Looking back, pretty much everything I did with my free time before becoming a mom was self-care. Going to the gym, taking long showers, watching a non-animated movie basically just doing what I wanted to do for me with my time. It always felt so good and I didn’t have to think about it-I just did it.
That all changed suddenly when I had my daughter 4.5 years ago. It is not better or worse, it is just different. Self-care doesn’t come as easy as it used to now that I have two little people to care for and a four-legged son. My free time is limited. I must schedule, plan, and prioritize my own self-care which is a chore. I know how extremely important it is for me so I focus on it each week, carving out time for me.
I’ve learned now to accept that my life looks different and I have a whole new meaning of what self-care looks like as a mom. It’s embracing whatever helps support your health in mind, body, and spirit for overall wellbeing. Through dietary and lifestyle changes, my own self-care now looks like the below:
Steeping a cup of my favorite tea my baby’s nap;
Taking a 5 minute walk around the block or enjoying a longer dog walk on weekend mornings;
3 deep belly breaths when I’m feeling stressed;
Diffusing my favorite doTERRA essential oils;
Making sure I eat yummy nourishing foods every 3-4 hours to fuel my body and maintain a healthy blood sugar level; and last but not least
Prioritizing sleep, even if it means leaving some of my to-do list for the next day
I’ve learned to stop focusing on the quantity and instead focus on the quality when it comes to self-care. It is a necessity for all, especially us moms, and is the focus of my work as a health coach at Well Woman. Self-care is about accepting who you are in this moment and nurturing every part that you can control to be a better you. You deserve it! What’s your next move?
Be Well Woman,
Phyllis of Well Woman
Certified Holistic Health Coach and Founder