I will admit - if you haven't noticed by now, I am not a mother and I am certainly not even a parent, but I do know a thing or two when it comes to self-care. But when it comes to motherhood and parenthood, I actually have two great women in my life to fill that role - my own mother and my sister. So I was curious to ask them about what it takes to be able to have a mother self-care day? Why does it seem that most mothers need to take part of some motherly sacrifice that gets in the way of them being able to take care of themselves? Yes, motherhood and parenthood in general consists of many demands, rewards, sleepless nights, and countless schedule changes, but taking care of your family and yourself is a huge necessity to ensure that are doing what is right for yourself and your life.
In talking to my sister and mother, as well as my sister talking to her friends about it, there are many resources that help women transition from womanhood to motherhood, but there aren't many that discuss the importance of self-care during your time as a new parent. It could be because motherhood self-care probably isn't seen as something sexy or always glamorous, and it could also be because women don't always have the time to practice it as they used to when single or partnered. They aren't dropping $100 on a fancy face mask kit or dropping $250 on a spa day premium package. The truth may be that many people stereotype mom self-care to a day spa visit or a trip to get a mani/pedi. However, motherhood self-care is what helps women stay grounded. Women's self-care isn't negotiable, but rather something that needs to be a part of a woman's daily life to ensure that they can be the best that they can be. Here are some ways that we have found to help mother's take a mom self-care day.
Get Your Body Moving
When it comes to motherhood, new moms may feel like they do not have time to workout anymore. When you might be working one or two jobs, raising your children, and working to make your family happy and healthy, does one really want to workout? It could be hard to convince yourself to workout when you do not have the energy, but it is important to keep yourself motivated and do prioritize your health as well. Think about why working out is important to you? Or even think about how working out makes you feel? If you love that feeling after your routine and love how energized you feel, give yourself some time to get yourself back into your regime. To do so, give yourself a specific appointment to start working out. Here are some workouts you can do that do kick-start your self-care routine:
- Pilates - Consider waking up about thirty minutes earlier to do a pilates routine. It is a beneficial way to boost your strength, promote flexibility, improve your posture, and increase your energy all to help you keep up with your little ones!
- Go For A Run - Need something quick to do while your spouse is home and your kids are asleep? Go for a run - it is a quick way to get your heart rate up, keep you energized, and even shed some unwanted calories along the way. You can also reach that step count you've been wanting to break by using on of our many smartwatches and fitness trackers for an added bonus.
- Take Your Kids On A Hike At The Park - Who said you can't include your children in a little self-care? Take your kiddos to the park and go for a hike as a way to enjoy the weather, have a change of scene, and get all those amazing benefits that the outdoors have in store.
It is important to keep in mind that you shouldn't beat yourself up for missing a workout day. If your kid is sick, things are too crazy at the office, or you schedule is simply to booked, do not stress yourself out about it!
Take Time To Eat Right
When it comes to self-care, it is important to consider what you actually put into your body - good food means good fuel for your body to be able to do all the amazing things that you do as a mother. The tendency to eat well mainly gets focused on the child, but you still need to make sure you are treating your body properly by giving it all the nutrients it needs. Consider taking up some of these habits to ensure you are getting the nutrient self-care session your body deserves:
- Consider Going Vegan or Vegetarian For A Week - Was this something you have been dreaming about anyway? The transition to veganism or vegetarian can be quite easy when you have the right steps and guidance, and there are plenty of tutorials and guides to help you out. Going vegan or vegetarian can introduce you to a whole new playing field when it comes to food, and you will be surprised how much better you feel when you make the transition. Also, you may be setting good eating habits for your children along the way!
- Cook From Scratch More Often - We get it - take out is convenient and super easy to do when you have a billion other things on your plate, but there is no sense in treating your body to all that greasy unhealthy food when you can make something from that tastes 100 times better and is increasingly better for you! There are plenty of super quick and healthy recipes that take 30 minutes or less and are a breeze for those busy nights you consider take-out.
Get Connected - #GirlsNight
Just because you're a mother doesn't mean all of your time has to be spent on your children - in fact, we believe that it is still important to make time for friends, your partner, and anyone else you want to remain connected with. It is easy to forget about those weekly date-nights and weekend brunches with friends when your children need a babysitter, you have too many excuses, and your schedule is packed. It is important though to prioritize a day or two that is solely for yourself and the things that you want to do. For example, make every first Friday of the month a day dedicated to date-night. Plan for a babysitter ahead of time, plan the outing, and make sure you don't schedule anything that will get in the way - that's what the grandparents or in-laws are for! You can even find time to connect with your neighbors - for example, take one Saturday of the month as a movie night where everyone gets together with the kids over pizza! You can set up a movie for the kiddos while the grown-ups have some quality time catching-up and doing whatever grown-ups do!
As a parent and just solely as a human being, it is important to also take time to connect with yourself. Spend some time throughout the day to simply just be - take some time breathe, meditate, journal, or do whatever you want to do. Weigh in on how you are feeling, what your day was like, and take a moment to practice an attitude of gratitude. You'll be surprised about how much better you feel! If you also want to do that spa day or get that mani/pedi, we totally support it - just maybe bring us with you if you can.
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-Patrick
