Finding time to relax in the modern world is pretty difficult, especially as a busy mumpreneur. Every time you find some spare time to take things easy and just chill out, you get this overwhelming sense of guilt.

Shouldn't I be doing something else, like sending that email, ringing a client or tweaking my website? Or if not work, then shouldn't I be prepping meals, tidying the house or decluttering the kids' stuff?

The list of things to do as a busy working mum is endless, and when you're running your own business it can be hard to switch off and separate work from life.

One thing to remember, though, is that you'll always have something to do, but you also need to take time out and relax every so often. After all, you don't want to burn yourself out by taking on too much.

Relaxation is genuinely good for your mental health, and gives you a proper break from a hectic work schedule. It might feel unproductive at first, but it actually helps by resting your mind and rejuvenating your body and your creativity.

Self care for busy mums doesn't have to mean hours of spare time you don't have. Here's how to relax and destress, even in small pockets of time. I've also written about 6 ways to practice better self care if you want more ideas beyond this list.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about being in the present and appreciating the moment you're in. It's easy to fit into your day, no matter how busy you are, and it can help you unwind, reduce stress and improve your focus in as little as five minutes.

You can find five minute guided meditation and mindfulness videos online, or use an app. You can also practice it yourself: take five minutes, go outside, take some deep breaths, and appreciate where you are.

Look at nature if you can, a tree or the sky, and try to find a quiet spot. Just breathe and focus on the now. It's amazing how much difference a little quiet reflection can make to your mind on a hectic day.

One of my own favourite little resets is a cup of tea, just looking out of the window at the trees for five or ten minutes. There are small pockets of time throughout the day where you can switch your mind off, even if only for a few minutes here and there, and it really does help.

At the end of my shower each morning, I stand for at least a minute with the water just running over me and my eyes closed before I start the busy day. It's such a small thing, but it gives me a moment to reset before everything kicks off.

Move Your Body

Exercise doesn't have to mean a gym session you don't have time for. A short walk, some stretching, or even ten minutes of yoga can lower stress hormones and clear your head just as effectively as a longer workout.

I walk every single day, even if it's just to run errands like posting a parcel or picking something up from the supermarket. It's a great way to think and clear your head, even if the thinking itself ends up being about work tasks and ideas.

I also do yoga six times a week, making sure it happens on every work day. If you don't think you have time, there are free five minute practices on YouTube, and even bed yoga you can do first thing when you wake up or right before you sleep.

I try to get a proper nature walk in at least a couple of times a week, more if I have free time or the days are longer in summer. That might mean an evening walk after dinner when work allows, or heading out first thing when it's light at 5am.

Protect Your Sleep

Running a business on too little sleep makes everything feel harder, more stressful, and more overwhelming than it needs to be. It's tempting to answer one more email or finish one more task, but protecting your sleep is one of the most underrated ways to manage stress as a busy parent and business owner.

My alarm goes off at 6am, so I aim to be asleep by 10pm to get a full 8 hours. Some nights it slips, but I try never to go later than 11pm, and I really notice the difference once I'm regularly only getting 7 or 7.5 hours, I get tired and it shows.

One small trick I'd recommend is setting your alarm around 10 to 20 minutes before you actually need to get up, just so you can hit snooze. That little bit of extra time easing into the day makes a surprising difference.

A proper wind-down routine, even just 20 minutes without screens before bed, can make a real difference to how well you cope with the day ahead. I've shared more tips like this in my sleep hygiene guide.

Set Boundaries Around Work

When your business is also your livelihood, it's easy to feel like you should always be available. But constantly being "on" is a fast route to burnout.

Decide on some proper boundaries, whether that's a cut-off time in the evening, a work-free Sunday, or simply not checking emails during dinner, and try to stick to them. It's hard at first, but it protects your energy in the long run, and I go into this more in how to balance productivity and downtime without burning out.

