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Parenthood is the biggest adventure of all, and certainly one of the most challenging and
rewarding things that most of us will do in our adult lives. When you start a family, life changes forever and your entire priority becomes caring for this little person and preparing her for adulthood and a life independent of you. However, while you are doing that, you can't lose sight of taking care of yourself. So many mothers pour themselves into taking care of their families that they forget to take care of themselves. In this age of self-care, you have every excuse to set aside time to focus on you whether you have a newborn or a college-aged child.
Your Appearance
The quote ‘we can’t all look good at the same time, it’s me, the kids or
the house’ probably rings true for all of us! Most days there’s simply not enough time in the day to do everything
that needs to be done. Often, it’s our own appearance that’s at the bottom
of the priority list and as a busy mom, chances are you’re not as style
conscious as you once were. While this is of course fair enough, it’s
important not to give up on your appearance completely. You still want to
maintain some of the old ‘you’ when you become a parent. Maybe it’s with
a swipe of bold lipstick or a new hairstyle. Treat yourself to a new top in a color that you
love to wear and flatters your skin tone.
Keeping a sense of your identity and feeling like you look ok
(even if you don’t feel as good as you would if you were completely dressed
up) is important. If you’re running into people you know and feeling
embarrassed or are looking in the mirror and hating what you see, then it's time to remedy that. Come up with a quick, two minute makeup
routine that you can do each morning to give you a boost of confidence.
Choose clothing items that are simple and comfortable, but still look put
together. It's easy to get stuck in a leggings and yoga pants rut. But tossing on your favorite jeans and a cute top will go a long way to making you feel fab!
Your Health and Mental Health
Taking care of both body and mind is vital
when you’re a parent. You want to be energetic and happy, ready to tackle
whatever life throws at you. My favorite medicine for mental health is exercise. When I am regularly exercising, I feel great, my moods are more even, and I am less irritable. In addition to boosting your mental health, exercise keeps you fit, burns off excess calories, and improves endurance and stamina. As adults we need around two hours of moderate to vigorous exercise a week. When my girls were babies and toddlers, most of my exercise consisted of walking them in the stroller. If your children aren't good with being buckled up in a stroller for an hour, give them an incentive. Make the park your final destination or a bagel shop for a treat. And always be sure to stretch, wear supportive and comfortable footwear and if necessary, add insoles like these at https://biopods.com. The last thing you want is to injure yourself.
Exercise is only part of your mental and physical health. Eat well and prepare healthy meals that you and
your family can enjoy together. Be a good role model. If your children see you loading up on junk food, they'll follow your lead. Introduce them to new foods and recipes, and encourage them to indulge occasionally rather than daily. And get active! Make family bonding time about
bike rides, hikes, days out where you’re all up and walking around.
Your Support Network
We all need good friends and close family around us, but when you become a
parent you find that you
need your support network more than ever. Some days the challenging, and the trials and tribulations of parenting can seem insurmountable. It helps to have a friend you can use as a sounding board. They can help us out, give us advice or even just support and lend a shoulder to cry on when we need it. Keep bonds close by making time for the ones that matter. Invite them over for dinner or go visit them. Arrange a trip or catchup on Skype if it’s not convenient to meet in person.
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