how much time do moms take for themselves?
By: J.L. Rose
How much time do moms take for themselves?
Nearly 30% of women get less than 30-minutes a day for themselves during an average day, according to 2025 research by Talker Research on behalf of Sun-Maid Farmstead Reserve - a company known for their boxed raisins - through a study of 2,000 millennial moms.
The same survey also found that one in seven moms said they “always” forget what day it is due to being so busy.
Her Index surveyed 3,490 U.S. women ages 35–55, primarily mothers, professionals and household decision-makers. The results showed, “Women carry the weight of modern family life” and because of that, there’s little to no time for self-care.
The 2025 report shows:
47% stay up late most nights for alone time
58% struggle to find time for self-care and most respondents spend 0% of their day on it
53% do not set goals or resolutions, or find them unhelpful
55% of respondents said a walk is their only weekly self-care habit
Mom Laura Falin recently wrote for Business Insider that she prioritized teaching her children how to do cook and do chores when they were young, and now that her kids are teens, she has more time for herself.
“Of course, we didn't wake up one day with the kids knowing how to do all these things. It's been years of practicing, starting with small tasks and expecting them to do more over time,” Falin said. “That teaching doesn't always come easily or naturally, either. It's hard to make time to teach kids to do things. Cooking takes longer. The bathroom doesn't get as clean at first. Clothes aren't folded very neatly.”
Other experts, like a group of doctors who are also moms, shared some of this advice in The Well by Northwell:
Dr. Dana Almeida, OB/GYN, Northwell Health, said, “I try to carve out at least 30 minutes of time for myself daily. I also tell my patients to do the same—especially when they are postpartum. My way of decompressing is by exercising. I love to run but enjoy any form of exercise, whether that’s biking, yoga, or weightlifting. I believe it’s extremely important to practice self care. It’s not selfish whatsoever, and it allows me to function at my best.
Wen Shan Zheng, MS, EFM-C, Northwell Health, said, “Self-care, to me, means carving out time in a day that I can use to help me decompress. Some of the ways I do this are by getting a pedicure and/or manicure, catching up on a show at a time I won’t be interrupted, or having a glass of wine at the end of the day.”
Where can moms get started with making time for self-care? The Storytime for Moms YouTube Channel offers journal prompts for relaxation and reflection, 10-minute affirmation videos to empower and uplift moms, and vivid narrated stories for relaxation or take 10-minutes to escape to another world with narrated fiction (audiobook). It’s free and designed specifically for moms.
J.L. Rose, MA is a mom, communications expert and storyteller with more than 20 years of experience in journalism, strategic communications and education. She has been published by Scary Mommy, StepMom Magazine and more. She earned two Honorable Mentions in the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Comeptition. She is creator of Storytime for Moms on YouTube, a grown-up storytelling channel for women who want to laugh, feel seen or escape for 10 minutes. The channel is dedicated to giving moms a well-deserved break for themselves in a space where moms support moms and it’s all about self-care.