Mom-It Monday: Self-Care
Self-care as mamas is vital to our well-being, so let's look at five of my favorite ways to take some much-needed self-care time.
Introduction
Hello and welcome back NEO Homeschoolers! We're back for our second Mom-It Monday post and today, I want to talk about self-care. Being a mom is a 24/7 job with no breaks and zero vacation time, so it's important that we, as mamas, prioritize ourselves sometimes. Whether you're taking a 30-minute soak in a bath infused with calming essential oils and bath salts, or making time to hit the gym by yourself a few times a week, prioritizing self-care is essential in our ability to nurture and be there for those tiny humans we love so much.
Mom-It Monday Focus: Self-Care
As I said above, self-care as a mama is vital to being the mamas we want to be. To help you discover your favorite ways to prioritize yourself, I want to share my top 5 self-care habits. Ready to dig in? Let's go!
My Self-Care Top 5
- Bike Rides: While not always possible, riding my bike is my all-time favorite way to clear my head and get some exercise to boot. Living in northeast Ohio means that I have to take advantage of nice weather when it happens, so I try to get out on my bike at least once a week, especially during the spring months of April and May.
- Bible Study: As a Christian, I believe it is vital to my well-being as a mama that I stay connected with my Daddy God. I accomplish this through daily Bible study first thing in the morning – we're talking 5 AM. Starting my day with God helps me make sure that my heart and head are focused on what's important and connected with the God who holds all things in His hands. I've found that daily Bible study also helps me maintain my patience better during the day because my heart and mind are connected with my Daddy God.
- Morning Routine: If you're like me, and enjoy the ability to sleep in, this may seem daunting, but hear me out. I get up between 5 and 5:30 AM every morning, Monday to Friday, and through persistence in this, I've found that taking 2 hours in the morning where I prioritize myself helps me to feel more motivated throughout the day, which leads to me showing up as the mama and wife I want to be. I'll share my personal morning routine in an upcoming post.
- Regular Exercise: For those of us who don't view working out as a hobby, or something fun to do, this habit might feel a bit intimidating. I know it did - and still does - for me! It's taken me years to get into a solid routine of working out regularly, and I still have days & weeks when it's a struggle. When I am consistent with my workouts though, I find that I always walk away feeling proud, and the benefits of regular exercise are nice too. ;) I've gained strength and endurance, and have developed a sense of pride in taking care of my body. If, like me, you need accountability in your efforts to work out regularly, I recommend looking into the Trainwell app - available on both iPhone & Android - to find that support and accountability. I've used Trainwell for a little over a month, and it has seriously changed me! The accountability of a personal trainer who adjusts workouts to fit my abilities and available equipment, as well as communicating with me regularly has helped me feel so much more motivated to get those work outs in during the week. Side note: I am not sponsored by Trainwell. It is an app that I discovered of my own accord, and pay full price to use.
- Binge-Worthy Show: Yes, every mama needs that one TV show or YouTube channel that they can watch endlessly, especially after "one of those days" where the kids are cranky and stubborn... You know the type. My favorites are JesssFam on YouTube, Law & Order SVU (when I'm able to watch it), It's Me or the Dog, and Supernanny... among others. Give me a sweet treat to finish the day and one of these shows after Maureen is in bed, and I am one happy, content mama! 😀Plus, it's just nice to watch something not kid-friendly sometimes, isn't it? 😉
Conclusion
As mamas, we juggle a lot during the day and while being a homemaking, homeschooling, super mom is extremely rewarding, it can also be exhausting. Prioritizing self-care makes showing up as the mama and wife I sincerely want to be a little bit easier, and helps me to feel better about myself overall. If you don't already, I hope this post inspires you to make some time for yourself this week. We moms are the champions of putting everyone else first. When our littles need us, we're there. If our hubbies have a problem, we have the listening ear. This week, let's make some time for ourselves... to recharge and pamper so that we can continue being champions for our families. Thanks so much for reading, and I'll see you next Monday for the third installment of Mom-It Monday!
Have feedback on the blog or content you'd like to see? Drop a review in the comments, or send me an email at homeschoolmama195@gmail.com. Thanks again, and see you soon!! 😄