By: Vanessa Taylor
You're busy taking care of everyone and everything. You are supermom, super wife, super friend, and super colleague. You're trying so hard to stay on top of it all. As women, we tend to be the primary caregivers for our entire family. But who is taking care of us? Implementing self-care should be a priority in order for you to better take care of your family. The thought of prioritizing yourself may seem a little bit selfish at first. But you can't pour from an empty cup. When you continuously stretch yourself thin, you will eventually get burned out. You may find yourself short tempered, easily annoyed, and with little patience. Self-care is so necessary for both your physical and mental health.
This may seem impossible with so much you have to do. But they are big benefits to even just a few hours set aside for yourself each week. It's all about taking that 'time out' from the many hats you wear on a daily basis. Taking breaks from your routine helps you to come back feeling more refreshed and ready to take on challenges. Self-care practices works to bring down stress levels and wards off depression and anxiety. You end up being more productive with your day and in a better mood. Makes you wonder why so many of us aren't incorporating self-care into our routines every day! I used to have the notion that if I keep going until I complete my 'to do' list I will be better off.
Some of you may have that checklist of things to get done and you feel unproductive if you don't accomplish everything. This leads to more stress and anxiety and you may find yourself doing extra the next day to catch up. It becomes an endless cycle until you just get burned out. For all my hard-working mommas, burnout is real! Practicing self-care is way to curve that and still manage your day effectively.
Identifying Burn Out
You may be burned out and not even know it. When you're stressed to your limits and still pushing to do more, you are pouring from an empty cup. Burn out shows itself in different ways. Here are some ways to tell if this is what you are experiencing.
You're easily annoyed- you find yourself overreacting to that spilled cup of milk.
Tired ALL the time- some exhaustion is normal but if you constantly feel like can never catch up on rest this can be a sign.
Resentment- feeling under-appreciation, undervalued, or regret for not doing other things with your life.
Indifference- you completely stop caring about everything. You have no motivation to do anything other than the bare minimum.
Physical symptoms you can't explain- headaches, stomach aches, or muscle tension when nothing about your routine has changed.
Unhealthy coping- you find a need to drink more than usual, smoke or eat more junk to 'feel better'.
Don't wait until you are completely burned out to start incorporating self-care into your day or even your week. Here are some ways that you can start taking of you today.
Self-Care Strategies
Schedule YOU time- Let everyone in the house know that Friday night is your time to relax. Take that bubble bath or read that book you been meaning to. Whatever day/time you choose for you, let it be known and try to get extra help so that you can make it happen.
Check your emotions- feeling tired or cranky? Acknowledge it and listen to your body. It's OK if everything is not done. The laundry can be folded tomorrow and no one is judging if the dishes are left overnight.
Invest in yourself- Get your nails done. Get that massage. Go out to a nice dinner solo. You may feel like money is best spent on the kids and everything thing else but investing in yourself responsibly is self-care too.
Work out- make time to take care of yourself physically. It lowers stress and helps you cope with life's challenges. You don't have to have to go crazy with a gym membership. Apps like Nike Training Club helps you get a full workout at home in as little as 15 minutes.
Continue to be the best you that you can be for your family by prioritizing your mental and physical wellbeing. As a registered nurse, I live for taking care of others. But I realized that you have to replenish yourself first before you can pour out to others. Step back, refuel and get back to your mommy game stronger. Self-care is self-love. You got this!
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