Self-care is a very important step along the road of loving yourself. It means being intentional about caring for yourself. I am a firm believer that self-care is an essential part of motherhood. This is a vital part of preparation in serving others. We can get stuck in being able to recognize what we need when we haven’t taken the time to be aware of where we are at in our thought life and our feelings.
Has anyone ever told you to take care of yourself and your response was a silent pondering of what that even meant? I can be the first to raise my hand and know how it feels to have someone advise me to do something for myself and walk away without receiving the message because I have way too much going on to be able to take that break. But I am learning that self-care can look very different for each person, so let’s unpack the importance of how to start a routine that works for you.
A daily practice of engaging in an aspect of caring for yourself doesn’t have to seem overwhelming. Depending on the season of motherhood that you’re in, you may only have a few minutes a day to take a pause for yourself. It is important to learn about what replenishes you once you feel depleted so that you have some options to choose from when you need it.
When moments of overwhelm, burnout, depression, stress, anxiety, or grief are depleting you, it may be hard to step away for a few moments to collect yourself but it is very important for your overall well-being.
The reality of a mother’s life is that we you are always adjusting. The days come with so many different twists and turns that require flexibility and adaptation. Life is a constant stream of change and when you add the challenges of having to juggle and adapt to all of the changes that this past year of covid have brought along, it is no wonder that depression and anxiety rates are at an alarmingly high rate.
The four aspects of self-care that I wrote about in my last article are important areas to reflect on for yourself. It is an important starting point as you dive into the three steps that will help you put a few things into practice. Will you focus on your spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional needs as you plan what you will do?
3 Steps to Help You Start a Self-Care Routine
- Choose one area to focus on – Take a reflective inventory on where you are spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Assess where you are feeling well and where you are feeling empty. Focus on one aspect area in need of self-care before engaging in the next. If your need is spiritual, spend some time reading a devotional or prayer journaling. If your area of need is physical, go for a walk or a run. You get the idea. Other areas of self-care can be introduced once you have established some routines that work for you.
- Schedule a time to engage in your chosen area of self-care – Separate a time on your calendar, set an alarm, let others know that you have a commitment at that time. You may be a morning person or a night owl. Decide if you need to wake up before everyone else at home to get your quiet time or if you need to get the kids to bed a little bit earlier to get your time at the end of the day. You are worth a standing appointment on your own calendar.
- Make changes when necessary – This is where your flexibility comes in. Because self-care is an intentional act of taking care of yourself, you need to be ready to make an adjustment with the time or change the activity as needed. If you set an alarm but something unexpected has come up, how can you respond or adjust so that you still get what you need? If you tried an activity and it didn’t work for you, how can you make an adjustment and change what you do for next time?
Remember that your body is a temple that has been beautifully and uniquely designed to embody who you are. It is the physical dwelling place of the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional parts of yourself. Your body will carry you through your entire life journey. By treating your body well, and being good to yourself, you will find yourself in a better position to love yourself well and model that love for your children and others as you serve them.
Have you downloaded your free Self-Care Planner? If you are still unsure of how to get started on your self-care journey, it is okay to start small and the planner will help you do just that in 5 simple steps.