Micro Moments = Major Impact: Why Small Acts of Self-Care Matter More Than You Think
If you’re a mum who has ever thought “I shouldn’t be this tired” or “other people cope better than I do”, I want to give you the gentlest truth:
Burnout isn’t a personality flaw — it’s biology. And yes, hobbies genuinely help.
This is the blog post I wish I had read years ago, during the seasons when I was exhausted, overstimulated, and convinced I should have been able to “handle more.”
Here’s why your brain, your nervous system, and your identity desperately need micro moments of joy, and why they matter so much more than you think.
The Real Science Behind Burnout (and Why Mums Hit It Hardest)
Burnout doesn’t happen because you’re weak.
It doesn’t happen because you’re unorganised.
It doesn’t even happen because you “took on too much.”
Burnout happens when your nervous system stays in go-mode for too long.
Motherhood creates the perfect storm:
Decision fatigue — thousands of micro decisions before 9am
Overstimulation — noise, touch, constant interruptions
Mental load — remembering everything so no one else has to
Emotional labour — absorbing everyone’s needs before your own
Your cortisol rises. Your body gets stuck on high alert. Your brain stops recognising rest as “safe.”
This is why lying on the couch doesn’t feel relaxing, but reorganising the pantry somehow does...
It’s not you. It’s biology.
Why Hobbies Help (Even If You Only Have 5 Minutes)
Here’s where the magic comes in. When you do something purely for enjoyment — not productivity, not necessity, not motherhood — you give your brain a moment to reset.
Hobbies create:
Dopamine — motivation, interest, joy
Serotonin — mood stability, calm
Nervous system regulation — shifting you out of fight-or-flight
Identity anchoring — reconnecting you with who you are, not just your role
And contrary to the “treat yourself” culture; You don’t need a full day, silence, or the house clean.
You only need micro moments.
Five minutes of:
colouring
a puzzle
journaling
watering a plant
stretching
sitting with a warm drink (without your phone)
These tiny acts interrupt the burnout cycle and top up your internal fuel tank before it hits empty.
The Reason I Created the A Moment For Me Hobby Boxes
Because mums don’t just deserve hobbies — they need them.
Not to be productive. Not to be skilled. Not to impress anyone.
But because:
hobbies soothe the nervous system
hobbies reduce burnout
hobbies reconnect you with your identity
hobbies remind you you’re more than the to-do list
Each A Moment For Me Box gives you one simple, gentle hobby to explore — even if you only have 5 minutes a day.
It’s not about doing more. It’s about remembering you again.
Ready to explore your own micro moments?
Here’s where to begin:
🧡 A Moment For Me Hobby Boxes
🧡 Download the FREE Hobby Guide
🧡 Grab the Self-Care Menu for quick micro-moment ideas
Your future self will thank you for every tiny moment you choose today.