Whether you’re a new Mum or are used to juggling life with kids, it’s worth taking some time to assess whether you’re caring for yourself amongst all the activity. If not, these tips will help you refresh your strength and reconnect with yourself.
Your Body is Your Temple
Being a mum is a fulltime job itself, and if you’re like many other working Mums, you might be going out to work as well. To keep going, you need the right fuel.
High-quality food is essential for the healthy functioning of your body, so make sure you’re taking in the right kinds of foods to give you the energy you need. It’s natural to want to put your children first where food is concerned, but you need to look after yourself as well.
Don’t stop at making sure your children have nourishing dinner. Not only is a healthy diet a key part of any self-care routine, but it is also really important that your children see you eating well and taking care of yourself.
Modeling good behavior around food is a great way to instill in your children a sense that healthy food matters. If you’re short of ideas for creating healthy food habits, why not visit the farmer’s market at the weekend?
This can be a peaceful, grounding exercise, a bit of ‘me time’ to get inspiration for your weekly meal prep.
Move More
Whether you’re hitting the gym or going for a daily walk, pick an activity that you enjoy enough to keep showing up for your body day after day.
You could try something new, like Tai Chi, Pilates or rollerblading, or join the millions of people around the world discovering the joys of the 5k.
Not every Mum has time to get out of the house for exercise. If you’re into yoga, why not look into yoga mats for home use and set up your own ‘at home’ yoga practice?
Struggling to find the motivation and self-belief to get yourself moving? Hiring a personal trainer can be a great option when you need a kick-start.
Calendar in Your Healthcare
Many women are extremely diligent about scheduling in medical checkups for their children and forget about the annual checks that they need to stay healthy. Don’t ignore the signals your body is sending you. Get that medical examination you’ve been putting off for a while. Whether it’s a mammogram, pap smear, dentist visit or skin exam, give your medical professional a call and get booked in.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Not only does skimping on sleep lead to chronic health problems down the line, but it also causes weight gain by increasing the appetite, and can lead to increased risk of depression, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
To make sure you’re getting enough sleep, try to avoid the thought pattern that says you need to get things done before the children wake up, or only after they go to sleep.
In the hours before bed, try to avoid having emotionally charged conversations, as well as consuming food or stimulants like nicotine and caffeine.
Try to establish a nighttime routine that helps you wind down before shutting your eyes. And don’t lounge in bed when you don’t need to. Reserve your bed for the three S-words: sleep, sickness and sex.
Mums find it easy to get caught up in the myriad things that need to be done every day. Whether it’s laundry, cooking or being the family taxi, caring for your family can take most of the strength and headspace you have available. Just try to remember to look after you.
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