If you are like most moms, you probably focus most of your energy and time on your child’s well-being. Moms are known to be one of the most selfless human beings. It starts with sacrificing your body while suffering through nausea and other side effects of pregnancies until bringing your baby to this world in the most unimaginable pain. And it certainly does not end there. Many moms spend endless nights taking care of their babies and worrying about them when they are older. I have heard a lot of parents of grown-up children say that they have never stopped worrying- they just worry about different things depending on the age of their child. While it is truly admirable that moms put their children first, it is necessary to point out that self-care is so important for moms. Ever heard the saying “you cannot pour from an empty cup?” It is so applicable to moms especially since they are in charge of caring for another human being. It is extremely difficult to help someone else if you are not well yourself. When I first had my baby, I never wanted anyone to help and felt like I should do everything on my own. But I have learned to take care of myself so I can take better care of my little one. Here is my 7-step guide on how moms should focus on their own well-being from time to time:
Step 1- Self-care: I cannot emphasize enough how important self-care is. You cannot pour from an empty cup. It is crucial to hit the brakes from time to time and enjoy some well-deserved “me-time.” Have your husband (or a babysitter of your choice) take care of your child while you have some uninterrupted time to recharge your batteries. I personally like getting my hair done or get mani-pedis. Other love to go shopping to relax. There’s a reason it’s called retail therapy.
Step 2- Find the time to work-out: This doesn’t mean you have to do some full-fledged gym workout. It can be as simple as just doing a 10 minute YouTube workout or going for a walk around the block. Exercising releases endorphins and helps tremendously at reducing stress. Start your day with a workout and you’ll feel more energized throughout the day.
Step 3- Get in your zzz’s: I know we’re all busy and have excuses but getting in a solid 7-8 hours of quality sleep at night is so crucial to reduce your stress levels. Try to not use any electronics close to bedtime. If you need extra help relaxing, you can do some light yoga before going to bed and use essential oils.
Step 4 – Have some adult time: If you keep having the song “Baby Shark” stuck in your head, chances are you spend too much time being baby stuff and not enough time doing adult things. I know from my own experience that sometimes you get so in the zone of focusing all your time on your happy that you almost forget that you are a person with needs as well. What helped me personally was to get back to work. The feeling of putting some real clothes and make-up on (as opposed to the yoga pants and top knot I was rocking for the first couple of weeks after my son was born) and having adult conversations made me feel like a woman again. Obviously, not every mom wants to go back to work but I highly recommend carving out some adults when you meet your friends for coffee or brunch.
Step 5 – Have date nights: Once you become a parent, chances are you want to spend all the time with your baby. I remember that my husband and had our first baby-free night two weeks after my son was born to go out to dinner for my birthday. All we ended up doing was talking about our baby and watching him on the camera app from our phones. However, it is so important to make time for some romance. When I talk to divorced people and ask them what led to their divorce, they tell me that the romance in their relationship was gone and that they were merely parents at the end and not partners anymore. It is important to keep the flame alive. Try to get someone to watch your child every once in a while and spend some quality time with your partner where the two of you can bond. Remember that before you were parents, you were lovers and both don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Step 6 – Meditate: You have to believe me on this one! When your baby sleeps or you have a few moments completely to yourself, sit down in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and breathe in and out deeply. Try to block out any negative or stressful thoughts and just concentrate on your breath. Do this for at least five minutes every day. It will help you clear your mind and focus your energies. You will feel like a million bucks if you do this properly.
Step 7 – Keep a Journal: While it is always easy to focus on all the negative things in your life, it is a lot more powerful to be grateful for the positive things that are happening in your life. Maybe your baby kept you up all night but is he a healthy baby? Maybe you gained some weight during pregnancy but did you have a healthy pregnancy? Try to journal all your blessings by stating how grateful you are for them. The universe usually rewards gratitude with more blessings. Try it out and I promise something positive will happen to you.
I hope this guide will help you practice more self-care which is so important for moms. Baby and Sunshine has an excellent subscription service that can help moms save time and energy to focus more on themselves. Their subscription boxes will be delivered right to your doorstep. They pick out and personalize high-quality items for mom and baby tailored to their needs. They offer a lot of items that help moms take care of themselves after having a baby such as nursing bras, pumping bras, belly binders, waist trainers, and a lot more. And the best thing is you can let them know your preferences in a survey and they will plan it for you. Check them out under this link! This is a great investment to save some time and money, so you have more left for yourself and your baby. Follow them on Instagram under @baby_and_sunshine and follow me under @themiamimami_ . Also check out their YouTube channel below :
Let me know your self-care tips in the comments!
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