed self-care activity. There are several advantages to having a lazy afternoon as a mom.
Lazy days give you time to unwind, making you productive on your non-lazy day. It also gives your brain a break and gives your body sufficient time to recover from the stress it has endured. However, how can you make the most of a lazy afternoon?
5 Relaxing Things to Do as a Mom
You spend many days going to and from and caring for others. Use the following ideas to relax as a mom on a lazy afternoon.
1. Take a Nap
First and foremost, a lazy afternoon is the perfect time to catch up on your sleep! Sometimes, your daily activities get in the way of giving your body the rest it needs. Taking a short afternoon nap can do wonders for your body in this regard.
Studies have shown that taking afternoon naps is beneficial as they improve cognitive skills, such as reaction time, memory performance, and alertness. Afternoon naps have also been found to improve your mood and help you relax. What could be better than taking a nap on a lazy afternoon as a mom?
2. Read a Book
You may have spent most of your week reading contracts, reports, articles, and other work documents. And if you’re being honest, they can become rather boring. In that case, you should consider getting lost in a book on a lazy afternoon.
Find a book you have meant to read, be it fiction or non-fiction, and dedicate your afternoon to reading a couple of pages. Doing this would make you feel accomplished as you have taken the time to get a pending activity done.
In addition to being a great pass time, research shows that reading has several benefits to your overall well-being. For example, reading improves your communication skills, boosts your ability to empathize, improves your memory and focus, and exercises your brain, among others. So, grab a book if you ever have the gift of a lazy afternoon as a mom.
3. Have a Laugh
On your laziest afternoon, take the time to get some laughter out of your system. Laughter is one of the best ways to improve mental and physical health. How is this so? Laughter has been known to lower blood pressure, which is usually increased due to excess stress from work or other strenuous activities you may have undertaken during the week.
Laughter also stimulates your organs and increases your intake of oxygen-rich air. It also increases the release of the feel-good hormones, endorphins, in your brain. You can get a good, hearty, and healthy laugh in several ways. For example, you can consider calling a close friend or family member. Several fun conversation topics would have you hollering with enjoyment.
You can also consider listening to funny podcasts. If you’re a movie buff, binge-watching a comedy series or movie is a great idea. Don’t know where you can get an assortment of various movies or don’t know where to stream them? Check out this list of the best streaming sites to find an option you would prefer.
4. Do Some Low-Impact Exercises
The ideal lazy afternoon as a mom seems to be a day where you do not lift a finger. However, it can be agreed that hitting the gym or doing an extensive workout is not on a bill for lazy afternoons. Therefore, since you cannot entirely eliminate the need to exercise, you should consider engaging in low-impact exercises instead. And you can do so from the comfort of your home on a lazy afternoon as a mom.
You can also consider doing Pilates or yoga, which are effective low-impact exercises. Taking a walk through the neighborhood is also a great, low-impact exercise idea. To make it more enjoyable, consider joining a group of neighbors or friends to partake in this exercise.
5. Come Out of Your Comfort Zone
A lazy afternoon as a mom is the best time to try your hands on something new, a challenge. If you have been meaning to try out a new activity or pick up a new hobby, now is the perfect time. There are several advantages of trying new things and coming out of your comfort zone.
For instance, trying new things boosts your creativity, boosts self-confidence, increases your adaptability, and improves your mental health. Whether it’s baking, cooking a new dish, exploring your visual artistic prowess, or trying a new hobby, take time from your lazy afternoon to give it a try.
A Lazy Afternoon as a Mom Can Be Refreshing
A lazy day is filled with activities that do not take a lot of energy and time. Therefore, whenever you can take a lazy day, make the most out of it with these activities and many others that may come to mind. Your mind and body will thank you for the much needed rest and downtime.
