Tuesday, September 19, 2017

10 Self Care Ideas for Taking Care of You

I love being a mom. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I am a special needs mom on top of being a mom to eleven (yes they are ALL mine) amazing children. But one of the most important lessons I learned in being a mom and especially a caregiver is the importance of self care.
In the beginning of my journey, I didn't know the importance of this. (I talk about that in my new podcast Sunshiny Thoughts click here to listen) I would give and give and feel so guilty when I needed to take time for myself or when I felt overwhelmed. But a few years ago, a friend told me that I couldn't take care of the children, if I wasn't taking care of me. 
Now there are a lot of things you can do for self care. I have my favorites that help me destress and regroup so I can keep going.
These include: 
  • Taking a time out - five or ten minutes to regroup and just breathe. 
  • Going for a walk. Fresh air does amazing things to clear your head. 
  • Drinking water - when I'm dehydrated I'm cranky. So I need to make sure that I am drinking enough water. 
  • Reading a book - I love to read. I will often grab my kindle and sit and read. This helps me relax and be able to handle the day.
  • Pray - This is my go to. As many of you know, I am a Christian. I believe firmly in the power of prayer. I believe that I can take my needs to the Lord as he wants to know what I am feeling. God knows my heart. He knows what I'm going through. Somehow when I pray I feel peace. 
  • Listen to Music- I have my playlist of music. I love to listen to Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, Hillsong United, Elevation Worship, etc when I am stressed. My favorite song right now is Chris Tomlin's Good Good Father. I know the Lord is good and I know that He is faithful!!
  • Exercise - I'm not the greatest with this one. But it's definitely needed. Take a break and go for a walk. Nature is a wonderful treasure. 
  • Talk to a friend - often we talk to little people as moms but we need to talk to our friends. Fellowship, reconnect, and sometimes even praying with a friend can reset your mood and your day.
  • Take a bubble bath - This one is my favorite one as I love to get different kinds of bubble bath.
  • Journal- I have a prayer journal that I write in when I'm upset, happy, lonely, etc. It helps me to get my thoughts on paper. When I do I feel a sense of release and peace. 
The important thing to do is take care of you!! In order for me to do this, I keep my things in order. I start my day off with my morning devotional, prayer, and then set my goals for the day. This helps me focus and have peace of mind. As you go through this journey, you'll learn what works for you. Make a note in your self care journal of what this could be.

Be Blessed!!