Are you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, on edge/ snapping at your kids when you don’t mean to, are you feeling moody, unfulfilled, lack of joy, stressed, is your health not where you want it or do you have new health conditions? These can all be signs it’s time for some changes. One very important change if it’s something you’re not currently doing is practicing self care.
A self care lifestyle is taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve your physical, mental , emotional and spiritual health. The key idea here is making the conscious decision to make adjustments to your current lifestyle to incorporate self care practices. This may be hard to hear but I want to express the importance of this.. it all starts in the mind .. we can say we want to change and we want differently for our lives but you know what .. we are pretty darn good at coming up with excuses or reasons why we can’t do things. So ultimately If you want things to change you have to make the conscious decision to change and you have to be “willing” and “able” to do what you need to in order to achieve the self care lifestyle you desire.
So are you willing and are you able ??? If you said yes to both of these then let’s dive in! If you said no ask yourself and be honest in your answer why are you not willing and how are you not able?? What’s holding you back? Is it Fear, past experience, worry, doubt, anxiety, overwhelm, motivation??? Once you know the why behind your feelings we can address them and help you move forward.
If you’re ready to make some changes and make self care your lifestyle then let’s dive into how we can make that happen for you !
🍃1.Know when in your days you can fit it in. I find it an incredibly helpful to track my time. Write out everything you do in your day and even how long you spend doing each of those things.
I encourage you to keep a note in your phone or grab a notebook and for the next week write down everything you do each day. Doing this can help you see patterns of how you’re spending your time and to see when you have free time. Once you know your windows of opportunity it will feel less overwhelming to start creating a new lifestyle.
🍃2. Choose one thing to start with… an overwhelmed mind and body does nothing so pick one aspect of your life you want to focus on as you’re starting to practicing self care.
**If you’re feeling exhausted look at your current sleep schedule… are you staying up too late…. Try going to bed 30 min sooner and work your way into a healthy sleep routine of 7-8 hours of sleep. If you have a little one that wakes up at night can you take turns with your partner getting up at night or is there someone who can help during the day so you can get a nap in.
**If your health is a concern look into your current eating habits and exercise routine … are there adjustments you could make to improve your health.
**If you’re running in overdrive day after day or your easily irritated try practicing slowing down … take a few breaths before you run out the door in the morning… when you drink your morning coffee be mindful about it and smell the coffee, feel the warmth of the mug in your hands, or try taking a moment to pause and breath before you speak.. doing mindful techniques in your day can help you feel more regulated and lower your stress levels.
**Even something as simple as taking up the habit of journaling is a great self care practice that can allow you to dump all your thoughts and feelings on paper … getting them out of your mind can bring relief, seeing them on paper can help bring order and clarity to what your feeling. Taking time to sit and be with God is another great way to bring peace and balance into your busy mom life. Filling our spiritual cup is just as important as our physical needs.
****What ever you choose to start with start small. start with something you look forward to doing and something that will refuel you. Decide what’s really important to you. A simple change to your daily habits is all it takes to leading you in the direction of a self care lifestyle.
🍃3. Schedule your self care time! To make a self care lifestyle for yourself you have to commit to it. So write in your planner or put it in on your online calendar when exactly you will do whatever self care practice you chose to start with. Commit to your self care like you would any other appointment. Make this a non negotiable part of your day and I promise you the more you do it the more natural it becomes.
“Gustavo Razzetti writes in his blog, The Adaptive Mind1, that balance is the realization that life is not stable but in constant motion, and is not something that you can get, but something you continually do. Life does not fit into a perfect little box, it is always changing and things are being thrown at us from all different angles. In order to maintain our own sense of balance in an imbalanced world we need to be able to adapt. Stop pitting the “want to” against the “have to”, they can co-exist! Growing up we are given schedules that include creativity, outdoor fun, exercise, and extracurricular activities; these things are part of our educational requirements! Living in the modern adult world does of course look much different, but the idea of allowing ourselves to be more flexible and open to creating moments of “me-time” can help us attain more balance.
🍃Making self care a regular habit is incredibly beneficial, not only for your physical health but your mental, emotional and spiritual well being as well. Moms you deserve time to do things you enjoy, things that are relaxing and fill your cup. Your children will not only enjoy having a more fulfilled mom but by living a self care lifestyle you are showing them that you value your well being and your modeling to them the importance of taking care of yourself even as a mom. Moms are compassionate souls who would do anything for their children but you don’t have to completely sacrifice yourself for your families well being, you can achieve a balance of caring for your families needs as well as your own needs.
Living a self care lifestyle style as a mom empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and fosters a more balanced, fulfilling life and we deserve that!
Remember, self-care is about discovering what practices resonate with you personally, whether it’s through mindfulness, physical activity, creative pursuits, or simply setting boundaries. It’s a journey of self-discovery and continual adjustment, not a destination.
🍃So, as you embrace this lifestyle, be gentle with yourself and recognize that self-care is an ongoing process. Start small as you ease into this new way of living and give yourself grace on the days that don’t go as planned and try again the next day! Celebrate the small victories, listen to your needs, and make space for the activities and habits that nourish you. In doing so, you’ll not only enhance your quality of life but also set a positive example for those around you. After all, taking care of ourselves is the foundation for taking care of others and making meaningful contributions to the world. Here’s to a more mindful, balanced, and self-compassionate motherhood journey.