4 Tips to Prioritize Your Self-Care During Difficult Times
Your health is NOT just about diet and exercise. Let me say that louder for the people in the back.
Health includes so much more than food and exercise. It includes sleep, stress levels (hormones), relationships and your pace of life.
As moms, we are most likely used to the busy, always-on-the-go pace, which is not good for our stress and hormone levels. Unfortunately, I think we all know this too well and it needs to change for the better of our family.
Here are 4 ways to prioritize your overall health through self-care:
- Take a step back and get some perspective. Reflect on your life or current situation. What in your life is increasing stress or keeping you from improving your overall health? Write down what is making you stressed or anxious and find ways to decrease it. Make sure to continue to listen to your body and mind.
- Create a routine and include a weekly self-care checklist. Self-care checklist could include going for a walk by yourself, reading a book, taking a bubble bath, getting a massage or pedicure, or exercising for 20 minutes 3-4 times a week. What does self-care NOT include? Going grocery shopping without the kids or taking a stroll through Target. I’ll admit, I USED to think going to Target alone was self-care. Ha!
- Make a plan and write it down. Talk with your spouse or significant other and children if you need to about your routine and self-care. As moms, most of us are really good about honoring our commitments to others. At the same time, many of us struggle with honoring our commitments to ourselves. When we write down our plans, we increase the likelihood that we'll follow through. This can be even more powerful when you share your plan with others. When we share our plans with others, it makes it easier for them to support us and easier for us to take the time we need for self-care.
- Make time to exercise. Exercise is not only great for physical self-care, it can also benefit your mental and emotional health. Exercise is a great way to work out stress, plus it releases hormones that uplift and energize us, which can help put is in a great mood for the rest of the day.
As moms, we know we need to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of our families, yet we often struggle to do so. This week, I encourage you to do something for yourself- even if it's small. Take a break from social media, read a book, have some tea - make a little time to nourish yourself. You'll feel better and as you take that time to nurture yourself, you'll set yourself up to be in an even better place to care for your family and loved ones.
And if you're looking for more tips and inspiration, come join our community, The Healthy Mama Huddle, where you can connect with other moms committed to improving their health!
