Being a mom is both a blessing and sometimes exhausting. It is such a selfless journey; I am here to remind you it is not selfish to take care of yourself.
It is in our nature to be nurturing, but I want you to stop and ask yourself “who takes care of me?”, “do I prioritize myself?” or “do I have enough stamina to build those around me?”.
I want you to know that it is okay, in fact, a must to take care of you. Most important is your mental health. No, we won’t get things right all the time, tick everything on our to-do list and things will surely not always happen on schedule. That’s just how life goes, do not beat yourself up.
Below are a few tips to take care of your mental health:
Talk to someone
It can be a trusted friend, religious leader or a doctor. This does not mean you are weak; in fact, this is a sign of you acknowledging that you are human and need help. I know, we wear invisible capes as mom but never forget that we are human. Your doctor can also help you determine what is really going on, e.g hormones, PMS or burn-out.
Boost your support system
Remember that you are you first, have healthy human connections. So any moms need a support system or just friends that they can connect with. Don’t be shy to reach out for new friendships, who knows, they might know of great support that can help you on your motherhood journey e.g a great nanny.
Any form of exercise is good
Exercise is known to boost your mood. Whether it is a full blown workout or just a walk around the block. I know many of us get our 10 000 steps a day in just by running after our toddlers. If you can, keep your smart watch on to see your step count. It’s a great motivator and mood booster to see your activity levels.
Do what makes you happy
Yes, I am serious. Watch the series, go for that walk. If you want to meet up with friends, plan it and don’t cancel. Well, don’t cancel any of your me-time. Be a little selfish with this one. Take minimum 10minutes in the day to do whatever fills your cup. I personally love to colour in.
Prioritize sleep
Crazy, right? I know it I not that easy when you have children who still have night waking but let’s try.
Science shows that adults need a minimum of 6hours of sleep. To make sure we get enough sleep we sometimes have to skip that Netflix marathon or scrolling on social media. The dishes can wait, get your sleep in.
If you are well rested, you will be able to give your best to your loved ones and make good decisions overall.
When you want to let go of yourself, remember those little eyes that’s watching you. That little soul, who needs the best of you to navigate this world. You are needed and loved.
Take care (of you) xx
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