Usually I am the last one on the list. I have only one good pair of jeans, holes in my yoga pants and my old shirts become pajama shirts. This doesn't bother me, I am frugal but after a while it starts to effect my view of myself. The haggard mom becomes haggard on the inside. Bad news for mom and bad news for the family, so what can I do? Self care! What? I know sometimes you must fill your own cup before you can fill others. What happens to me is that sometimes you don't realize that your cup is constantly drained by others and you aren't taking the time to fill it up. Or be around others that help you fill your cup. Because I am a BIG believer that women need women. Those that can help you fill your cup as you fill theirs. So number one on my list is: 1. FriendsMy husband was in China recently for 13 days and a sweet friend of mine invited us over for dinner. It meant the world to me. With the Hubby gone I had limited adult conversations and I was in desperate need. This simple invitation and yummy meal helped fill my cup. We need friends and we NEED to be that kind of friend to others. NO one, wants a friend that constantly drains them. NO one can constantly fill you all the time either. It has to come from within. But it also is filling to you when you can lighten someones day. 2. WaterYep. I feel so much better when I take the time to remember to drink enough water. Plus all those extra bathroom breaks are a nice moment to breathe too :) 3. Move or Get OutsideDance in the kitchen while making dinner, workout, go for a walk, do stress relieving yoga...whatever you can do! 4. Read or listen to something that inspires youWith the world full of podcasts and audio books to music there are different ways to intake some much needed inspiration. Make you feel like you are thinking about something other than dinner menus and what happened on your toddler shows today. 5. Take some quiet timeNo phone, no kids, no noise and just breathe. You owe yourself the same love that you freely give to others. Because taking care of yourself doesn't mean me first or me only. It means me too. 6. Do something for someone elseWait. I thought this was self care. It is but hear me out. This doesn't mean watch someones kids for 3 hours. This doesn't mean cook a meal for them. This doesn't mean helping someone move or pack boxes on a Saturday. This means send someone a text with a positive message. This means hold the door for someone when you could easily keep walking along. This means smiling at the grocery clerk. Small and simple things like sending a card. Sending a kind message on Facebook or even video chatting someone you haven't talk to in a while. IF you want to watch someones kids for 3 hours then do. I find that it is simple things that mean the most. I love to make cookies and surprise activities or quality time. Grand gestures are great but we don't need to fill our cup with recognition. Just ordinary deeds. "An empty later provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly." -Unknown 7. Pick one thing in your schedule to let go ofWhat is not worth it anymore? Protect your schedule and spend your time on what matters. "Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time is precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won't accept." - Anna Taylor 8. Explore a HobbyThere are so many types of hobbies. Find something that you LOVE that fills you. Is it dancing? Photography? Softball? Try different things you might be surprised. 9.Fix up your bedroomMost of the time my bedroom is cluttered with projects, preschool lessons, notebooks, important items that require my attention. Right now our home office is in our bedroom and it doesn't help the sleepless nights and desperate need of relaxation. So FIX up that room. Declutter! Organize those piles or that closet that drives you crazy! Make it your place of sanctuary. Calming colors and fuzzy blankets. 10. Get rid of those clothes that don't fitDeclutter Again? Yes! Don't keep clothes hoping that one day you will fit back into them or that don't flatter you. Embrace your body the way it is now. Focus on items that build your confidence. Clothes that let your show off your personality. Becoming a mom doesn't mean "lose yourself". Get out of that yoga pants rut ( I am mostly talking to myself here) and that doesn't mean that we need to spend our entire savings account to accomplish this. Focus on pieces that are multifunctional, comfortable and still allow you to be you.
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Hello, I'm LindseyA wife to hubby pursing higher education, a mother to three energetic kids, obsessed with all things farmhouse vintage and believer that food always taste better when it is shared. Categories
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