Moms & Self Care

Self care is a term that’s so ubiquitous that it’s almost lost it’s meaning. But at its most basic, self care is caring for ones self. It’s making sure you’re looking after yourself and your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Self care, to many people, is unfortunately associated with being selfish. There is this perception that taking care of your own needs first is being self centered. 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺!

As moms we know what it’s like to be thoroughly involved, with everything. Our to-do lists are a mile long, and we’re constantly juggling our own needs with those of our kids and partner. We all know that our place on that list is usually at the bottom.

But how are we able to take care of our family if we can’t take care of ourselves?

We’ve all heard it before; taking care of yourself equals taking care of others.

And there’s no denying that your kids benefit tremendously from you taking great care of yourself.

Self care can help:

• Improve your physical health
• Reduce stress
• Build confidence and self esteem
• Lower depression

Most moms reach a point where they can’t find time or just forget to care for themselves. Self care for moms?

Where does that fit in?

Let be real, it’s impossible to prioritize sleep when your child needs you at night. You can’t nap when the baby naps (most annoying advice ever) when you have other children to look after or things to do around the house.

What can you do for self care that fits into your regular routine, during nap time, after the kids go to bed, or while the kids are busy playing?

A big misconception is that self care has to include a luxurious spa treatment or lavish child free vacation. While it certainly can include those things, self care is really about maintaining your everyday wellbeing.

Doing things like taking your vitamins, exercising and eating a healthy meal are all part of your self care. These tasks that may have once been taken for granted, can become a major challenge when you add a newborn or active toddler to the mix.

Where do you even start?

Start small! Make a list of things that made you happy before kids. Did you go for walks or read a good book? Try to incorporate those things into a new self care routine.

It only takes a few minutes a day to gain the benefits.

You can find a list of self care ideas anywhere on the internet, but I have made a list of my favorites.

Workout

You can get a great workout in for 30 minutes or less. Working out will get endorphins flowing and send that happy feeling throughout your body. You don’t need to leave your house to workout, you can do this in your living room. My favorite at home workout has been with the Nintendo Switch Ring Fit.

Read a book

Take a few minutes to escape your world, and jump into another. If you don’t have a lot of time, try just reading one chapter.

Take a hot bath/shower

A bath is a great way to help you relax and have some alone time. Hot water will relax you while washing away the stresses of mom life. You can even add some essential oils or bath/shower bombs to help you feel more relaxed.

Meditate

If there is one thing our mom brains need, it’s a break. Meditation helps you turn off your brain for a while and focus on just being. This will help with managing stress and becoming more present.

Listen to a podcast

It is super easy to tune into a podcast, and you can find one about literally anything. It’s a great way to “escape” into a story or learn about something new.

You’ve got this mama!