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Self-Care for Mothers: Love Yourself First

Self-Care for Mothers: Love Yourself First

Januar 31, 2022

Reports say 78% of moms say they put off taking care of their own health to care for family members. In a world where “mom-guilt” is coined in the dictionary, this does not come as a surprise. You may think this new (or maybe familiar) parenthood life is chaotic and find it hard to set time to take care of yourself, but self-care will help you become a happier you, and a happier mom usually means happier children.

Self-care may remind you of spa days, endless retail therapy, going to the gym every day, meditating every morning, having the best morning and evening routines, or relaxing 3-hour bubble baths. But the thing is, self-care is yours, and it’s whatever you want it to be! It won’t be the same as anyone else’s, and it won’t always stay the same for you either. It can be three hours when you need it to be, or it can be three minutes, depending on your schedule and goals. When you can, making time for self-care can help you feel centered and more like "you" as you adjust to your new role as a parent. A balanced life that does NOT revolve around others will make you and your loved ones happier for sure. This requires intentional, and sometimes hard choices. Here are some tips on self-care for new moms, pick and choose as you like!

⭐️ Choose your non-negotiables:
Decide what makes the biggest difference in your mood and energy during the day. It can be sleep, a daily walk, a nice meal, your favorite TV show every week, or some cozy time with your friends/significant other. Choose them, make space in your daily agenda for them, and place other things around.

🧘‍♀️ Move your body:
Exercise, or simply moving, will help your body as well as your mind. Taking a walk around the block, with or without someone, fresh air, a change of scenery, and physical activity all offer a chance to reset. If you don’t feel like walking, there are countless ways to move your body: stretch or do some yoga, take your bike out for a spin, spend time tending your garden, or do whatever makes your body feel good!

🍉 Fuel your body well:
Food is fuel, and it has a great effect on how you feel on a daily basis. While you prepare these amazing and colorful plates for your kids, are you eating microwaved frozen food in the middle of the night because “it’s easy,” and then feeling horrible in the morning? Yeah, no surprise there. Make sure you are feeding your body well, and you will feel so much better during the day! You can create weekly meal plans to reduce the mental work that goes into “deciding” what to cook during the week, and you can stock up your pantry and freezer for your easy, favorite go-to meals. Weekly plans can also help share the load, so you can have kitchen rotations with others in the house.

😷 Don’t ignore your health:
Your body and also brain go through a lot, and we mean A LOT, during pregnancy and birth. Schedule a health check, and make sure everything is okay. Listen to the signals of your body and mind for exhaustion, hunger, loneliness, need for alone time, or affection. Take care of your physical and mental health in order to be your best self around. 

💤 Rest your body whenever you can:
It’s easy to fall into the “get-stuff-done-while-kids-are-sleeping” trap, but it only leads to a tired and probably grumpy mom. Prioritizing sleep and downtime whenever you need to is essential, especially when your body is trying to heal after the pregnancy. Creating a relaxing bedtime routine or getting help from others so you can have some nap time during the day will help your quality of life immensely. 

👯‍♀️ Stay Connected to your social circle:
Have 30 minutes during your baby's naptime? Schedule a phone date with your best friend. Schedule a date night every once in a while. You can go out to eat at a new restaurant, take a walk with your neighbors, or join a book club or moms’ group. Spending all your time at home with your baby is not sustainable, and you will definitely need some adult time in your life. Choose to have them, schedule them, and stay connected to your life and social circle!

💛 Stay connected to yourself:
Whatever you need to do to feel like yourself, you should never postpone it! It can be your warm evening teas, journaling, reading, meditating, hobbies, face masks, or anything you’d like! Make time for what makes you “you,” and do not give up your identity because you brought another person into the world. 

📞 Ask for help:
Remember, you did not create this baby alone, and you don’t have to take care of this baby alone. Of course, not everyone has the support of a partner, family, or friends who can offer help taking care of your baby (and it's especially challenging during a pandemic), but if your loved ones can step in to give you a break, ask them, and let them.

Surprising information about your children: they are watching you, everything you do. And they are taking notes. How you treat yourself, as well as how you treat others. If you cannot shake the feeling of guilt while taking time for yourself, remember this. You should be your best self to be a good mom, and you are teaching your kids how to take care of themselves.