According to a recent study, a staggering 76% of Moms in the US spend upwards of 10 hours each day caring for their families. When you factor in sleep, work, and other duties – this means that they’re barely spending any time caring for themselves. While it’s only natural to want to put your children first, it’s equally important to understand that being a good mom also means taking care of yourself.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to take better care of yourself as a Mom in 2022!
- Know that it’s okay to seek help. As a mom, you’re probably used to your kid(s) approaching you several times a day to ask for help. While this is only natural, we’re also programmed to think that the older we get, the less support we need. However, parents need help, too – and it’s perfectly okay to seek it out when you need it. For example, addiction is becoming increasingly common for Moms of all ages, though few seek help when they need it. If you find this is something you need support with, you might want to reach out to rehab centers such as Sunshine Behavioral Health to find out more about the services they have on offer.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. At any age, comparing yourself to others is a confidence-killer. As a result, you can banish mom guilt and start taking better care of yourself by refusing to let these comparisons get to you. Instead of looking at another mom’s Instagram and thinking about how to put together she looks – remember that we only share small portions of our life on social media. Behind the perfect Instagram photo is a home that’s equally full of clutter, tantrums, and chaos – they just chose to keep this out of the frame. If you find that certain accounts flare-up negative thoughts in your mind more than others, hit that unfollow button!
- Make me-time a priority. As a busy mom, it’s more important than ever that you’re able to make time for yourself. For example, if you’re looking to relax after a long day, you could start by putting together an easy skincare routine that helps you feel more like yourself again. Remember, self-care does not have to be particularly time-consuming to make a difference in your life – and even as little as fifteen minutes of self-care a day can go a long way.
- Don’t let your dreams go. According to a recent study, women are statistically more likely to put their careers on hold for their families than their partners. However, being a parent doesn’t mean you have to let go of your dreams that exist outside of the home – be they professional or personal. For example, if you want to continue to be a stay-at-home parent, there are plenty of side-hustles that are perfect for moms that will help you pursue your interests and hobbies and even earn more money.
- Spend time with your friends. When developing better self-care habits and learning that it’s okay to put yourself first, you should also make sure that you spend plenty of time with your friends (outside of the home). Socializing with our peers is a great way to relieve stress and gives you plenty of chance to let out your feelings to people who understand exactly what you’re going through. Additionally, while you can have these conversations over a playdate, you don’t need to bring the kids along to hang out with your mom-friends.
- Remember that nobody is perfect. We’re often taught that we have to be perfect – in our personal life, our professional realm, and even as parents. However, striving for perfection means putting unrealistic expectations on our shoulders – expectations that we will never meet. While it sounds great, there’s no such thing as a perfect parent, and from time to time, you will make mistakes. However, as long as you continue to try your best to be there for your child and offer support to them whenever they need it – you are doing the right thing.
In short, there are plenty of ways in which you can start taking better care of yourself as a mom in 2022 – many of which simply revolve around understanding that it’s okay to put yourself first. After all, if you cannot properly care for yourself, how will you care for others? Remember, you are not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.