Being a stay-at-home mom is no easy task. It’s a full-time job that often doesn’t come with breaks, making self-care a challenge. Yet, it’s crucial for every mother to find time for herself amidst the daily hustle and bustle.
Stay at Home Mom Self Care
Recognizing the role and responsibilities of a stay-at-home mom underlines the necessity for self-care. In addition, understanding the augmented stress brought by the pandemic era provides further clarity on this significance.
Stay at home mom self care juggle multiple roles daily. They are caregivers, tutors, nurses, chefs, and housekeepers, to name just a few roles. Balancing such diverse responsibilities naturally leads to high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. For instance, ensuring kids finish their homework, planning healthy meals, or dealing with untidy rooms can all escalate stress levels. Amidst this whirlwind of tasks, moms often overlook their well-being, which negatively impacts both their health and the family environment.
Essential Elements of Self Care
A balanced life requires incorporation of distinct elements of self-care. For stay at home mom self care, this balance often tilts towards caring for others, over self-care.
Physical Aspects of Self Care
Physical self-care isn’t merely restricted to exercising; nutrition and sleep play equal roles. Incorporating occasional walks, maintaining a balanced diet, ensuring consistent water intake, and securing 7-8 hours of nighttime rest, significantly enhance physical well-being.
For instance, a 20-minute walk after lunch helps digestion as well as relaxation, according to Mayo Clinic. Concurrently, Harvard’s School of Public Health stresses a balanced diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins, rather than one loaded with processed foods and sugars. The Sleep Foundation recommends a full night’s rest for optimal functioning, with stay-at-home moms, rarely getting the uninterrupted sleep they so require.
Mental Aspects of Self Care
Mental self-care, often neglected, holds as much importance as the physical. It involves taking time to relax, practicing mindfulness, pursuing hobbies, and engaging in positive self-talk.
One such example is practicing meditation, proven to lower stress and boost happiness levels. A study from Johns Hopkins Medicine revealed meditation’s positive impacts on psychological stressors like anxiety and depression. Hobbies serve as creative outlets, according to the American Psychological Association, helping release the daily stress of motherhood. Add empowering self-talk, it can influence the internal and external perspective of a stay-at-home mom, as per the research of Dr. Ethan Kross in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Practical Self Care Tips for Stay at Home Moms
Creating a Self Care Routine
Creating a self-care routine bridges the gap between merely surviving and achieving a balanced life. It’s about weaving self-care practices into their daily schedules. A solid routine starts with setting specific, achievable goals. For instance, reserving the first 15 minutes after wake-up for a quiet coffee or morning pages before diving into the day’s responsibilities.
On a practical level, this could involve scheduling time for a nap, taking regular breaks, and setting aside time for hobbies. Making this routine adaptable ensures moms stick with it, adjusting schedules to fit in self-care time even amidst unexpected changes.
Incorporating Exercise in Daily Routine
Offering benefits physically and mentally, regular exercise stands at the top of the self-care list. It promotes energy levels, aids stress reduction, and fosters positivity. Instructions on incorporating exercise could involve scheduling short 15-minute workouts while the kids nap or entertaining kids with interactive exercises like dance-offs.
Realistically, moms can incorporate exercise by using household chores as a means of physical activity. Tasks like sweeping, vacuuming, or gardening provide decent workouts. It’s all about viewing chores as opportunities for movement, reminding moms that every activity counts towards fitness.
Practical Guide
Stay at home mom self care have a tough job that often leaves them with little time for themselves. But it’s crucial they carve out moments for self-care. Implementing a routine with achievable goals can be a game-changer. It’s all about adapting and making the most of what’s available – be it a quick nap, a hobby, or even turning chores into a workout.
