putting your best self forwards requires a lot of effort especially for tired and busy moms. Practicing self-care can help you feel healthy, look great and really enjoy life! Self-care if done correctly is not selfish at ALL! Moms are always making sure that their kids, house, significant other and the daily to-do’s are taking care of that you can often become too tired to take care of yourself.
The key to living a balanced life is designing a purposeful life that nourishes your emotions, body, and mind. I know it is a lot easier said than done but it is achievable!
A lot of moms feel guilty to take time away from their children for self-care. I have had times where I felt bad for leaving my baby with my husband while I went to the grocery store and I know that sounds silly but I felt guilty that I did not have my child with me. If you have ever felt guilty for taking time to practice self-care I promise you are not alone!
Julie Burton, author of The Self-Care Solution: A Modern Mother’s Must-Have Guide to Health and Well-Being, said it so well. She said: Moms have a mile-long to-do list, and by default, they often put themselves at the bottom of the list. Sometimes, they don’t even make the list at all.”
Remembering that you too also need to make sure you are practicing self-care. Below are 5 Successful Ways Moms can Practice Self-Care
1.Move Your Body
Whether you need to shake up your daily routine or start an exercise program make sure you choose something that gets you excited and motivated! Sign up for a 5K run, go to a Yoga class, go for a walk with your mom friends. My good mom friend and I try to go for a walk with our kids at least once a week and the times we are able to make our week so much better!
2. Eat Health Foods
It is amazing the difference you can feel when you eat healthy foods VS. Not healthy foods. When you eat healthily your body has more energy and as mom’s, we need all the energy we can get! When your children see you eating healthy food they will follow your example. Take a few minutes each week to plan out a few healthy meals a week and keep them in your fridge. That way eating healthy meals is easy!
3. Connect
Don’t let having a busy schedule make it impossible to connect with your friends. It is important for moms to have other mom friends to connect with! Also, make sure to schedule time in for your significant other. Even if that means once a month and make it happen! My husband and I have always been very religious on Friday date nights. And ever since having our baby our Date nights have become more special and meaningful!
4. Make Time For Yourself
It is easy to get caught up in the daily routines of life, laundry, dishes, carpool, planning meals, and taking children to sports games. That before you know it years have passed by and you have forgotten who you are. The solutions? Make sure to pursue hobbies, journal, write, read, meditate anything that you enjoy and helps you relax. It is important for moms to have hobbies and do things they love. Julie Burton said: “We are evolving throughout our whole lives and staying connected to our inner-most passions is what keeps us fully alive and joyful.”
5. Make sure You Are Getting Sleep
By making sure you are making sleep a priority is important not only for your emotional well being but your physical as well. Lack of sleep can me you on edge, restless, and not think clearly. It is easy to get stuck in the “let’s get things done before the kids wake up” but always follow what your body needs. I love waking up at 6 a.m only when my daughter sleeps all night. And when she doesn’t I don’t mind sleeping an extra 30 minutes. Because I rather be a happy mom than a tired and cranky one.
“The moment you become a mother and commit to caring for your child set an intention for yourself: I will honor and respect myself by regularly taking care of my needs. This will make me happier and better able to care for my family,” Burton says. “As moms, we have an enormous opportunity to set a great example for our children of how to be kind to ourselves, and in turn, how to be kind to others. As the saying goes, we can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Don’t let the joy of motherhood and life be taken away because of the lack of self-care. Moms remember that your needs are just as important as everyone else! Comment below and let me know other ways that you practice self-care!
These are some great tips. You definitely have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others.
I always seem to let connecting with my friends fall by the wayside with my business and parenting duties. I really need to change that!
Great tips for anyone not just Moms. Women in general don’t take enough care of themselves. I know I’ve been guilty of this and it’s something I’m trying to change this year!
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You are right! Moms and women, in general, can do things for themselves sometimes!
I really need to make sure i do a lot more of the last one. I find so many things to do all the time. But i don’t think I get fully relaxed when I am always worried about the next things I have to do. This is just a reminder how important it truly is for self-care.
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My second time around (i have a 4 yr old and now 7 mo old) I’m really trying to practice these principles! You are so right, it’s really important fo us mamas to make ourselves a priority!
That is great that you are really trying to practice self-care! Because you are right it is important for us moms to take care of ourselves as well!
Great tips…especially the sleep one for me right now. Ive been making it a priority.
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Sleep I think is the most important, because it drastically affects your ability to do everything else. These are great self care tips.
I learned the hard way when I first became a mom that “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and when I realized that I needed to do something, I started making time for myself. It made a huge difference for me and for my family. I make sure to get time to read every day, I exercise most days, and eat healthy most of the time.
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