Honestly, I usually work right up until bedtime, but I do take the mornings off for yoga and a walk before starting. I always stop for dinner with the family too, cooking it myself about half the week, which forces a proper break from work and gives us some time together before I go back to it. I've written more about this in how to make busy family life easier.

After I've finished working for the day, my husband and I always watch at least 30 minutes of a series or film in bed before we sleep. It's a small ritual, but it draws a clear line under the day.

Truly switching off from stress altogether is hard, but a few things do make it easier for me. Working for myself means no office politics or colleague drama to deal with, and having my immediate close-knit family around me to decompress with at the end of the day helps more than I probably realise.

Invest in a Hammock or Swing Chair

When you think of a hammock you probably picture a far-flung destination, a tropical paradise, a beach lined with palm trees. Why not bring a little of that experience to your own garden?

All you need is a hammock and a stand to turn a corner of your garden into a relaxing retreat, away from the hectic world of entrepreneurship. There's nothing quite like gently swaying in a hammock, looking up at the sky, or even drifting off for a few minutes.

We have a hammock in our garden, but also a double swing chair that looks over our pond. There's something really relaxing about the gentle sway, and just looking into the pond is quite mindful and relaxing too, even for only five minutes.

Use a Facemask

Busy people will know the magic a facemask can work better than most. So many beauty routines feel like they take forever, but a facemask can be done within ten minutes.

If you want to go all out, add some cucumber slices over your eyes to reduce puffiness (and the tired, busy look), and enjoy a few minutes of proper relaxation while you get your beauty fix in. It's a great option when you're short on time and budget but still want to look and feel good.

Just resist the urge to work while it's on, and actually lie down for those ten minutes.

Go On a Spa Day

There are very few people who genuinely dislike a spa day. Choose wisely and you can get an afternoon tea, a few treatments included, and a whole host of other benefits from your day of relaxation.

Floatation tanks are a popular spa trend, removing sights and sounds so you can properly switch off. Keep an eye out for deals, and if time is short, many spas offer shorter sessions, an hour or three, that can fit around a hectic schedule.

You can even skip the travelling altogether with mobile spa treatments that come to you, in the comfort of your own home. I used to have a 30 minute massage at home like this, and it always left me feeling completely reset and amazing. I really need to find another mobile masseuse, mine moved away, it's honestly one of the best treats.

Try an Essential Oil Diffuser

I keep an essential oil diffuser in my office and use different organic oils or ready-made blends depending on what I need. Something calming when I want to wind down, or a more energising scent when I need a lift to get through a task.

It's a small thing, but it makes the space feel nicer to work and relax in, and takes seconds to set up.

Run a Candlelit Bath

Another underrated relaxation and beauty fix is the candlelit bath. After a long day, is there anything better than lighting a few candles, running a hot bath, and sinking into the bubbles?

This only takes an hour or so, but it can genuinely help you look and feel better. A candlelit relaxing bath definitely counts as proper self-care, so go ahead and treat yourself.

If you work from home, this can easily fit into your day every now and then. It's a great stress buster and a proper bit of stress relief, and if you fancy a double whammy, pair it with the facemask at the same time.

Or, if time is short, just have a warm or hot shower for the sake of it. Stand and enjoy the water and the sensations, and use it as time to relax rather than time to clean.

Final Thoughts

If you want to relax while getting a beauty fix, try a few of these. If you really want to treat yourself, go for a spa day, morning or afternoon, but if you'd rather keep things time-efficient, the facemask or the bubble bath will work just as well.

The ones that cost nothing matter just as much though, mindfulness, movement, sleep and setting proper boundaries. Life as a busy mumpreneur can certainly be stressful and demanding, which is exactly why it's so important to build relaxation and self care into your routine to prevent burnout. Treat yourself, you deserve it, and for more ideas, take a look at 15 relaxing things to do for a chill night in.

If stress is something you're regularly dealing with, my article on how stress affects your health and free ways to destress goes into more detail, and the importance of relaxation is also worth a read.