Becoming a mom can be both a blessing and completely bewildering. It’s the most demanding job imaginable yet comes with the highest rewards. All training is ad-hoc and done on the job with no guarantees of getting a break during the day or any form of annual leave.
The pressure of this role can leave moms feeling depleted and experiencing low energy and low self-esteem, which can quickly become a cycle that’s hard to break free from. However, it is important for mamas to feel good so they can carry on being the best parents they can be.
This is where some self-care comes in. Here are five ways mothers can show themselves the same love they show to their little ones and start to feel great inside and out too.
Exercise
A much as exercise feels like the last thing you want to be doing when running around after little ones, actually getting your heart pumping can make you feel better not just physically but mentally too.
If you’re not the gym bunny sort or if you aren’t able to leave the children to go to a class, you can sign up for online fitness classes like Moms Into Fitness which is designed specifically for moms by a mom and includes instructional videos and nutrition advice.
Eat Well
Being a parent usually means thinking on your feet, but that can also mean that you haven’t time to think about and prepare the healthiest of dinners. Unfortunately, not getting the right nutrition can lead to low energy, difficulty controlling your moods, and feelings of depression. That means eating a good variety of healthy foods is one of the best self-care options you can take.
Search for some vegetable-packed tasty meals and write your favorites into your very own handmade recipe book. That way, when you need to decide what’s for dinner, you can turn to your book, knowing you will have tasty and nutritious choices to hand.
Restyle
Having a baby can change your body shape dramatically and leaves many women with a closet full of clothes that don’t fit, leaving a few options that get worn over and over again. This can have a negative impact on self-esteem, so treat yourself to a revamp.
Pull everything out of the closet, get rid of anything that doesn’t fit, and have a go at creating a capsule wardrobe of items you can mix and match that fit well and you feel good in.
Take a break
This could simply be catching up with some much-needed rest. Get some help from friends and family so that once in a while you can indulge in a lie-in or take a nap in the day.
Alternatively, a break away from the little ones doing something you enjoy or catching up with friends can be just the thing to give you a reboot.
Treat yourself
When you’re constantly thinking about the children, treats for mom often get put on the backburner, but you deserve a reward for all that hard work, so make sure you take the opportunity to treat yourself once in a while. Go to the salon, treat yourself to some indulgent skincare or get a relaxing massage and let the tension drift away.
Self-care is totally necessary to provide the mental and physical strength to take care of your little ones, so don’t put it off; show yourself a little love today.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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