Do you often put looking after yourself at the bottom of your to-do list? Maybe you think that self-care is a luxury, not a necessity? Well, today we want to change that for the greater good – both for yourself and the family. Cue Antonia Harman – leading energy trauma expert and renowned healer at Divine Empowerment – who is here to tell you why self-care should be a priority – not a luxury – for the good of the family.
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I know you are busy juggling all elements of your life. Being a mother is non-stop, there are never enough hours in the day. Maybe you want to work and be super mum all at the same time? I am sure you are doing a wonderful job at it. But do you know how you keep being a super-mum? Self-care.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first” – Norm Kelly
When you are frazzled, others suffer. You are not at your best. Maybe you are ratty? Or quick to get upset? Overloaded.
You need sleep and YOU time
Maybe a hot bath? Get someone else to look after the kids for an hour a day or at least 30 minutes and do something just for you. Whatever you enjoy doing. Maybe your partner or friend can take the kids out for the afternoon?
Unfortunately, if you are taking ‘me time’ with the kids in the house you will inevitably heae the pitter patter of tiny feet, or more likely the banging at the bedroom door and screaming “Mum, Mum!”. If you are fortunate enough to get the kids out of the house, please I implore you don’t use that precious time to catch up on chores!
You can’t be the best you, the best mother without some quiet time. I need some time each day to reflect, to work out how I feel about whatever is going on. When I get super busy and don’t have ‘me time’ it shows…
There will always be a to-do-list, as soon as you tick something off another 5 things appear. We need to breathe, get a grip, take a minute. Its all okay.
So, what can you do to relax?
If you have been busy and need to collate your thoughts a great way to do that is to journal. I’m a big fan of The Positive Planner, they have a variety of journals with helpful tips and prompts.
Meditation, yoga, a gossip rag, origami? Whatever you enjoy doing. Maybe really push the boat out and get your nails done or a massage? Why is that now pushing the boat out? How times have changed!
Go for a walk alone, sit on a bench take the load off. Let family look after the kids for a few hours. Make time to see your friends. Hopefully, by now you are friends with other parents and can have a play date. The kids entertaining each other and you having a natter with your pal.
Or better yet see friends without the kids. A dinner, lunch or even a coffee, kid-free could give you a much needed minute to breathe. You are an individual as well as a wife/ partner/ single gal and a mother.
Do things just for you
It will re-invigorate you. You can go home and tell tales of your adventures.
Being a mother is one of the most wonderful things you can ever be, making time for yourself to follow your joy really will add to that.
If you are a full-time parent you may crave adult conversation? It’s healthy to have a variety of stimuli. Make sure you talk to people other than your kids and partner.
The ‘Calm’ app is brilliant. It gives you guided meditations for the start and end of your day, narrated stories too. When you get stressed you can do their breathing exercises to relax. Gratitude classes, mindfulness, mood music etc.
Daily practices such as meditation really help you to relax and see the wood for the trees. To not feel completely overwhelmed and stressed out.
I teach meditation hacks on my classes too, you learn how to drop into stillness instantly a few moments there can bring you back to you.
Try to let the drama and stresses go
Breathe when it all gets on top of you. Walk out the room, give yourself a time-out! Your kids will innately feel your stress and anxiety in-fact they will mirror it.
The more upset you are the more upset they will be, the more upset they are the more upset you will be. It’s a vicious cycle that starts with you. Your self-care is essential for the wellbeing of the family and don’t let anyone tell you that it isn’t.
Happy mum, happy home!
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I struggle with self-care, but I know that if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t properly take care of my family.
Self care is so important as only we take good of ourselves we can care for others.
Thank you for sharing this post, sleep is one thing I am lacking at the moment and I have now made it a priority to catch up on some this week for some self care
I have never heard of the calm app, I know someone that could use this right now. Thanks for sharing.
Self-care is so important. I agree with you 100% it is a priority before a luxury…when you feel good and you can get so much more done and help those around you.
self care should always be a big priority! you can’t pour from an empty cup
Wonderful that you make such a great case for why self care is so important. In many ways it’s a no-brainer, but it seems like people in general, and especially parents, can’t be reminded enough “to take a break to take care of themselves”.
Prioritize yourself above all others.
Never forget about yourself.
This is so true. Self care is so important for wellbeing and health and it doesn’t make you selfish to care about yourself
There is ONLY one YOU
Without Self Care you cannot care for anyone else