Self-Care for Every Mama
Self-care for every mama is critically important to talk about. What is self-care? Self-care is taking time to care for yourself every day. You're looking out for your loved ones just as much as you are caring for yourself. Self-care helps you stay healthy and on top of your game.
Four Questions To Ask Yourself About Self-Care
There are four questions that you need to ask yourself to make sure that you get the kind of self care that you need when you need it. You need to figure this out so you can make sure you are getting the self-care that is right for you.
What is Self-Care for You Mama?
The first question you need to ask yourself is what. You hear about this concept of self-care all the time. It's like a buzz word. But, what does self-care mean for you? You need to figure this out, because self-care means something different for everybody.
For me self-care looks like a couple different things. Sometimes self-care might mean I need a craft night. Or I need 20 minutes in the middle of the day in the massage chair. Sometimes self-care just means going to bed early.
So the first thing you have to do is determine what self-care is for you. And in order for you to pick the right thing, it's got to be something that recharges you. For instance, if going to get your toes done grosses you out, that won't really relax you, and that would not be self- care. That's somebody else's definition of self care. So determine what works for you.
When Are You Going To Do Your Self-Care?
The second thing is, when are you going to do this? This is really important because I think a lot of times you just think "I am going to get more sleep." And that is awesome, but when are you going to do that?
You decide that a pedicure will really relax you. When will you be able to get that pedicure? There are other logistical things that you've got to figure out in order to make this happen. So you've got to determine when you're going to do this.
Now for some of you, especially during COVID, you've got to think about what is actually open? When is it open?
Your when might be something that you can do when your kid is napping or after your kids go to bed. It might be first thing in the morning before your kids wake up.
And that's why it's really important to think about what you want to do first and then figure out when you're going to do it.
Where Are You Going To Do Your Self-Care?
Another thing you've got to figure out is where you're going to do it. For example, I love going for walks. But sometimes, if Jeff isn't around or Jeff's really busy, it's just not feasible for me to go for a walk.
So sometimes what I'll do when Erik's napping is I'll actually walk the perimeter of our yard. We have a decent size yard. And so if I do laps in the yard that works. I'll just take the baby monitor with me. I know that sounds really silly, but it gets me outside.
For me a lot of my self-care involves being outside. Being outside lowers my heart rate, and it just makes me feel really good.
So thinking about your where is important. Logistically, depending on your situation, that can be really, really important.
How Are You Going To Get Your Self-Care Mama?
Then the last thing you're going work out is how. And that how is going to look a little bit different for everybody.
So if you want to go for a two mile walk first thing in the morning around your neighborhood, you're first thought will be: "What about my kids?". That would mean that someone will have to be home to take care of your kids.
You need to think about how are you going to make this happen with the constraints that you have. If your self-care is taking a bubble bath, then you know that might happen after your kid goes to bed.
But if you need to go somewhere, you need to plan logistically. Do you need somebody to come over to watch your kids so that you can go out and do that? That's where the how comes in.
What Is A Self-Care Menu?
It's important to have a list of self-care items, a kind of self- care menu for all the different things that charge you up. Create a list of things you can do at home, out in the yard, having real days out, etc.
You can have this list on your computer. Or you can write out your self-care menu in your planner. Any time you come across something that you would love to try out, write it down on your list.
How Do You Plan Out Your Self-Care
When deciding what you can do for your self-care, you can refer to your list. So based off of what's going on right now, and what your timing is like, you can decide what to get into to help yourself out. It doesn't have to be complicated.
Don't confuse the stuff you are supposed to be doing to take care of yourself like eating right, exercising and sleeping with self-care. Those are things you should just do. As a mom though, sometimes those things feel like a luxury!
Sometime self-care can be a weekend at the spa or a girl's vacation. But most times those are not possible, and if that's the only thing you can think of for self-care then you might not be getting the self care that you really need that's going to charge you up.
You have got to find the things in the middle, the things that are not routine, or that you should be doing. Those things in the middle are things that you don't necessarily do on a regular basis, but that really, really excite you and really charge you up. Maybe it's a virtual art class or an actual art class. Or it's going to a museum or park.
It could be lighting up a fire in the fire pit and just sitting outside under the stars. That can be pretty relaxing and recharging.
But self-care is different for everybody. And so you've got to figure out what is that thing for you.
Please do not confuse self-care with just taking care of yourself and doing the things that you need to do.
Determine What Self-Care Works For You Mama
So to determine what self care works for you and ask yourself these four questions:
- What am I going to do? Build yourself a self care menu of things that you can do that are going to recharge your spirit.
- When would do these things? First thing in the morning at the end of the evening, maybe in the middle of the day and you get some childcare. But when are you going to do this?
- Where are you going to do this? Is it inside or outside the home? An excursion that you need to take? Figure out where.
- How are you going to do this? How are you going to bring the pieces together to make this happen? Is your spouse going to help you out or your significant other, or do you need to bring in some help?
I would love to know some of your answers to these questions. What is something self-care wise that really charges you up? Let me know in the comments below and let me know how are you practicing self care this week.
Mamas, I hope that you take some time for you because you really need it right now. I'm wishing you lots and lots of restful recharging, and self-care. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.
