What is self care? Self care is, simply put, the act of caring for yourself. Pretty clear, right? Self care is doing things that fill your bucket, and make you feel like YOU. It includes focusing on your interests and hobbies, taking a minute to just relax and recharge, or treating yourself. Self care is important for everyone. If you get lost in your job, school work, sports, etc., then what is left of you?
Taking care of yourself is important for everyone, but it is especially important for moms. I'm talking about all moms: stay-at-home moms, part-time working moms, full-time working moms, etc. Regardless of what "type" of mom you are, your job is HARD. It is so easy to lose yourself in taking care of your kids. They are your life, and you should focus all of your time and attention on them and their needs. Otherwise, you're a terrible mom. Right? That's how many moms feel. That's how many people who aren't moms feel.
I am here to tell you that those people, and that nagging little voice in your head, are wrong. Taking time to take care of yourself is the most unselfish thing you can do. How are you supposed to take care of those precious little people if you aren't taking care of yourself? How can you fill someone else's bucket if yours is empty? Taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of your kids. You can't be a wonderful mom if you're burnt out.
Self care doesn't have to take up a large amount of your time. It could be a quick five minute break. It could be as quick as sneaking a piece of chocolate while your kids are playing. Starting a self care regimen can seem overwhelming and impossible. Your day is so busy that there is no possible way you could add time for yourself. Start small. Set short, small goals for yourself. Pick a couple days per week that you are going to take a couple minutes for yourself. Starting out too big will probably cause immediate failure, and discourage you from really making self care work for you.
Therefore, before you indulge in any form of self-care, be sure to know what you want and where to get it from conveniently. Then, once you find a good self-care regimen, ensure you stick to it.
When doing your research, identify which part of self-care you want to handle fast. For instance, you may decide to begin with your face by getting skincare therapy. You may also choose to start with your body muscles by visiting a chiropractor.
Lastly, you can also decide to get a body massage to relieve body tension and help you relax. The list is endless! Choose what will work for you, and by this, you will always have time for self-care.
You can do it! Let me help you with some ideas to get you started.
Now that you have the tools to get started, I know that you can implement a successful self care program. Start by setting self care goals for one week, and go from there. Holidays and the new year are coming up. If you get started now, you could put together some amazing self care goals for the upcoming year. A happy and healthy momma raises healthier and happier kids. Remember, you're worth it, and so are your kids.
Looking for more ideas? Check out these tips for parents.