This post was sponsored in part by YogaClub and contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
What comes to mind when you hear the term self-care? Is it bubble baths and manicures? Maybe for you it’s alone time and paying your bills? Do you enjoy cooking yourself a healthy meal and hiring a babysitter for an afternoon so you can clean your house? Whatever it is, I think we can all agree that self care is important but, how do you implement it in to your own life?
Self-care is a trendy term right now but before you write it off as unattainable, I want you to think about our oxygen mask metaphor that Heather talked about during Session 1 of the Okayest Moms Summer Series. On an airplane, you have to put on your oxygen mask before you can help everyone else with theirs. In life, in motherhood, you must take care of yourself first, so that you have enough of yourself to give to everyone else–your partner, your kids, your friends, your business, commitments, and so much more.
So what does that look like?
While I do believe that self-care is deeply personal and may even take years of practice to know what works for you, I’ve outlined the small shifts that have had the biggest impact for me, personally.
Invest in a hobby you enjoy
I started doing yoga shortly after I weaned off of my anti-depressants, two years ago. It has become a lifeline for me in my mental health journey. The YogaClub yoga subscription box helps keep me stylish and comfortable as I run from school drop off to yoga class to errands. Their sizing is inclusive (up to 3x!) and the pieces are super high quality. It is one of my favorite subscription boxes I’ve ever received! Each box includes a full 3 piece outfit for $79.
YogaClub is offering $20 off for Okayest Moms readers when you use code: OKAYEST – Get your own box by clicking here!
My other favorite yoga products include this yoga bag (pictured below) and this mat. The bag carries your mat vertically so there’s no bumping in to door frames or people when you carry it. It also has a large pocket for all of your materials like phone, keys, etc.
Make breakfast a habit
I used to be the worst at feeding myself anything but coffee in the morning. This meant I would, more often than not, crash by 2 pm. I have made it a habit to get some form of protein in to my mouth after getting the kids to school. This looks different every day. I love leftovers for breakfast with two over easy eggs on top, or sometimes it’s in the form of a protein bar. This small shift has upped my energy levels exponentially throughout the day. Plus, I’m spending way less money on those afternoon coffee drive-thru runs! Win, win!
Turn off notifications
Yep, all of ’em. Anything that dings or vibrates on your phone that takes you out of the present moment and makes you look at your phone, silence them. I will say that this one is super hard for me–I own two businesses, have two kids, and I know that people have to get ahold of me sometimes. By having my phone on silent, I can decide when I am in the headspace to respond thoughtfully and not in a hurry. It actually makes me more productive this way.
Don’t discount the value of a “micro self care” routine
A micro self care routine is exactly the type of skill busy moms should master. When life is crazy, there is no time for a spa day or a girl’s night out. You have to fit it in when you have a spare 10 minutes, right? Micro self care can be anything that make you feel like you. Some of my favorite ideas to implement this in to my life are: a 10 minute workout, listen to your favorite podcast on your commute, take deep breaths and meditate for 5 minutes after you wake up. The time is short, but the effect of knowing you did something for yourself lasts.
In the end, self care looks different for everyone. I encourage you to find routine and techniques that work for you in your every day life and make sure you are putting your hypothetical oxygen mask on first.
What does self care look like for you?
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