To be honest, I love a good theme. And since October is one of my favorite months of the year(due to obvious reasons), I’ve decided to do this!
Self-care is prioritizing habits and routines that make you feel like the healthiest version of yourself.
Now here’s the thing with that – the healthiest version of you is going to look different in different seasons of your life.
How I take care of myself now, as a mom with 4 kids (especially, a very inquisitive 7 year old and an extremely active toddler) looks different than how I took care of myself as a mom of with only one child , or before I became a mom altogether.
Are you with me?
Now, there is really no wrong way to practice self-care unless you just don’t.
I truly do believe that self-care is non-negotiable for everyone. Because self-care, paired with proper rest, is what keeps us grounded. It’s what helps us from burning out.
I get it – taking care of yourself when you’re a mom isn’t always the most convenient thing. It takes more planning and more intentionality. But it’s important because you’re the best mom when you prioritize self-care. I don’t feel guilty for taking care of myself because if I don’t, my daughters get the impatient, exhausted, irritable version of me and they actually deserve way better than that.
Also, I want them to grow up seeing me practice self-care so that working oneself to burnout phase doesn’t seem normal to them.
Before I give you some realistic self-care tips for moms, I want you to hear my heart – because since starting to share motherhood contents online, I’ve quickly learned that it can often be a very touchy topic to talk about. I want you to know that I am not telling you that you’re doing a bad job or that you need to add another thing to your to-do list. I just want to get your wheels turning so you can start practicing self-care more regularly … because you are worthy of prioritizing your well-being.
I’m sure you know that no one can be a better mum to your kids than you. You’re the best at this and that is enough reason for you not to take your mental, spiritual and physical health for granted.
Some Tips that have Helped so Far
•Waking up earlier than the kids
Idon’t know about you but if I wake up at the same time as my kids, the day feels a little too fast-paced for me. I need a moment to myself first thing… to pray, read my devotionals, just sort myself out basically.
•Go on a walk.
This one is so simple and so underrated. It’s another one that you can do with your kids in tow.
I definitely consider it part of my self-care practice. The movement and fresh air and connecting with my family usually improve my overall well-being. Walks are SO versatile because you can take kids of all ages with you and they can be as long or as short as you want.
Just because a walk feels simple, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t count. If walks make you feel better mentally and/or physically then they are absolutely part of self-care!
•Find your equivalent of self-care Fridays.
I’ve shared this on my blog before but it’s been such a game-changer for my family so I wanted to include it here, again!
Fridays are my day to focus on self-care. Having regular, scheduled time that is dedicated to focusing on just taking care of me, whatever that looks like every week, truly makes me the healthiest version of myself.
Alright, y’all, that is what I’ve got for you today – some realistic self-care ideas for moms!
If you decide to implement one (or more) of these into your routines, I would love to see them on Instagram so feel free to tag me at @nikimandi_!
Xoxo
Yours Truly
Nikimandi
