Self Care for Different Ages + Stages
Self care is all about being responsible for taking care of yourself and your own needs as a person and as a mom. You need to take care of your own body and soul first so you are physically and mentally strong to tackle each day head on. We know you always want to be the best you can be so engaging with and practicing self care is super important. However, we also recognize that not every stage of motherhood easily lends itself to the same types of self care. Today we’re talking about how self care looks different through the various ages and stages of motherhood.
For those moms who are parenting little ones, we know just how difficult it is to find moments just for yourself. Their needs take up a lot of time and energy each day and you might be left feeling like there’s no time for you. When your kids are really little, you might actually need to schedule your self care time. Since there tends to be less flexibility and freedom the younger your kids are, you may need to reach out to your partner or support system for help. Also, self care when your kids are little might look like a few short sessions each day, rather than a few hours or an entire afternoon. Do what feels good for you and also keep things realistic. Making your self care a priority is incredibly important, especially in these early stages, so you don’t get worn down or burnout.
As your kids get older, your self care routines will likely shift a little bit. Once they are in school full time, have after school activities or sports, and start to spend more time with friends, you’ll likely have more time to yourself to expand on your already solid self care habits. As your kids go from childhood into their teenage years, they will require different levels of parenting with all sorts of new responsibilities and challenges. This provides a unique opportunity to share with them what you're doing for self care and why. Modeling self care is important to show them how you care for yourself and why it’s important. Be sure to include your kids and ask them what they do for their own self care. The earlier we begin teaching and modeling these habits, the easier it will be for our kids to start their own routines.
Self care is a habit that should be included in your daily life. It might feel a little strange at first, but the more you repeat it the more it will feel like you and like it belongs. Make sure that you are using self care that affects your body (wellness, nutrition, exercise) as well as self care that affects your soul (self esteem, positivity, passions). If you’re looking for more information on how to start a journey with self care, you should grab a copy of our workbook, “A Mom’s Guide to Wellness.”
