Great ways for moms to practice self-care during the holidays.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Motherhood is multi-faceted. It’s not solely about bedtime stories, cuddles, and homework sessions. It’s an all-consuming role that overwhelms a lot of women. As a result of diving deeply into the work of motherhood, many women struggle to find the difference between who they are as women versus mothers. This is one of the reasons why self-care is essential. It’s especially helpful during the holidays when there is so much happening at the same time. If you’re a mother, consider some of the best ways to practice self-care during the holidays.
Develop a radical mindset
‘Mom guilt’ is a popular phrase that encapsulates the feeling many mothers feel when they prioritize anything over their children. Many mothers feel guilty when they have to hire childcare while they head to work. The guilt can pop up when they’re relaxing at the spa or getting a workout at the gym. This guilt can often gnaw at mothers because they feel like there’s something they should be doing to tend to their children.
It’s time to alienate that mindset. Move toward the direction of developing a radical mindset toward self-care. If you want to be the best mom you can be to your child, you have to make sure you’re happy and taken care of. If you feel guilt when you have to head to work each day, remember that you’re going to work in order to provide for your family. If you don’t go to work, you won’t be able to keep a roof over your child’s head. Plus, when you’re working in a career that you enjoy, you’re also telling your child that it’s possible to pursue their dreams no matter what. There’s a certain level of gratification you’ll be able to feel when you look back and see all you’ve accomplished. Being a mother doesn’t mean you forget about your own dreams. That’s a part of self-care.
Schedule tasks
Take time to schedule tasks. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or another holiday, you already know that you’ll want to purchase gifts. Purchase gifts online in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute in order to get everything you need. If you pace yourself throughout the month by accomplishing tasks at a realistic pace, you’ll be less exhausted and flustered by the end of the month. If you know that you have a lot of food to make for the large holiday dinner, do some of the prep work in advance. If you have to cut up a ton of celery for the holiday stuffing, purchase the stuffing a week in advance. After you’ve washed and chopped the celery, place it in the freezer. When you’re ready to use it, all you’ll need to do is pull it out of the freezer and place it in the pot to cook.
Prioritize personal time
On a daily basis, make sure you’re doing an activity to fill yourself up. Burnout is a very real issue that can have terrible consequences. Put it on your calendar in order to avoid forgetting. Use 30 minutes to paint your nails while you listen to some relaxing music. Schedule a visit to the spa in order to get a nonsurgical facelift. Instead of taking a regular shower one evening, exfoliate your skin with a decadent sugar scrub. Light a candle as you do a few stretches to start your day. Find a new book that you can read before you fall asleep. Even though these suggestions might seem small and simple, the compound effort is what will make a major difference. Plus, these activities give you something extra to look forward to as you go throughout your day.
When many children become adults and leave the home, it’s not uncommon for women to feel like they’ve lost a major sense of their own identity. When you’re able to practice self-care on a consistent basis, it’ll help you to find yourself, remain centered, and prioritize your own life in the midst of caring for your family. The holidays are considered some of the happiest times of the year. Include a solid self-care practice in your routine to guarantee that the holidays are truly some of the happiest times of your year.