Self -Care for Moms
Alright moms, listen up! No piece of advice I could write here will ever be enough because being a mom is tough work. No matter how it appears online or how you hear others talk about motherhood, it’s hard. It’s amazing, rewarding and wonderful, but it’s hard. And just because you admit it’s hard, it doesn’t mean you are complaining. Something I am constantly working on is lowering my expectations I have on myself and I encourage you to as well.
If you’re reading this and you’re feelin’ it...I am too. We all are. Which is why I wanted to write about self-care today! Self-care for moms is really important and it’s often easily dismissed because we’re caring for everyone around us. Trust me, I know our to-do list is infinite, but I’ve experienced and seen what happens when we start to run on empty and I want to remind you that there is grace and you’re worthy of rest. We show up best when we’ve had time to recharge and I hope this list encourages you to find some bit of time each week to take care of you. You deserve it, mama.
Oh. One more thing before I begin: self-care gets a bit overhyped on social media. No need to make it insta-worthy. Self-care is about spending time for you so that you feel filled up and refueled to love your family even better. Ok, just needed to throw that out there.
Here are my self-care tips for moms:
Build daily rituals
Self-care can be anywhere from two minutes to three hours, but if you ask me, doing something for two minutes sounds a lot more attainable right now. Do you have a favorite scent you can buy a lotion or soap in and use every morning as you hop in the shower or wash your face? What about a quick stretch that always awakens and energizes you the second you hop out of bed? Self-care doesn’t have to be lavish! Build a few small, daily habits that work for you and can be consistently done day after day.
Anticipate stressful moments
You never know what life is going to throw at you, but maybe you can anticipate some of the stressful moments. Headed into a new situation with your kid? What can you do that might alleviate the stress on their end and ultimately eliminate stress on your end? Anticipate these moments as best you can. You’ll save yourself a lot of angst and that is really self-care at its finest.
Learn when to say yes and don’t feel bad when saying no
Motherhood is very humbling. I know I’m guilty of wanting to say yes to every invite that comes my way, but I know now that a yes to one thing means no to something else, whether that’s time with Mav, Wade, or even myself. Is your “yes” really worth it? Prioritize what’s important and don’t let guilt overwhelm you when you say no. You are not a bad person for saying no!
Make your own doctors appointment
Have you been to the pediatricians office about a hundred times in the past few years for your kids but not for yourself? Put your health first and make that doctor's appointment! And while you're out, maybe treat yourself to a solo coffee date. Make a little afternoon or morning out of your check-up!
Use PTO for a personal day
I know not everyone has this luxury, but if you do, I encourage you to use PTO for you. Sometimes we hoard our PTO or are fearful of using our PTO out of the fear of what our employer might think. You don’t need some lavish vacation to take time off. If all you do is stay home in your pajamas, by all means, do it!
Make the best decisions for your body
I feel it when I’m running on empty and fueling myself on lots of coffee and sugary foods. My body thanks me when I’m blessing it with the right amount of sleep, hydration, movement and nutrition. This type of self-care requires discipline, but it doesn’t require as much time as you think. Can you squeeze 15 minutes of movement in while your kids eat? Maybe reach for a salad instead of a sandwich? Water instead of your second cup of coffee? When you make smarter choices for your body, you will feel a difference. Trust me!
Create mindfulness practices
I know it can sound kumbaya for some, but even just a minute or two to connect to my breathing and ground myself has helped me navigate life as a new mom many many times. Perhaps you’ve written off meditation or thought something as simple as breathing couldn’t do much? Give it a shot because I’m floored at the difference it has made in my life and the shift in my heart I have after!!
There will be seasons when you have more time for yourself and others when it seems near-to-impossible to even find a second of silence. You are not a bad mom for wanting time for yourself or taking time for yourself. It will only empower you to better serve your dear ones! I hope these tips were helpful and I’d love to hear more of your tips over on Instagram!
