Being a mom can sometimes feel like the hardest job in the world. It's not just taking care of your kids, but everything else that goes along with it - managing your household budget, keeping up with food shopping and cooking, doing household chores, laundry, exercise... The list goes on. It's no wonder so many moms are burnt out these days!
This post is all about how and why self care for moms is important when they're feeling frazzled and exhausted and also when they’re feeling perfectly okay. We'll go over some quick tips for making life easier both at home and in public spaces. We’ll majorly talk about self care tips for moms and self care ideas for moms.
Why is self care for moms important?
As moms, we're used to caring for others and putting our needs second. Unfortunately, that's taking its toll on us. We're less able to function because of the strain, and we don't feel like ourselves anymore. We're burnt out and need time to de-stress.
Don't let yourself get to that point! Having some time for you is vital for your physical and mental health. Focus on caring for yourself and your family will reap the benefits.
Benefits of self care for moms
You may be wondering why you should care about self-care, when you already have so much else to do. Here are some of the reasons why it's important:
1. In the long term, self-care can make you a happier person: It can relieve stress, make parenting easier, and improve communication in your family - especially with kids. Self-care has also been shown to help combat depression.
2. In the short term, taking care of yourself will help you function efficiently at home and at work: when you are running on empty, it's hard to be productive! Self-care can help you break out of the cycle of exhaustion and let you actually focus on what needs done.
3. It can help prevent burnout: Moms put so much into their family that it's inevitable that they will feel burnt out. By making time for yourself and being aware of the warning signs, you might be able to prevent becoming completely exhausted.
4. Self-care can help with your overall health and wellbeing: Raising kids takes a lot of energy, but it also gives you a lot of benefits for your overall health. By taking care of yourself (and having fun too!), you'll be in better shape to handle everything else.
5. Self-care will make you more confident: The more self-assured and in control you feel, the more positive energy you'll be sending out! Moreover, as you're taking care of yourself without even realizing it, chances are that you'll be more cheerful and energetic.
How can moms practice self-care?
So how do you put self-care into practice? It's pretty simple - the main thing is to try to make it a priority. If you don't prioritize it, then chances are it will stay on your "to do" list forever. And that's no good - if it's not getting done, then what's the point?
Moms are notoriously overworked, yet we tend to keep harping on how much "we" (meaning other moms?) need to rest, so that's exactly what we're going to do.
Below I'll share some ways to practice self care for busy moms based on things I've tried myself and things that I've heard from friends who are moms.
6 Simple Tips for Relaxing & Recharging
1. Go for a drive alone on a Sunday or on holidays Momma: Let's face it. Sometimes you just need to get out of the house and have some time to yourself. The best way to do this is by going on a drive solo - away from the kids, your husband, pets, and household chores.
You'll be able to focus on yourself and recharge instead of fretting over what needs to get done - especially if you're in a bind with work or life in general. Having some time alone can de-stress you out and help you relax so that weeknights are easier.
2. Go to bed early and leave the dishes for the next day: No one likes to leave the dishes for cleaning later on, especially when you're a mom. Do this and you'll really start to feel at ease.
There are just not enough hours in the day to get it all done most days. And you know what? That is okay. Sometimes, the housework needs to take a back seat and sleep needs to win. Sleep has MASSIVE impacts on our physical, mental, and emotional health. There is a reason why sleep deprivation is a form of torture; it’s awful! So, if you find that you need rest, do it. The dishes, the laundry, and even the shower can wait.
3. Give yourself consent to say “No” to your friends and family: If your friends and family ask you to do something, even if it sounds like such a small thing, let them know that it's not okay with you. You have to take care of yourself first. No one will feel guilty if they know you're giving yourself the time to rest.
A good way to communicate this is through your body language; for example, taking a deep breath and sighing loudly when someone asks you to do something may help others realize how much you need alone time so that they won’t try pressuring you into doing things later on. Not everything needs to be done by us moms - not everything should be done by anybody! Give yourself some space and respect from others.
4. Unfollow people who make you unhappy on social media: Some people can be highly toxic, whether they mean to or not. Unfollowing them can be a great way to de-stress and clear your mind.
More often than not, you never end up using even all those apps on your social media accounts; they’re just there taking up space, lurking in the background. It's so good to get back some peace of mind by lowering the amount of apps - and people - you have bogging you down. Rather follow people who make you happy!
5. Eat healthy food and drink water: Nutrition is an important part of your self-care routine. Eating a nutritious diet will not only help you to feel good and reduce stress, but it can also prevent health problems down the line.
While the goal may be to eat healthy all the time, it’s not always possible due to our busy schedules. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on nutrition. By filling up on nutrient-packed foods, you can meet your daily nutrient needs without having to think about it every mealtime. Taking care of your diet is a great way to keep your focus on positive things. When you're eating well and drinking lots of water, you'll feel more energetic, more mentally alert, and you'll be more mentally healthy - which makes parenting easier!
6. Find counseling that works for you online: If you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or suffering from depression, online counseling will help you. It’s better than ignoring it. Sometimes moms can feel that they are trapped in their situation and cannot get out of it, leading to depression and anxiety. Online counseling is a lot easier to find other than IRL in person counseling.
7. Try attending an art therapy workshop: Painting, sculpting, drawing and coloring are healing activities that are more than just a hobby. Art provides us with the opportunity to express ourselves and many times, it helps us to understand our emotions better.
If you're feeling that your journal entries aren't getting the job done, try painting your thoughts so you can get them out by letting your creativity flow. This is also a great way to vent! Ask your friends or family members if they would like to join you in an art therapy workshop - it will be fun, and it will help them too! You can book an art therapy session here.
At ManoShala we have experts round the clock at your service. We have experts who can help you immensely whether you need to deal with something as big as depression or anything as small as work stress. You can also schedule sessions in advance as per your availability and convenience.
Takeaway
Let's face it, for women there is no such thing as having everything under control. But that doesn't mean we can't still be the best version of ourselves and treat ourselves with the respect that we deserve. Being a mom is not just about taking care of kids and household chores - it's about taking care of yourself as well.
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