I would like to start this article by saying that all of us could benefit from self care, no matter who you are. I mention Mom’s a lot just to have a focal point for the wording of the article. Please know that this article I have written also applies to ALL Care Givers, no matter who you are and I strongly believe this.
As a Mom or Caregiver, you are constantly giving of yourself to your family. It is important to remember to take care of yourself, too. Self-care is vital to achieving personal growth, peace and success in your own life. You might find it
time-consuming or challenging to find time for self-care. Make the time. Set an appointment with yourself. Self-care is not selfish. I feel it is essential to make it a priority because YOU MATTER. Yes, I do say that often, YOU MATTER…
Not only will it benefit you but your family too! How will it help? Here are some reasons why I believe self-care is vital in achieving a healthy life, personal growth, and success as a Mother or a Caregiver:
1. Self-care allows you to recharge…
To be the best Mother or Caregiver you can be, you need to take care of yourself first, no matter what the age or ages of your kids are. Whether your kids are babies, teenagers or young adults, it still means making time for yourself to relax and recharge. Self-care can be taking a hot bath, reading your favorite book, spending time outdoors, sitting in your favorite chair and doing nothing or even just sitting on your porch for 10 minutes (I still do that sometimes). Self-care can be just listening to a motivational or self help video too. It comes down to what YOU want to do for yourself. You do not have to necessarily leave the house. Meet yourself where you are at. I am a big supporter of that. Maybe leaving the house is just not something you are able to do or want to do. When you take care of yourself, you will have more energy and patience to take care of loved ones.
2. It helps you cope with stress…
As a Mom or Caregiver, you are likely to experience stress from time to time, or it might feel like all of the time, some days way more than others. That is very normal. It is essential to find healthy ways to cope with stress that feel right to you. Such as exercising, journaling, writing a letter, making a phone call, maybe spending time with family and friends, or remembering to say the occasional NO. Saying no can feel really uncomfortable. I still struggle with saying no. Some days it is extremely uncomfortable to say no to someone. Maybe try thinking when you say no to others, you are saying yes to yourself. When you have healthy coping mechanisms in place and a habit of taking care of yourself, you will then be better equipped to handle unexpected stressors.
3. It boosts your confidence…
When you take care of yourself, you will feel better about yourself. When you feel better you naturally have a boost in confidence. The boost in confidence can lead to success in all areas of your life including and not limiting to your career, your family life, personal relationships and in your home. When you feel good about yourself, you will be more likely to step out-side of your comfort zone and maybe even pursue some of your own personal goals and desires no matter what they may be. For me when my kids were in grade school, it was joining the PTA and becoming a Volley Ball Coach, which were totally outside of my comfort zone. I didn’t even know how to be a Coach! I did grow from the experience, which in turn I did become more confident in different areas of my life.
4. It sets an excellent example for your kids…
If you have kids, your kids are watching you, even when you think they are not and they learn from your example of how you are treating yourself. When you take care of yourself, you are showing them that it is important to prioritize their own mental health, emotional well-being and health. It will help them develop healthy habits that they can carry with themselves throughout their lives and possibly one day pass the habit of self care on to their own families.
5. It helps you connect with your partner…
When you take time for yourself, it gives you a chance to think about and maybe even miss your partner, then in turn appreciate them even more. It can also help you reconnect on a deeper level. You might even have more time to talk about things that are important to you both not relating just to the family. When you have a strong relationship with your partner, it will benefit you, your partner and your whole family.
6. It allows you to pursue your passions, if you want to…
When you make time for self-care, you will also have time to pursue YOUR passions if that is something YOU want to do. Whether it’s painting, gardening, running, walking outside or on the house treadmill, taking pictures, painting rocks, or cooking, choosing an activity that brings you extra joy will make you a happier person. When you are fulfilled with something that YOU might choose to do outside of the family, you will be able to give more to yourself and to your family.
7. Finally, self-care makes you a happier person…
When you take care of yourself, you will be a happier person. When you are happy, your whole family will benefit. Your positive attitude will rub off on your family member’s regardless of their age and of course your partner too. It will make your home an even more enjoyable and happier place to be.
Trying to balance motherhood or the caregiver role with everything else in your life can be challenging. In those challenging times it doesn’t mean you should forget about taking care of yourself or get to it later. That is when I encourage you to really focus on taking care of yourself. It is so very important. You just might be surprised by how it gives you the energy you need to get things done.
Just a reminder, self-care is not selfish. Self-care is essential to achieving personal growth, success and happiness. When you make self-care a priority, I believe you will surely reap the benefits and become happier. How about you go ahead and give yourself permission to take that hot bath, read your favorite book or go for a walk. I also believe your family will thank you.
In closing I would like to say, set a timer for 10 minutes and start today (I do that). Then build to more time at your own pace. Maybe just exercising in one spot for 10 minutes is all you can do. Then just do that. Do what works for you and only you. Again, meeting yourself where you’re at.
There are many different forms and tools for self care and I believe ‘Tapping‘ is a form and tool of self care. I use Tapping in my professional and personal life, for my own self-care, mental health and well being. If you have any questions regarding how Tapping can help with self care, please give me a call or text at 516-984-3756 or use the button below.
Wishing you well always..
Peace, Love, & Tapping.
