Being a mom is a full-time job. It comes with no breaks, holidays, or vacations. At times, this transition of shifting your attention, from yourself onto your little one, can start to get overwhelming. The primary reason stopping moms from prioritizing themselves is not being able to find time. Did you know? The moms who do manage to find time do not indulge in self-care because of… wait for it… Mom Guilt!
Many moms confuse the idea of self-care with the concept of basic hygiene. But self-care is so much more than that. Self-care is a ritual of taking care of oneself – mentally and physically. Self-care is the ultimate guide to better parenting. When a mom improves her mental and physical well-being, she is able to take care of her child better. The first step is making peace with the concept and realizing that “self-care is not selfish”. It has been proven that parents who look after themselves are able to have more positive interactions with their younger ones.
So, if self-care is not simply ‘taking a quick shower’, what is it? Simple. We’ll tell you what exactly you can do to spoil yourself (because you deserve nothing less!).
- Setting a Routine to Pamper Yourself – Apart from taking the time out from your daily responsibilities to unwind, try picking out any day of the week to pamper yourself. Get a manicure, draw yourself a nice relaxing bubbly bath, meditate, put on a face mask to take and order in a fancy meal. It can be anything that your heart desires. Make it a habit to spoil yourself and watch how your confidence builds and helps you fulfill your roles better. We recommend you choose ‘Self-Care Saturdays’ as the perfect day for you to completely unwind and pamper yourself. ;)
- Disconnect from Certain Roles – Ever thought of doing a social media detox? This might just be the perfect time for you to do so. Social media creates a state of engaging in exhaustive untracked entertainment which could feel draining for many. Here’s a fact: social media feeds your mom-guilt. It creates a state of constant comparison and sets a standard of how an ‘ideal’ mom should look and behave. Having a social media presence is not necessarily bad; spending way too much time on it can have a negative effect, however. For working moms, disconnect from your work once you leave the office. By performing your role exactly when needed, you can fulfill your duties and responsibilities flawlessly.
- Connect with your Inner Child – Having a child should not stop you from doing things you love. Pick up hobbies you loved as a kid. Do things you always wished to do. Whether it’s painting, dancing, reading, singing or even gardening. If it makes you happy, do it. Be kind to yourself.
- Sleep. Sleep. – Need we say more? We know parenting can get overwhelming. We also know that with children comes sleep deprivation. But it is important to note that sacrificing your sleep can have an adverse effect on your parenting. Sleep deprivation makes positive parenting harder. Your child needs you in the best frame of mind. It is vital to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night. Remember, the best way you can take care of your child, is by taking care of yourself.
Children are merely a reflection of their parents. It is so very important for mothers to start prioritizing themselves to be able to nurture their little ones in the best way possible. When you shift your perspective from tirelessly performing and overachieving to something that nourishes your mind, body and soul, you will come to realize that motherhood, despite its chaos, can be a precious and an enjoyably fulfilling journey.
