We spent September getting “Back to Self-Care” with the Mama Moments challenge on Instagram. With the summer months now behind us and the regular routine of school runs, homework, and meal planning very much back in focus, it’s important to remember that we need to look after ourselves as much as the kids, house, and workload. Self-care is not selfish; in fact, it benefits the whole family as we are the beating heart of the house and home. Putting our own happiness and health first before we think of managing everyone and everything else means we are not only prepped for the job at hand, but loving and caring for ourselves as much as we love our family.
Over September, we encouraged you to put yourself first and gave you some ideas to embrace self-care. As a result, we disconnected, became more mindful, and focused on our breath, all with the intention of encouraging you to recognise when you need self-care, why you need self-care, and how to start on your own personal road of self-care. Now, as we head towards winter, we ask you to continue with the challenge of self-care and embrace it.
Start Today
Creating a self-care ritual is all about making it a routine. And with all habits, it takes time to establish. Starting is sometimes the most challenging part. Just like a diet, a resolution, or an exercise programme, starting tomorrow is always on our minds. The idea of “I’ll start Monday” never really works because Monday becomes the next week, and on it goes until the idea of truly working on our self-care falls down the list again.
Start today with good intentions of truly partaking in an activity that benefits you. Make it a practice that speaks to you and genuinely nourishes your mind and body. Continue every day by consciously recognising that what you are doing is part of your new self-care routine. It could be meditation, yoga, exercise, eating healthy, or meeting friends, something that speaks to you as a moment of self-care.
Don’t Overthink It
It’s easy to talk ourselves out of making time for our self-care. It’s too complicated; we don’t have the time; or we don’t know what to do. And then, we have an idea of what self-care should look like, but it doesn’t match what’s happening in our living room.
Try not to overthink it and remember why you are practising self-care in the first place. Making time for you will fill your cup, make you feel physically better and positively increase your mood and emotional health.
Make Time
There is not enough time in the day to tick everything off that mental list. Adding self-care to the ever-growing list can seem daunting. In the beginning, we may place little emphasis on the importance of our self-care routine, and it drops off the list because finding time seems impossible. Isn’t it funny, though, how we find time to scroll or sweep the floor for the tenth time? When we realise that self-care is important, we will find the time for it. Only by actively taking part in self-care will we see how carving out that time benefits us. The time is there; it’s simply a matter of our priorities. Know that self-care will benefit all other areas of your life, so make self-care a priority.
Make It Work for You
Self-care is a rainbow; it’s multi-faceted and covers all kinds of things. Bubble baths and long walks may not be your thing, and that is perfectly fine. The idea is to make it work for you. Self-care is not about fitting into a box or following the latest trend. It’s about knowing what is a good fit for you and what will replenish you.
Take It Slow
While a daily ritual of self-care is great, it’s not the end goal. It can feel daunting to make time for yourself every day, but in reality, it’s about taking the time to fill your cup without adding additional pressure to your already busy life. Self-care is not only about allocating time for yourself to pursue a favourite activity. It also includes booking yourself in for that dental checkup, completing your will, or finalising the fine print on a project you’re working on.
Take it slow by avoiding the overwhelm and focusing on a practice that will benefit you and your current needs.
Micro Self-Care Challenges to Keep you on Track
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Take a walk without your phone
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Reflect on your day by journaling
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Get creative with mindful colourful
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Go tech-free for the weekend
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Focus on your breathing
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Eat and drink mindfully
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Welcome Hygge to give yourself a break
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Embrace weekly meal-planning
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Make your bed
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Go to bed early
