Self Care For Busy Moms

Photo by Ellieelien on Unsplash

“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.”

As a mom of a 3-year-old little boy and another one on the way, I know the feeling of being drained out, especially being four months pregnant. Being a mom is rewarding, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I love seeing my son learn, grow and becoming his own little person. Being pregnant makes it more tiring. From potty training, to setting doctor appointments, I barely get to sit down and rest my feet.

I love being a mom, and I’m sure you do too. When was the last time you had time for yourself?

Being a mom, we’re not only taking care of the small humans, we’re also taking care of the big guys too, the husbands. We’re constantly doing things around the house; cooking, cleaning, making sure laundry is done, and bills are paid. We take care of our household, so our homes stay clean. We take care of our families, making sure they have everything ready for the next day. We stay by our kids bedside when they are sick, helping with homework, bath time, the list goes on. We do it all, and it’s hell of exhausting!

Although, I may only have one child, I know a few of you may have more children at home. As a mom, we spend the majority of our time taking care of other people, and it’s easy to put your needs last.

Self-care is everything related to staying well in body, mind and spirit. It requires intention, proactivity and self-discipline, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of self-care as refueling your car with gas BEFORE you get stuck on the side of the road… with a car full of kids… on the way to an important event… in the rain. Nobody likes having to stop for gas, but that 5 minute pit stop when we see the “E” light flash is way better than breaking down on the side of the road.

Now with a 3-year-old running around and my pregnant belly slowing me down. Self-care is more important now than ever.

Here are a few self-care ideas for busy moms

1. Pamper yourself. Do the extra beauty routine. Manicure, pedicure, face mask, hair mask while reading your favorite magazine. Listen to music, light some candles, while having a bubble bath. Poor, a glass of wine.
2. Move your body. Getting your heart pumping by going for a walk, either to the park or coffee shop. Exercising at the gym or in your living room.
3. Journaling. No matter if you’re a good writer or not, journaling is healing. When used as a self reflective tool, writing can help organize your thoughts and come to conclusions about what you’re going through in life.
4. Screen time less. There’s a fine line between using screen time (i.e. scrolling Instagram, Pinterest or Netflix) as a way to decompress and using it to escape. Spend less time on your cellphone.

Living with A CHD child