Self-care is so important. Even more so as a mom! We tend to give all of us to our little’s and sometimes forget about taking care of us. We place ourselves in the back seat of our lives, but the truth is, if we don’t take care of us, we aren’t giving our 100% to everyone else.
Self-care is all relative. To me, self-care is anything that brings you joy. Something that you do for you, and only for you. Self-care helps us to show up as the best versions of ourselves for others and is a MUST in everyone’s life!
So here are my Top 10 things to do when I need a little self-care:
1. Getting a manicure or pedicure. I don’t know about you, but when I have my nails nicely manicured, I all the sudden feel put together. It’s like “my life may be a hot mess, but at least my nails look good!” For me, this one is top of the list!
2. Getting my hair done. Similar to above, when my ends are trimmed and grays are covered, I have a little more pep in my step. Throw on some mascara and lipstick and my confidence and energy are restored!
3. Go to Happy Hour with your girlfriends. Self-care certainly doesn’t need to be done alone! So grab your girlfriends and head to your favorite pub for some cocktails and more importantly, girl time! Forget about the laundry, the dishes in the sink or the poopy diaper that’s been on the bathroom floor for two days. Kick back, unwind and girl talk! Cheers!
4. Go on a date night with the Hubs. When we have kids, something happens, and we forget who we were before. Planning a date night is so important to keeping you remembering why you fell in love. It forces you and your partner to connect, without the distraction of littles needing your attention. So get out of your uniform of leggings and T-shirts, dress up and go date your spouse.
5. Meal Plan. Self-care isn’t always getting away and escaping reality. It’s all about how we feel, and what makes us happy. For me, having a menu planned out at the beginning of the week, bring me so much joy! I’m not sure if it’s not having to think about dinner every day or just cooking actual meals, but whatever it is, it makes me do a happy dance! And not having those last minute runs to the grocery store every other day, well Hallelujah!
6. Personal and professional development. Taking time to invest in your growth is a MUST! What that looks like for me is reading books or finding a podcast that make me take a deeper look into who I am, and who I want to be. Some of my favorites are “Girl Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis and “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins. These are just a couple that have changed my life! Find some authors that you relate with, and read on! You may be surprised at how you start to change your life.
7. Daily Gratitude. Writing down things in your everyday life that you are grateful for, force you to find joy in some of the smallest things. These things can be as simple as your morning coffee and the way your baby smiled at you this morning. They don’t have to be super profound, just things that bring you joy and make you smile.
8. Get active. I have to admit, this is the one I struggle with the most. But when I am feeling down or frustrated, it’s usually nothing that moving my body can’t help. Go for a walk, take a spin class, play with your kids, go for a swim. Do ANYTHING that makes you move your body! Trust me, you will feel better once you do!
9. Wake up early. Waking up before the rest of my house has been one of the best things I have ever done for self-care. It gives me time to do things for me, work towards goals and relax before the chaos of the day begins. I try to wake up an hour before everyone else and make my coffee, journal and read. This sets the tone for the rest of my day and my mood reflects it. On days that I decide to hit the snooze button instead of giving myself that hour, I feel less productive and more sluggish throughout the day.
10. Travel. Getting out of town for a week, weekend or even just a night can be everything we need to just hit the reset button. Getting away from your house that needs work, or forgetting about your deadlines at work, is sometimes just what we need to go home to start those projects on the house back up, or crush that latest project at work! This doesn’t need to be anything grand but just leave your house, with {or without} your family to recharge.
So there you have it, my top ten self-care must. This list may look different for you but as long as you are doing things that make you happy, bring you joy, or just reset and recharge, you will be much happier! And trust me when I say this, your loved ones will be happier too!
Much Love!
Shannon
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