July - 31, 2024

What is Self-Care?

Self-care can mean many different things and look different for each individual. As parents, we sometimes neglect our own needs to carry out our daily tasks in our roles as parents, spouses, friends, and employees. This can leave us feeling unfulfilled, burnt out, and stressed. In order to come back into ourselves and revitalize that spark we must show ourselves compassion and care. Let’s start with the basics.

Hygiene

We all know that hygiene is important but knowing it and keeping your body clean can be a challenge some days, especially after having a baby. Don’t be afraid to ask for help taking care of your child(ren) so that you can get your basic needs met. To keep good hygiene, you should- 

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• Shower daily or every other day
• Apply lotion after every shower 
• Wash your hair as needed and brush every day
• Clean under your fingernails as needed
• Brush and floss your teeth twice a day
• Apply deodorant every day
• Change into clean clothes every day
• Wash your face and apply skincare 

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Now that we’ve got the basics listed, you can build from there. Think about what makes you happy, what makes you feel whole, or like yourself again. Some women feel best when they have their nails and hair done or when they are wearing nice clothes. If getting dressed up and doing your make-up nice makes you feel good, then go ahead and do it, you don’t need a reason to look nice. 

Exercise

Moving your body is critical in maintaining your health, and health is wealth. Take good care of your body and you will reap the benefits. Exercising doesn’t have to be boring or a hassle, you can find a way to exercise that works for you and keeps you interested such as dancing, yoga, pilates, walking, strength training, or doing sports. 

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Some days you will have low to no motivation to exercise, this is when your self-discipline will come in handy. Even when you don’t want to exercise, you should still move your body in some way. Even a 10 to 15-minute walk will suffice. 

Go Outside

Getting outside, feeling the sun on your skin, and breathing in the fresh air can play a major role in our happiness and improving our moods. Being out in nature can have such a positive impact on our lives, that even when we decorate our homes with house plants, we feel happier. 

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Have you ever heard the term “forest bath?” It means to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the forest. Listen to the wind blowing through the leaves of the trees, smell the scent of the rich soil and pines, and take in the beauty of it all. Forest bathing can reduce symptoms of depression, boost your immune system, and lower your blood pressure. The name of the game is taking it slow to take it all in. NPR has a wonderful Guide To Forest Bathing that you can check out to learn more. 

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Make it extra fun when you need a little pick-me-up and bring out your inner child. Imagine you’re a forest fairy and you have to find the queen who was taken by trolls or pretend you’re an astronaut who crash-landed on a strange planet and you must find a way to repair your spaceship and survive. Who said imaginative play is just for kids?

Hobbies

Pretty much everyone would benefit from having a hobby that they regularly make time for. Hobbies are great for your mental and physical health, they can provide new social connections, give you a confidence boost, and teach you how to problem solve. If you don’t already have a hobby, you can give these a try and figure out which ones you like best and would like to invest more time into-

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• Painting, drawing, or sculpting
• Reading and writing
• Gardening
• Rock hunting
• Create a collection (like spoons, coins, art)
• Sewing or crafting 

Rest and Eat Well

Try your best to get in eight hours of beauty sleep every night. We know that children can make this goal significantly more difficult, but rest is important for everyone and it’s a goal that we can continue to work towards. If you have the opportunity and you need more sleep, supplement with a nap to help your body and mind reset. If a nap is out of the picture, you can also just sit or lie down for 10-15 minutes and do nothing. Just exist, breathe, and rest. You may notice afterward that you feel reenergized, your mood has improved, and you’re able to focus better. 

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When we eat healthy, nourishing foods we feel good. We get the right nutrients to help us thrive, protein to keep our muscles strong, and fiber to help our bowels move regularly. Eating healthy looks different for everyone, but as long as you’re getting a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources you are doing great!

How to Find Time for Self-Care 

One thing we always want more of but cannot change is the amount of time we have in a day. Time management becomes crucial when we become parents as we want to ensure we have enough time to spend with our family, time for work, time to manage our house, and time for ourselves. So how do we find the time for self-care when we live such busy lives? 

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Well, one thing we can do is bundle our self-care activities to save time such as taking our exercise outside or dancing while painting. You can also involve your family in your self-care acts by going on hikes with them or bringing them into your hobby and teaching them about what it is that you like to do and why. 

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Another thing you can do to make sure you have time for your self-care is to wake up earlier and get started before your children wake up or do your self-care after they go to bed.

If you’re looking for good quality health care with compassionate midwives, give us a call and schedule an appointment today!