5 (REALISTIC) WAYS TO MAKE SELF-CARE A PRIORITY
This one is for the MTHRS!
Self-care and motherhood don’t really go hand in hand - but you know the old saying “you gotta put your oxygen mask on first!”. Yep, it’s tough to carve out the time but it doesn’t need to be impossible. The term self-care is thrown about all over the place and I know that for many of us, just seeing it written down or brought up in a casual convo can illicit an immediate eye roll. We barely have time to go to the bathroom, let alone taking time out for ourselves.
But, I’ve got to be honest with you. When we leave ourselves last when the energy is at its lowest then we will find ourselves at rock bottom before we know it. New babies or changes with our families can cause major disruption and throw self-care out the window.
Here are 4 ways that you can incorporate some self-care back into your routine…
Get Moving: Don’t overthink it and make it super simple. Can you walk during nap time? Pack up the pram and go? What about nap time? Can you follow any of the many in-home workouts. many awesome ones are free too, like Nike! Get that oxygen flowing and it will help with your mood, sleep, anxiety - so many things.
Breathe: Seems crazy but we forget to breathe deeply when stress starts to creep up on us. Naps and walking away when you reach full stress point aren’t options but you can take a minute for your own time out to just breathe. Take enough time to breathe deep 10 x each breath goes to the count of 5. Sit on the floor, cross your legs and hold your hands palm side to your stomach and chest. Breathe in slowly to the count of 5, hold for 2 and then exhale for 5.
Embrace boredom: You don’t need to fill every second of every day with activities or events for our little bundles of joy - even as they get older. Let them experience boredom, after all it’s the key to creativity. A walk in the garden or anywhere outdoors. Painting, drawing, playdough. Even asking them questions about their toys to spark their imagination “What could you use that for?” or “What are you cooking?” In fact, simple activities like doing the laundry and tidying up can be made fine and help calm your mind too. Give yourself a break mama and don’t overfill that calendar!
Discover Audible: Don’t have time to read, no problem, listen to one! Expanding your mind or transporting yourself to another time / place doesn’t need to be solely for reading.
Find your tribe: Spend time with friends whenever you can, even if this is a monthly thing. Having time to talk through how you’re feeling or where you’re at should never be underestimated.