Simple Self-Care Practices For Busy Moms

More and more people are beginning to realize that self-care is not a matter of selfishness. On the contrary, taking care of yourself is the first step to taking good care of others. If you are a mother or father, this statement makes even more sense. This article focuses on self-care practices for moms, especially busy moms. Those who, when they put on the “super mom” outfit, forget about themselves.

It is time to push away the popular belief among many women that since their family comes first, dedicating time and resources to themselves is a selfish act. As a mother you must be clear that to take care of your children you have to take care of yourself, that to love your children you have to love yourself. What would you be teaching them then?

Self-care is a fundamental part of any wellness routine. But it is more than just taking care of yourself on the outside. It is above all a question of health. Self-care encompasses many aspects of our life. From the practical to the physical and the mental and, of course, the spiritual. Therefore, each one must define what self-care means for himself. That is, what aspects of your life do you want to take care of.

Creating Self-Care Moments for Busy Moms

We are not going to try to convince you of how important it is that you pamper your skin or hair, that you take care of what you eat or that you exercise. You already know that. What we want is to give you strategies and tools to reconnect with yourself, to recharge your batteries and move on. 

We agree that taking time for self-care can be especially challenging for mothers.  And it is because finding time is almost impossible. That is why the challenge is to create it, to invent it. Yes, it is a question of creativity.

It’s about turning the moments when you don’t do anything in particular into moments for self-care. Learn to differentiate what is important from what is not. Invest those minutes and do something to your advantage. You can also take some time from other tasks and invest it in yourself. Be creative and listen to your body. Learn to relax and unwind.

Next we are going to see a series of self-care practices focused on busy moms. They are practices that you can incorporate into your day to day, without time excuses. You just have to find a few minutes to put them into practice and return to your center.

Put your legs up

Lifting your legs will not only help you feel less heavy  or fight inflammation caused by various health conditions. If you suffer from this condition, you may notice relief, at least momentary. If you want, close your eyes and leave your mind as blank as possible.

To put your legs up you just have to lie on the bed or on a carpet (even on the floor). Then, support your feet with your legs bent or stretched out on the wall or on a chair, the head of the bed … or whatever suits you. You can also, you can raise your legs without support. The higher you raise your legs and the more you stretch them, the better. But if you can’t, nothing happens. Listen to your body and bring your legs as far as you can or feel comfortable.

Practice abdominal breathing

Practicing abdominal breathing is the first step in learning to relax. In addition, one of the most recommended techniques in self-care for moms. By paying attention to the movement of the abdomen, we get the diaphragm down. This will make your breathing deeper. This type of breathing reduces stress. In addition, it favors the oxygenation of the organism.

To start, sit in a comfortable position or lie on your back. Close your eyes and place your hands on your belly. Inhale through your nose and feel your belly expand like a balloon. Exhale and notice how the belly is approaching the spine. Repeat several times, making each cycle of breath longer and deeper.

If you feel especially stressed or agitated, hold your breath for a few seconds after you inhale and exhale. If you can’t the first time, don’t worry. Try again. If you do it with intention and correctly, in three or four breaths you will have calmed down. You can do 3 cycles of 5 abdominal breaths each. Between cycles, allow a minute of rest.

Enjoy a hot tea

Having a hot tea in solitude and in silence is one of the great gifts that you can give yourself throughout the day. Turn it into a ritual (mid-morning or mid-afternoon) and this habit will become your great ally throughout the day.

You can make yourself an infusion of organic cultivation, with which you feel you can connect. Depending on the time of day and your tolerance to caffeine (theine), as well as your needs at that time, you can choose different teas. Choose one with healthy properties that you feel will do you good. If silence overwhelms you or you feel thoughts cluttering your mind, accompany your ritual with a video or audio of guided meditation or visualization. Feel each sip, focus on the sensations and breathe.

Other Simple Self-Care Practices for Busy Moms

There are other simple practices that you can implement in self-care. It is ideal to include a morning yoga practice to start the day (15-20 minutes is enough). If you can dedicate a few minutes to meditation or mindfulness, even better. You may have to get up a bit earlier for this, but it’s worth it. If you can’t do it at the end of the day to go to bed relaxed.

Although we have discussed it above at the beginning, in your daily routine you can not miss time for your personal physical care. What you do depends on what you value. What matters is that you don’t stop doing what you like to take care of yourself because you dedicate all the time to everything else. Try not to leave exercise out of your self-care routine. The point is that you organize your day to be able to dedicate a few minutes to exercise, inside or outside the home, in the gym or outdoors.