It’s been decided: 2019 is the year of self care. The year of making yourself a priority and truly finding time and intention in your life to take care of yourself. This is the year of spending time doing things that make you feel better about yourself, feel healthier both mentally and physically and help you to refocus and recharge.
But what does self care even look like and how can you implement it in your everyday life? Let’s take a look at ways we can implement self care in our daily wellness routine. It’s Wellness Wednesday!
Time
Sometimes, self care means just giving yourself time. Time to relax, recharge, accomplish something you’ve always wanted to or just take a bath. I think we are successful at creating time in our lives for others, but we don’t see making time for ourselves as a priority.
Why is that? Because many parents and caregivers don’t see themselves as a priority. In the midst of diaper rashes and spilled juice and crayon on the walls, your children and partner can often take priority over your own mental health and self care. In all honesty, it truly should be the opposite. If you don’t make time for yourself, time to take care of yourself, then you can’t possibly be at your fullest capacity to take care of others.
I think taking time for yourself should include doing something that can’t be undone. For example, the dishes will always need to be washed again, but a hot shower can turn your entire day around. I try to pick one thing that can’t be ‘undone’ a day and make time for it. Lately, it’s been putting my makeup on. But let’s be honest, a hot shower sounds even better.
But time can mean other things too. Finding the time to make that dentist appointment that you always seem to reschedule or the therapy appointment that inevitably gets cancelled can help keep you focused on self care too. I struggled to find time to take care of my mental and physical health for a long time and as I get older, I’m realizing that it’s just as important as anything else that I do for myself.
Activities
Self care might mean taking up a new activity that’s just for you. I don’t mean enrolling everyone in mommy and me swimming, I mean an activity or a hobby that is truly just yours. Sometimes in parenting, we forget that we are individuals too. Planned activities can help us intentionally make time for ourselves while also helping us to commit to taking that time.
Ok, that sounds a little impossible. But remember, taking time for yourself is just as important as making time for others. And it obviously doesn’t have to be everyday either. A yoga class once a week or a book club meeting once a month can give your body and mind a chance to relax and focus.
Some of my favorite self care activities are those that include friends as well. Wine tasting, coffee dates, or a joint workouts help me to feel more like I was able to spend intentional, meaningful time with friends as well as help myself recharge. It also helps us keep each other accountable for our self care, which is half the battle.
Feel Good Food
My husband is always shocked by this, but I routinely forget to eat. Taking care of our bodies can be a struggle for parents and caregivers. Mealtimes are hectic, there is already a mess everywhere and sometimes feeding both yourself and your littles means making two different meals, which just sounds overwhelming in itself.
Spending time nourishing our bodies is a form of self care and one of the best ways to replenish ourselves and refocus. I make sure to make one meal a week that is solely whatever I really want to eat. Sometimes, self care is just thinking about yourself in a way that is positive and nurtures your well being too. I think feel good food is a great way to thank your body for everything you have been able to accomplish that week.
And just like your favorite activities, feel good food can be shared with friends to make both your time spent on friendships and self care intentional. Spending intentional time enjoying a meal with friends is a form of self care for both your body and mind and, I think, one of the best ways to spend a Friday!
#Momrealness
As hard as I try, self care doesn’t happen for me everyday. Sometimes, no matter what I do, I just can’t fit it in between all the chaos of having four littles. Some days I am just flat out too tired and other days I just seem to run out of daylight. But I do think it’s important to continue to make self care a priority and think about all the different ways you can refocus your mind and body.
How do you self care? What do you do to refocus your energy? We’d love if you’d share with us in the comments!
