As the mother of a 6 year old, two toddlers and a baby, I understand the importance of moms (and dads) investing in their well-being spiritually, mentally, and physically. In order to be the best parent to your beloved toddler(s), you have to take care of yourself, too.
Now, let me tell you, it’s not easy, between changing diapers, cleaning up messes, and preparing food for the kiddos, there’s often little time to spend on yourself.
Investing in your wellness is imperative because when you take care of yourself, you are more equipped to care for others. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, sis; I’m here to assist you!
Let’s take a look at some simple self-care practices that you can incorporate into your “wellness” routine.
1- Praying
Research shows that praying reduces stress, depression, and anxiety. As any Mama knows, stress and anxiety are felt daily, especially when dealing with little ones. When you pray to God, you connect to a Being bigger than yourself, which is beneficial to your spiritual wellness.
He can carry your burdens, stress, worry, and anxiety, if you give it to Him. Engaging in daily prayer can lift your spirit, boost your mood, and help you relax.
Praying also gives you hope and strengthens your sense of purpose, while also helping you cope with and overcome any problem that life may throw at you.
2- Journaling
Journaling is a fantastic self-care practice that not only improves your happiness but also decreases stress. Journaling can help you organize your thoughts and feelings, and ultimately helps you to know yourself better.
It allows for emotional catharsis and helps prioritize problems, fears, and concerns so that you can find ways to resolve them. This is beneficial for moms who are constantly running around and taking care of their children.
3- Exercise
I’m sure you have heard of all the amazing benefits of exercising like increased energy levels and improved brain health and memory.
Exercising regularly can promote your self-esteem, improve your mood, and help you manage tension and anxiety. Exercise can also improve your sleep.
If you are a mother who is constantly tired, try incorporating an exercise routine into your schedule, even if it is only for 15 minutes. Doing that can provide you with more energy to start your day. I am sure your body will thank you too!
4- Mini Spa Day
As hard as you work, sometimes giving yourself a spa day is needed. You deserve it! Treating yourself is vital for your emotional and physical well-being. Massages, facials, or any other form of self-care, relax your mind, help you de-stress, boost your self-confidence, and can help relieve pain.
You don’t need to go to the spa to have a spa day, you can do it at home. You can make your own body scrub and use it to gently exfoliate your skin. Take a warm bath with your favorite bath bomb, bubble bath soap, and essential oils, or do a DIY facial. The possibilities are endless.
5- Positive Affirmations
You are what you think. Positive affirmations are powerful. You can change the trajectory of your mind, by simply speaking and thinking positive thoughts.
Thoughts have the ability to drive you to do certain things, whether good or bad, positive or negative. Better thoughts can improve your psychological and physical well-being. Your thoughts help guide you in life and assist you in accomplishing your life goals and objectives.
As a mother, your daily routine is already stressful, so make sure that you take care of your mental health as well.
6- Call a Friend/Loved one
Though you may not be able to go and hang out with friends very often, connecting with friends and family via the phone or video chat can be just as beneficial.
The feelings of isolation and loneliness have become more prevalent in our society today, due to the global pandemic we find ourselves in. Juggling children and daily life can be difficult; you will need all of the love and support you can get.
Call a loved one whenever you need to vent or are seeking help in a situation.
7- Watch Your Favorite Movie
Watching movies can be another form of therapy. Taking a few hours to watch your favorite flick can help you cope with stress. Individuals who have difficulty expressing their feelings may find themselves laughing or sobbing during a movie.
If you’re feeling exhausted, go watch your favorite movie and take some time for yourself.
8- Adopt/Practice a Daily Skincare Routine
Adopting a skincare routine/ritual can be a great self-care addition, something that you look forward to at the end of the day. Taking care of the largest organ in your body is one way to show yourself a little love.
Whether it’s the ten-step Korean skincare routine or just cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, taking a few minutes out of your day can make all the difference.
Maintaining the health of your skin will make you feel more beautiful and help your skin look radiant.
9- Have a Warm Bath
The few minutes you spend in your bathtub are not only so you can get clean, but there are many benefits to bathing. Taking a bath can relieve muscle tension and lower your headaches symptoms, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Surprisingly, it can also alleviate cold and flu symptoms.
After a long day, unwinding in a warm bath can help you relax your mind. It makes you feel better in general. So, the next time you spend a little extra time in the bathtub, you don’t need to feel guilty about it!
10- Eat Healthy
We all know that eating healthy and drinking enough water is important to one’s health. As mothers of toddlers, sometimes it is easier to lose sight of our own health as we prioritize the health of others.
But I implore you to also remember that you too, need to eat healthy so that you can be strong, full of energy, and ready to tackle each day.
11- Make your Bed in the Morning
Did you know that making your bed can help you accomplish more in the day? Sounds silly right?
Statistics show that people who make their beds are more likely to have a productive day. Just taking a few seconds every morning to perform this simple task can make a difference.
12- Read a Book
Reading increases memory, strengthens the brain, builds your vocabulary, helps alleviate depression, decreases stress, and boosts self-esteem.
Reading has also been shown to prevent age-related cognitive decline and it may even help you live longer. So, if you haven’t already, you might want to head on over to Barnes and Noble and get some books!
13- Get Dressed
We all like to look good when we go out, but research has shown that getting dressed while staying at home boosts your self-confidence, your mood, and your ability to focus and perform tasks.
While it may be easier to stay in your pajamas the whole day, getting dressed is just a little way to show yourself some self-care.
14- Take a Nap
For most new parents, sleep becomes a luxury, but thankfully that can change as the baby grows into a toddler. However, if you find that sleeping at night doesn’t leave you feeling well-rested when you wake up, try taking naps when your little one falls asleep.
Chances are, you will be better rested when your toddler awakes and hopefully, a little more energized. Not only are there benefits for sleeping, but there are also benefits of napping, such as better memory recall and superior overall cognition.
15- Listen to Calming/Relaxing Music
When you are busy taking care of toddlers, sometimes you need a way to relieve tension and stress. Listening to calming music can help you do just that. It has been known to reduce stress, improve your mood, brain functioning, and memory, increase the serotonin and endorphin levels in your brain. Calming music can even boost the immune system among many other things. The next time you feel overwhelmed, just take a moment to breathe and listen to some serene music.
Motherhood is a challenging, but rewarding job, whether you are raising toddlers or teenagers. You can only give out what’s inside of you.
So, make sure that you take the time to refill yourself, spiritually, mentally, and physically. When you invest in yourself and your wellness, everyone else around you will benefit as well. So, Mamas, remember this:
If you are to be a light for those you love, you must find ways to nourish yourself, to feed your fire & keep it burning.
-Seed & Song
With love, Grace
Grace Anyanwu is a Christian psalmist, minister, writer, and author of I Choose to Wait. In 2016, Grace married her love and best friend, Dr. Miracle Anyanwu. She, alongside her husband, presides over various ministries such as Miracle Anyanwu Ministries (M.A.M), I Choose to Wait Movement (I.C.W.),The Miracle Anyanwu Foundation (MAF) – a non-profit charitable organization targeted primarily for the underprivileged in Africa. Grace loves encouraging and inspiring women to live boldly for Christ and she does that through Grace Encourages. Outside of ministry, they love traveling, relaxing on the beach, writing, watching movies, bowling, and spending time with loved ones. They are blessed with four lovely children.
