Self care tips

The whole point of having a community for mums is to provide whatever it is that is essential to making your life easier so that you can in turn raise kids that are balanced and happy. One very important way for your life to be easy is Self care.

Now, I know you are probably thinking, “where is it the time?” or “who has that kind of money to set aside for such frivolity?” (I have heard those exact words before). Here is the thing; you do not need to have some money set aside to take care of yourself. And need I remind you that taking care of yourself is one of the most important investments you can give your husband and kid(s).

A lot of the suggestions that we do have for self care do not require money. You just need to choose to make yourself a priority sometimes, and go for it. Here are a few ideas for self care for you as a mum;

• Go for a walk: However that works for you, take a walk no matter how short. Get your motor running. Get some sun on your face. It would also do you some good if you change routes from time to time. Seeing new places outside of the four ways of your home can make you feel a lot better.

• Take a long shower. If staying an extra 10-20 minutes in the bathroom helps you to get away from the chaos, take it.

• See a movie. It doesn’t even have to be a new movie and you do not need to leave your house to do this. Put your kid to bed and help yourself to Netflix. And then chill!

• Put your phone away. The source of your agitation about parenting could be your phone. Take some time off away from your phone sometimes and just be.

• Treat yourself to something nice. It could just be ice - cream, or even a meal that you have just been craving for some time. Get it, make it. Just treat yourself. You deserve it.

• Watch some funny videos online. For you, that might calm your nerves. So, why not watch as many as you need.

• Hang out with friends. Have your husband or caregiver watch your kid for sometime. Then go out to meet your friends for some fun times.

• Do a silly dance. Really, who cares? But you will be having fun, right! So what’s stopping you?

• Read a book. If that helps you feel more like yourself.

• Sleep in. Have someone watch your kid for the day and then sleep!

• Register for something that you always wanted to do. It could be a class on cooking or pottery etc. whatever it is that feels like self care to you.

• Keep a gratitude journal. Fill it before you go to bed and recount all your accomplishments for the day. They do not have to be something gigantic so that you do not start to feel bad already. If you managed to keep your kid alive and that looks like the only significant thing for you, put it there. Do not stress it. But do it everyday. It does bring things into perspective and it helps you feel better.

• Get rid of the mum guilt you feel about wanting some “me” time. Think of it as filling your bank so that you can dispense healthy emotions towards your kids.

• Ask for help. It doesn’t make you incompetent. Knowing when to trust other people to take care of you actually makes you strong.

This is your reminder to pay attention to yourself as a mum. We want mums who are very conscious of the aura that they project around their kids. Don’t get yourself so exhausted that you then begin to react negatively to your husband and kids. Take that “me” time this weekend.

We love you!