Real Self-Care Tips For Night Shift Moms

S. Enyard RN, BSN · 2025-05-20T19:33:00Z

Working nights as a mom doesn't mean work ends when you clock out.

The kids still need breakfast, rides, and help with homework.

Laundry piles up fast, and you end up squeezing in naps wherever you can—if you're lucky to get any sleep at all.

People love to share advice like "sleep when your baby sleeps.”

I've heard this more times than I can count, but that doesn't help much when you work 12-hour shifts.

Short naps can help a bit, but they don't actually improve your energy much.

That's when you start giving yourself more grace.

I learned to adjust my routine to what actually works for me.

Some days, I put in a load of laundry or set out something for dinner before going to bed.

Other days, we made do with frozen pizza and screen time. That's just how it goes.

Staying steady matters more than getting everything perfect.

But self-care matters too.

I try to find small comforts:

I try to let go of guilt about routines that don't look like anyone else's.

I know what my family needs and what works for me.

I know I'm not the only one who feels stretched thin.

So if you have tips or habits that help keep things running at home and work, I'd love to hear them.

We get through this by sharing what works. We're all in this together.