Momma Moments: Nurturing Self-Care tips
True, I am asking you to not follow the moms of the last 100 years and take a moment for yourself and your wondering, but how? While it would be awesome and optimal if you could have 20 minutes to yourself to go for a walk or sign up for a class - I know that isn’t always feasible.
So I will give you some ideas for self care with your tot and move into the more truly on your own ideas. I mean I didn’t know what all self love and self care really meant till I started…
Wake up… shower?
Hopefully right. When my daughter was young I would bring her into the bathroom on a blanket or in the part of her swing that detached (best feature ever). Now the length of the shower is dependent on if the little one is napping or awake and how self entertained they can be but a quick shower will do so much for how you feel over skipping it all together.
Eating? girl, a pop tart and cold coffee (unless your an iced coffee gal like myself) that is NOT going to help you stay fueled. Here are some options based on time you may have had before or just your preferences - make some pre-made frittatas for example or make some fruit pancakes that you freeze and pop in the microwave. Added benefit unlike a pancake you can eat standing up or doing something else IF you absolutely have to. In order to eat, you may need to take time to pre-make something but I swear it will save you a ton of time.
Exercise? oddly the younger they are the easier this one is as you can put them in the stroller and go for a jog / walk. I used to do some calisthenics while playing with her. A few squats grabbing blocks and sit ups with tickles. The older and more mobile she became the harder this got and more inventive I had to get! To be totally honest this is the area I truly wish I had done better and let slip more than I’d hoped. The awesome thing is my little one, has at least been a part of my exercise attempts over the last couple years, and loves to try to work out with me. Even if I am in my garage to do a few lunges, she comes out mimicking the moves or just attempting the cutest overhead press with 1 lb weights. She already knows that it is an important aspect of life.
Our last basic is sleep - you know that saying ‘sleep when baby sleeps’… lets be real not all that realistic! So let’s talk about how to sleep when that isn’t the case. It isn’t so much about finding time to sleep but making the best of the sleep- so the tips and tricks are to keep you asleep longer or back to sleep faster. I talked about the side by side bassinet (LOVE) makes night time wakings quick. I put a bottle warmer and mini fridge in my bathroom with a nice salt lamp night light - so I wasn’t walking out to the kitchen, turning on bright lights, waking the dogs… all things that would wake me up more. We found some sleep music we all enjoyed that would lure her and me back to sleep that played, if soft scents help you then incorporate that too. Anything to make it a calm space for you!
Yes I know…
I made that sound easy so let me tell you the harder part. Self love! Forgive yourself! Give yourself grace!
Download Free Tips for Excercise with baby!!