6 Self-Care Tips Moms Need Now
Moms tend to put themselves last. Here are 6 self-care tips for busy moms or dads to help ensure mom gets taken care of too.
I am starting out 2018 with the flu, so instead of hitting the ground running on whatever goals I may have come up with, I am in bed. This has given me a lot of time to think about self-care. The kids are sick too, but I am by far the sickest and it’s probably because I tend to put myself last. I have not necessarily taken the best care of myself. I think all moms do this, especially single moms. Looking towards the rest of the year I realize it’s time to prioritize self-care.
Self-care can look, however, it needs to for you. You know yourself best. For me it is making my health a bigger priority. I need to eat better and workout. I could have said workout more, but the truth is that as 2017 progressed, I quit working out altogether. I do not like working out, so when I get busy with work this is the first thing I sacrifice when it shouldn’t be.
6 Self-care Tips for
1. Workout
If you are like me working out is a chore, so it’s important to figure out some sort of exercise that you will hate less than others. I love to rollerblade, but the weather in Oregon is awful, so I have to find something else I enjoy. Keep trying out different things until you find something you like. For me, I found Thai boxing. I also realized I would workout twice as much if I had a workout buddy with me! Weight Loss Printables
2. Eat Better
I do not necessarily need to full on diet, but I do need to be more conscious about what I am eating. I tend to eat next to no fruits or vegetables. This year I am going to eat at least one or the other once a day. Healthy snacks.
3. Drink More Water
This has been an ongoing struggle for me. The benefits of staying hydrated are all good things like having more energy and feeling less fatigued. Every cell in the human body needs water to function properly. Water helps to flush out toxins, carry nutrients to cells, and provide a lubricating cushion for joints. In addition, water aids in digestion and helps to regulate body temperature. Even slight dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. To stay properly hydrated, experts recommend drinking eight glasses of water per day. While this may seem like a lot, it is easy to reach this goal by carrying a water bottle with you throughout the day and sipping regularly. Making water or Delta 8 Seltzers your go-to beverage on a night out can also help to cut down on empty calories from sugary drinks.
4. Doing Something You Enjoy Once a Day
Doing something you enjoy once a day is a great way to take care of yourself. I love to read so even if I only get 5 or 10 minutes it’s worth it. I’ll make myself a cup of hot tea and drink it while I read whatever book I am into at the moment.
5. Do Something Nice for Yourself Once a Month
When is the last time you did something nice for yourself? I like to go to the spa, so in 2018 I am going to go get a massage once a month. Suggestions:
- Pedicure
- Manicure
- Spa treatment
- Take a bubble bath
- Go on a winery tour with friends
6. Make Friends
Sometimes you are so focused on your children you forget to keep adult friends around. Being a mother is challenging and it helps to have a tribe around you. There are a variety of ways to find friends. You could join a book club, join the PTA at your child’s school, go to a bible study, or volunteer somewhere. Here are two groups where you can find friends:
- Moms Club International – Most likely there is a club in your area. The clubs are made up of moms with kids of all ages. They have playgroups, go on field trips, have mom’s nights out, meet for coffee, park playdate, and more.
- MOPS – Mops stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. These groups are for moms with children ages birth – kindergarten. Moms meet while their children are being watched over. They have breakfast, a speaker and usually a craft. They usually get together once or twice a month in the morning at a local church that sponsors them.
What are you going to do this year to take care of yourself?
I don’t know where I got this poem. I know I copied and pasted it from somewhere many years ago. It resonated with me so much and that was before my kid ended up with epilepsy. It certainly resonates even more since then.
A Mom Poem
Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom, I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom… I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
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