As moms, we tend to put everyone else’s needs before our own. Largely due to the overwhelming feeling of guilt we feel in saying “no” or “I can’t” when truthfully, there’s nothing wrong in doing just that. I like to say “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. Meaning, you can’t be your best self for others, if you haven’t made sure your own needs have been met first. This means plenty of rest, personal time, establishing healthy habits, and engaging in a favorite hobby on the regular. Taking care of yourself should be a priority if you want to stay productive, creative, happy, healthy, and able to show up as your best self for others.
Here are some simple self care tips for moms that will help you be your best self for both you and others.
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Find Time For Self-Reflection
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to stop and reflect on our emotional needs. That’s why it’s important to take time out of your day for self-reflection. Doing this can help you identify areas where you need improvement or help so that you can address them before they become a problem. Plus, it can also boost your creativity by helping you gain insight into new ideas or solutions that may have been hiding in plain sight. You’ll be on your best A-game!
Here are some of my favorite self-reflection activities to engage in:
Take Breaks When You Need Them
The Best Self Care Tip for Moms
A shared mindset many of us of us mom’s have, is feeling like you have to wear your superMom cape at all times! The inability to relax because there’s always something that can be tackled and done. And not always doing something can feel unsettling and unproductive. Our to-do lists are long and forever building. However, long to-do lists with a lack of breaks are not the best course of action. Taking breaks throughout the day helps recharge energy levels and prevents burnout. Breaks can come in many forms, from reading a book for 15 minutes or going for a short walk outside. Whatever helps give your mind a rest is good enough! I’d have to say this is perhaps the most important of all self care tips for moms!
Here’s a really good read that helped re-shaped how I approach to-do lists and productivity during the week:
Create Healthy Habits
An overlooked Self Care Mom Tip
Creating healthy habits is an essential part of self-care for any mom . For starters, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night; 7-8 hours is recommended for adults! Additionally, eating healthy meals that provide sustained energy throughout the day is essential. Especially, if you want to remain productive and alert while tackling daily tasks.
Finally, regular exercise or physical activity has been proven to boost focus and concentration levels significantly over time. Not to mention increased self-esteem and happy mood hormones such as dopamine and serotonin too! Read about the many benefits of exercise here. Start off super small with micro-goals that you can easily commit to every day. Like a 5 minute daily workout. Watch that mini-goal naturally and gradually blossom into something more over time into a lifelong habit. Don’t take on too many new goals or habits at once. Add a new goal after you’ve mastered the previous one. Then watch your habits gradually compound and add-up!
This book has transformed my life within months of reading it. It’s all about establishing micro-habits that easily become lifelong lifestyle habits.
I’ve become a routine 30-minute jogger after starting off super small with “1-minute walk to 1-minute run intervals” 3x times a week. 3-4 months later that micro habit became full 30-minute jogs, 3x a week. And that’s just one of the major lifestyle habits I’ve established since then!
Asking For Help and Saying “No”
This is a tip I’m tackling to master myself. For several reasons, it can be difficult to ask for help. One is pride. Not wanting to admit that you don’t have it together all the time or that you could simply use the help. Another one would be, not trusting that others are able to do a task in the same way you would. However in order to keep your own sanity in check and avoid succumbing to burn out, you must give yourself permission to be vulnerable in asking for help. Asking for help does not define you or your ability in being a good mom, partner or whomever. Also, having the courage to say “no” to others when you’ve become overwhelmed or simply don’t want to is important. Learn how to say “no” to others with no shame. Your time and energy is valuable. Use it wisely!
“If you want more time, freedom and energy, start saying no”
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Here’s some polite ways in saying “No”:
Unplug from Social Media
If there’s one platform that can put a damper on spirits, it’s social media. One thing we need to constantly remember is that what we see on social media is fake. Social media allows one the ability to pick and choose the image and persona to present to others. It’s staged, posed and particularly curated to only show the “best” parts of life. Everyone seems to always have it together on social media. We rarely get a glimpse behind the scenes of what’s real . Many of us fall victim to believing that what we see on social media is real life and often feel inadequate about our on life because of it. Here’s the thing- they’re no different than you and you’re no different than them. We all experience the highs and lows of life and insecurities. If you feel like social media is doing a number on your self-esteem, then it may be time to scale back or take a break for a while mama! Come back to reality!
Final Words
Self care should never be overlooked when it comes to being a good mom. It’s important that you take the moment each and every day to pour into yourself. Much in the same way you do for others. Taking time out of your day for self-reflection, taking regular breaks from work when needed, and creating healthy habits are all great ways to ensure that you remain productive while also looking after yourself physically and mentally. And remember—self care doesn’t have to cost anything! Just a few small changes in daily habits can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your ideas flowing without sacrificing well-being in the process!
With Love,
Tonaya Noel Photography
Family Photographer Based near Mckinney Texas
