5 Daily Self-Care Routine As A First Time Mom

Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.

During this time of the pandemic, self-care is the last thing we seek. As a parent we put our family first. We hardly even have time to unwind for just a minute. Between caring for our little ones, having cooked meals ready, cleaning, and doing laundry can alone be very exhausting. Trying to adapt to this pandemic and new motherhood can be overwhelming and unfortunately, overtime stress builds up.

Stress will build up if not taken care of

The causes of stress is different from person to person. But the effects are the same when stress builds up. Stress can include muscle tension, insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, upset stomach, irritability, and a lack of motivation. There can also be long-term effects, from obesity or weight loss to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 

The importance of self-care

It is very important to SELF-CARE as a parent. Actually, research shows that parental burnout has a negative effect on every member of the family. Therefore, self-care is a must as a parent. Do not feel guilty and selfish that you are taking care of yourself to take care for your own family.

It is important to take care of your spiritual, physical, psychological, and social needs because it will help you feel your best. It’s important to set aside a little bit of time for self-care even when you feel like you don’t have a single second to devote to yourself.

A little about me

I am a first time mom to my lovely 10 month old daughter Evelyn. I resigned my infant and toddler teaching career to be a stay at home mom. My husband works long hours a day. I love my little family and wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world. But leaves me pretty much taking care of Evelyn what it feels like 24/7. Don’t get me wrong, I am very fortunate that I am able to stay home with my daughter and watch her grow and reach every milestone. However, sometimes taking care of an infant is so overwhelming and exhausting. After having my daughter, self-care hasn’t been my top priority. When I found myself constantly being irritated over little things and constantly feeling restless I decided to change my mind set and do self-care.

In the beginning, self-care sometimes felt like an indulgence, or worse, a selfish act. Fortunately, being kind to yourself is not a selfish act. I encourage you to do things you used to enjoy doing before having a kid. Or better yet, find something new that works with your schedule. Self-Care doesn’t need to be expensive and doesn’t need to be fancy either. Simply by eating your favorite meal or taking a shower with out being interrupted will help you get through.

There are many different self-care strategies for parents, you’ll need to experiment with them to figure out which strategies work best for you. As for me, the list below are my self-care strategies that has helped me as a parent.

1. Waking Up Early

Waking up an hour before my daughter and husband is what I discovered that works best for me. I just love quiet mornings where I’m not being rushed to even brush my teeth. If I control my first several minutes of my day, I found that my day runs so much soothly. I don’t know about you guys but my mood sets the mood for my family. If I’m in a bad or good mood, it’s like they can sense that.

2. Praying

Self-Care starts and ends with God. Like I mentioned, it is important to take care of your spiritual life too. Waking up early is essential to me because I like to spend this quiet time to pray and meditate on the word of God. I at least spend about 15 minutes every morning. There is nothing better than to start the day with a powerful prayer and with gratitude. A moment with God gives me spiritual strength and direction to start my day.

3. Reading the Bible

I also have been enjoying reading the bible in the mornings when my mind is clear and fresh. In general, I read about 15 minutes. I usually read my bible after my prayer. Reading my bible really sets the tone for my day. Reading the bible first thing in the morning gives me peace in my heart.

4. Physical Activity / Stretching

I know moms, doing a physical activity is the last thing in mind, but despite the busy schedule, it is important to take some time for yourself and do some type of physical activity. Mostly, I like to change up my physical activity routine. Somedays we go to the park and take a walk, somedays I do quick home stretching. My point here, whether you’re able to spend 10 minutes or 1 hour, whether its doing a home workout, stretching, jogging, cycling etc. incorporating a physical activity into your schedule is a great start to building healthy habits. Not only will this help you de-stress, but it is also something that will keep you healthy. And that’s what our family wants, A HAPPY HEALTHY MOM!

5. Good Nutrition is Good Self-Care

How eating is a form of self-care? Eating itself is one of the core components to self-care because it literally is nurturing our bodies to exist. Food affects our performance and energy levels. Make sure to have a well balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats throughout the day to help nourish your body. Do not go long periods of time without eating because the body does not function at its best. Having a well balance meals of these three nutrients will help keep your blood sugar levels more stable and helps you feel more energized throughout the day.

Conclusion

From busy schedules as a parent, it is important to make self-care part of your routine. It is important to take care of your spiritual, physical, psychological, and social needs. Do not feel guilty and selfish that you are taking care of yourself to take care for your own family. A happy healthy momma is a happy family.

I hope I was able to inspire you to take time for yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself and take a breather. Experiment with self-care strategies to figure out which strategies work best for you.

Comment down below what’s your favorite self-care?