6 Tips to Practice Self-Care in an RV with Toddlers

Life on wheels can be quite stressful, especially with toddlers involved. Self-care is wildly important to ensure you show up for your family on the daily. When you live on the road, self-care looks different than in a home. You don’t have access to the same people and facilities. We’ve generated ideas to keep ourselves in a good state of mind on the road and want to share with you!

Stretch & Walk

While I used to do cross-fit, run for university and do marathon distance runs, I’ve found that I have very little time to do this while traveling full time with toddlers. I also had a mountain biking accident in Moab about 7 years ago which caused scar tissue damage in my hip and unfortunately causes pain in my back and leg to this day. While I will still go out for a jog or lift some dumbbells from the camper occasionally, I want to simply ensure I keep my body limber, youthful and healing through stretching and walking…until I can find more time for runs and weights again. I figure I’m currently in a phase where my exercise is keeping up and adventures with my toddlers and I’ll be able to refocus in the next phase. My husband and I roll out our yoga mats on our outdoor mat after the kids go to bed and enjoy a little yoga/stretch session followed by a short walk. This is what we feel we need right now and it’s working.

Enjoy a Long Shower

This sounds impossible in the camper, but the reality is true. We selected a camper with a 16 gallon hot water tank and it is plenty for a long hot shower after a difficult day, even after we gave the toddlers their showers. I really try to focus on what the water feels like against my body and do some breathing exercises - 4 seconds in, hold for 4 seconds, out for 8 seconds. Some campers have tankless water heaters too!

Whiten Teeth

This is actually new for me, but very necessary (too much stinking coffee!) and boosts my self-confidence as well. I got trays from the dentist - from an old dentist in Idaho Falls during our travels who was willing to clean the whole family’s teeth. While I had previously gotten my 35% Opalescence Gel Syringes from the dentist, a hygienist friend of mine recently told me I can pick up them up way cheaper on Amazon and that is way easier for me. I love how well this product works and how white my teeth have been getting since using them.

Meditate

Meditation was a challenge for me when I first started, but now I love it. I am partial to guided meditation. I use the Calm App to help bring focus, appreciation, gratitude and reality into my 10 minute morning sessions. I also try to not be upset when I’m interrupted by my toddlers - hey, I still tried for a few minutes and my current phase is to focus on my toddlers anyways.

Enjoy a Calm Drink

When I’m struggling or anticipating a night where I won’t sleep, I make myself a Calm Magnesium Drink. Just 2 tsp of this in warm water takes my blues away and helps me to sleep more soundly.

Take Care of your Hair & Body

I have always been an advocate of taking care of the hair and body you’ve been given. That looks different for different people and I believe whatever you think is best for you, IS what is best. I have my own means of how I think I am taking care of my hair and body and I thought I’d share it.

I can’t say I’m entirely consistent on the products I use. Sometimes I’m very concerned about the synthetic hormones being put on my body, other times I’m very concerned that my products are in plastic. The list goes on. But there are a few things I’ve stuck with and have for a while. These include:

• Amika Hair Products: I use Normcore shampoo and conditioner. They keep my hair fresh & hydrated anywhere in the country.

• Crystal deodorant sticks: I use nakd. One stick has lasted me since April 2023 and is still going strong. After not liking scented deodorant and feeling burning sensations from ‘natural’ solutions like Native, I have switched myself as well as my husband to this. It is scent free and it truly works to reduce and eliminate sweat and odors.

• O’Keefe’s Working Hands: I have always struggled with dry hands especially in the winter and in dry climates. Working hands seriously works like nothing else I’ve ever tried and it does amazing on harder skin spots like on your knees, elbows and balls of your feet.

• Drunk Elephant Products: I really like these products because of their styling, the design of the containers allow you to use all the product, and they are biocompatible with none of the ‘Suspicious 6’ ingredients. I use the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, Protini Polypeptide Cream, C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, Lippe Balm, and Umbra Sheer Mineral Cream and love them all! The company likes to say you are creating a face smoothie and I like it! They also say when using their products, you don’t need to worry to wash your face in the morning and I always appreciate have one less thing to do.

Take Supplements

Supplements make me feel good and have sometimes been recommended by my doctors in the past. I take fish oil to keep my joints healthy, chlorella to help with indigestion, Primal Greens for a shot of greens, antioxidants, and probiotics, and collagen peptides to keep my skin youthful (I buy unflavored and put it in my coffee per my good friends suggestion). I suggest you do what makes you feel good!

We would love you hear your suggestions for self care while traveling full-time with toddlers - drop them below!

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