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Self Care Ideas/Tips For Moms:It is in a mom’s job description that she does everything for everyone. It is their duty (and their pleasure!) to see to it that their families are tended to in every way.Whether it’s bringing home a good salary to pay monthly expenses or being a stay-at-home mom full-time, mothers do everything from A to Z to ensure their kids are safe, secure and happy. There is no such thing as vacation time when it comes to motherhood.That’s why it’s so easy for moms to neglect their own needs. There are always so many tasks to take care of, so many things to do to keep the home fires burning, it’s easy to let self-care slide.Many women perceive self-care as self-indulgent, but that’s a misguided notion. When moms get their batteries recharged when they feel competent and ready to tackle a new day, everyone benefits. Self-care means that once you, mom, are energetic, relaxed and happy, you are ready to undertake the endless challenges of being a mom and a spouse.And self-care does not have to cost money! There is a misconception out there that self-care is a privilege of the well-of, the women who can financially manage hiring a housekeeper, a nanny, or both. Nothing could be further from the truth! There are plenty of ways to practice self-care that cost little or no money. But the benefits to moms and their families are truly priceless.In this post, we define self-care correctly and offer suggestions for you about practising it regularly. Think of self-care as an investment in your (and your family’s) happiness and well-being.Don’t let feelings of guilt sneak up on you when you take time just for yourself to make yourself calmer, happier and capable of handling any and all issues that crop up every day.
Self-care: How To Define It?
As we said, self-care does not mean spending a small fortune going to a spa for a mani-pedi three times a week. Self-care means paying attention to your emotional, physical, and mental health.You may have thought of burnout as something that happens only to overworked, exhausted career women, but it can happen just as easily to full-time moms. Practising self-care helps avoid it.That means taking inventory of the things that are lacking, things that are holding you back or making you unhappy. For example: let’s say your boss has been insisting you to put in extra hours at the office, and you’ve obliged. But doing so means you’re missing family dinners, and everyone is unhappy about that. Self-care kicks in when you take time to analyze the problem and weigh possible solutions.If you’re a stay-at-home mom, here’s an example you may relate to. As an energetic participant in your children’s lives outside the home, you love to volunteer. Maybe it’s with the local parent-teacher association, or maybe you coach a sports team at their school, or maybe you do both.You also help an elderly neighbour who can’t grocery shop for themselves anymore; you tend a big garden in the backyard and grow your family’s fruits and vegetables, and of course, you schedule all their activities. And when you come down with a cold or minor tummy bug, you just barrel through and do it all even when you’re under the weather.That kind of intense schedule, with no spare time just for you, is a sure-fire path to burnout.Practising self-care helps you recognize when you’re overdoing it. Your body and mind send signals that say, “slow down!” And whether you leave the family to watch a movie without you while you hit the gym, or you order take-out and head to a nearby park to watch the waves along the river’s edge, you’ll feel better for taking a “time out” all by yourself.While balancing the demands of your career, doing what is best for you is practising self-care! By paying attention to a problem that is making you – and, by extension, your family – unhappy, practising self-care in its truest sense.
Self care Ideas At Little Or No Cost
We promised to give you some suggestions for this, so read on!
- Gather Your Friends For Coffee
Sometimes there is no greater way to feel better than by sharing your issues with others who are in similar circumstances. Sit down on a friend’s front porch and give yourself license to vent.Letting all your frustrations come out is a great way to diffuse them. And, of course, lend an ear to her, too. We guarantee you’ll both end the time spent together feeling lighter. There is no greater tonic for problems we think are insurmountable than knowing someone else is experiencing them as well. And your friend, or friends, may offer solutions that have not occurred to you.
- Exercise Any Way You Can
Whether you do an online class in yoga at home, while the baby is napping, or you head out to the gym, exercise is one of the best forms of self-care there is. Even a vigorous walk works wonders.Sitting still, stewing about your private annoyances and grievances, is never healthy. Find at least 30 minutes every day to take care of your body. As the old saying goes, take care of your body, and it will help take care of your heart, mind and soul.
- Turn Off Your Devices For a While
This is a big ask, we know. But sometimes, not being available for an hour or two is incredibly calming and restorative. Tell your spouse (or sitter) that you will be unavailable between, let’s say, two and three o’clock in the afternoon. Have all school calls (if any are expected) redirected.As long as there is another contact number for your children in case of an emergency, you can relax knowing they are safe. And not checking your phone and social media obsessively for a while helps lower your blood pressure and quiet your mind. You’ll be surprised at just how terrific this feels.
- Postpone Doing Extra Work Until Tomorrow
We aren’t talking about procrastination. All we’re suggesting is that if you brought a file home from the office intending to get it done tonight, stop!Get up extra early and do it tomorrow if it’s truly pressing. If not, let it wait until you’re back at the office tomorrow. Instead, watch a movie, or read a book – anything that allows you to unwind and do nothing for an hour or two.Have a mug of calming, herbal tea. Close your eyes and imagine all the good things in your life. Meditate on them. Remind yourself how lucky you are. Comparing yourself to someone who is genuinely suffering – a mom whose child is seriously ill, for example – is a great way to keep the size of your problems in perspective.You don’t have to pretend nothing in your world is amiss – that isn’t healthy either. But knowing you are fortunate, that virtually all the problems you’re facing can be solved with imagination and dedication, is the key to understanding how fortunate you really are.
- Treat Yourself To a Salon Experience
This self-care may not be free, but it’s definitely worth it. Make an appointment with your stylist and get a haircut. Have a pedicure done by your neighbourhood esthetician. This is not about vanity!Looking good makes you feel good, and your appearance is important to your self-esteem. It does cost a little, we know, but the fee is small compared to a bout of retail therapy that dents your credit card and makes you feel guilty. And we all know someone who uses retail therapy to avoid facing her issues, don’t we? Self-care helps avoid those traps, and small changes in an appearance last for weeks.
Final Thoughts
Self-care for moms is really about care for the entire family, for everyone’s health and well-being. A lot is demanded of mothers, and you need to be up for the challenges.Practising self-care, and knowing when and why you need to stop to recharge, is crucial not only for your sanity. It’s crucial for all the relationships in your life, whether they are with those folks at home, at the office or in the community. Taking care of yourself means you will be ready and eager to take care of everyone else. And that, in a nutshell, is what moms have been doing since time immemorial.
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