Being a mom can bring on many emotions throughout the day. We feel so much love and compassion for our kids as we watch them grow and care for them. But we also tend to forget to practice self care for ourselves and needs.
It is no secret that we put ourselves on the back burner and make our families the focus of our lives.
There have been many times that I notice the mom guilt that washes over me when I am either buying or doing something for myself. Which sounds totally ridiculous and crazy because no one else feels guilt when they want to do something for themselves. Just MOMS!
I have been making note of these times and just taking the plunge when I feel like it will benefit me on a personal level. I also have been taking the time to give myself some self-care that I so deserve.
It is really important to create a solid morning routine which I am still working on with my new lifestyle working from home, but these are the 3 practices I follow to help keep my mind healthy and caring for myself.
Journaling in the AM & Pm
In the morning, after I get Iyla out of her crib and we get settled on the couch, I will grab my journal and free write for a few minutes. It doesn’t have to be an extremely long time, just 2-5 minutes if you can to jot down on paper how you are feeling, what is weighing heavy on your mind and heart, how do you want your day to go.
I also like to journal what I am feeling grateful for as well as goals I want to bring into existence.
Then in the evening before bed, I do the same thing. BUT, this time I journal how my day went, how am I feeling at the end of the day, list 3 good things that happened and 3 more things I am grateful for that day. This helps you to really think about what went well rather than focusing on what went bad.
It is so easy for us to focus in on the bad that we forget about all the good things we experience, even if they are little things, they all count!
Working Out
I know, I know….this is definitely not something everyone loves to do, BUT it is so so so important and worth it.
If you didn’t know, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression after I had Iyla (you can read about it here) and I had been taking medication for a few months. It seemed to be helping for a while but then I started noticing that I didn’t feel as “happy” that I was feeling before.
So I just stopped taking the medication all together. I decided I was going to focus on moving my body and making sure I was being physically healthy. Not only does this help my body, but it helps my mind.
This has been such a game changer for my mindset. I highly recommend getting into the mindset of moving your body somehow everyday to help clear you mind and work on yourself. I have gotten to a point where I NEED to do some sort of work out or I feel anxious.
Taking solo time to decompress
Like I said before, we always put our family and their needs before ours. We need to get into the habit of communicating to our spouse, partner, or family when we are feeling like we need space or time to ourselves.
I tend to take trips to the store solo as a way for me to just casually stroll through the aisles rather than chasing the kids trying to tame them. I also like to sit outside when the baby is napping and Alina is busy doing something inside. This gives me the opportunity to just decompress and have a quiet moment to myself to tend to my need of being alone in that moment.
When many people think of self-care they think it’s getting pedi’s, massages, or extravagant things but it is so so simple.
All you need to do is reflect and think about what you NEED in that moment if you are feeling anxious or at a breaking point. Or what can you do for yourself everyday that will help you feel like you are taking care of yourself as well as the fam.
Maybe it’s getting ready everyday or waking up an hour earlier before the kiddos to just sit and drink your coffee. Think about what YOU need and can simply give yourself everyday!
