- Motherhood Melbourne
Realistic self-care for a happier Mummy
Written by Erin Reghenzani – Owner of Mummy Mind Detox.
We put so much pressure on ourselves as Mums to always be DOING for others; it’s our innate nurturing to over commit ourselves and put everyone else’s wellbeing ahead of our own. It can be so damn beautiful and selfless BUT it can also be soul destroying and so detrimental to our health and wellbeing. The overwhelm, exhaustion, stress… and yep I’m going to say it… Mum-guilt are eating us Mummy’s alive and it’s time we acknowledge it, start talking openly about it and helping ourselves overcome it.
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I meet so many tired Mums and it’s not the lack of sleep that’s doing it, it’s the non-existence of really looking after themselves. ‘We can’t pour from an empty cup’ and it seems that our cups are running on empty most of the time.
The idea of ‘self-care’ has been put on hold while we raise our children and juggle all the STUFF that life entails. I’m here to tell you Mummy’s that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s selfless and it’s necessary.
Self-care has been depicted in society as self-indulgent, but in reality it isn’t about having a massage or facial, nor is it about soaking in a bath surrounded by candles or having a night away from the kids (although all of these things are amazing and definitely help fill up that cup and re-energise us).
It’s about making time within our day to check in with ourselves.
It doesn’t have to be an hour, it doesn’t have to be when the kids are in bed… it’s about doing things that help you feel GOOD, help you feel connected with yourself, being aware of how you’re feeling emotionally and saying a ‘hell yes I’m doing this for me’ without the excuses OR THE GUILT.
Because really… how good is a massage when you’re worrying about the kids?
How present are you in the bath when you can’t switch off from all the stuff on your to-do list?
And plus, sometimes finding the time for those sorts of things just creates more stress!
So, how do you practice self-care as a busy Mum?
We’ve got you sorted. Below you’ll find our top 5 self-care ideas with realistic suggestions of ways you can implement them into your life.
1. Wear something that makes you feel good Organise your wardrobe so that it is easy to find an outfit and so that when you open your wardrobe you know that all the clothes fit and feel good. Then, make an effort to wear at least one item of clothing or jewellery that makes you feel how you want to feel that day. E.g. If you want to feel sexy, put on some lace underwear (yep, even if it’s under a tracksuit!), if you want to feel loved wear a piece of jewellery that someone has given you… when we focus on how we want to feel and consciously making decisions that align with that – we are looking after ourselves.
2. Write down 3 things you're grateful for Take some time out (even if it’s 5 minutes while the kids are watching TV or having their lunch) and think about 3 things that you’re grateful for, really think about it though. Instead of just writing ‘my kids, my house, my family’ write WHY. ‘I’m so grateful for my hubby, he is such a great Dad’, ‘I’m so grateful for my kids for teaching me to practice patience’ ‘I’m so grateful for the sunshine today because it means we can play in the park’. Practising gratitude like this, shifts your focus and literally has so many scientifically proven benefits like better quality of sleep and improved self-esteem.
3. Go outside and ground yourself Rain, hail or shine you can always go outside, take off your shoes and socks and ground your feet in the earth – be it sand, mud, grass… it has been proven that doing this transfers the Earth's electrons from the ground into the body, that’s powerful! Plus, it’s a fun thing you can involve the kids in!
4. Move your body by doing something fun So often we think of exercise as something we should be doing or something that we have to do to lose weight but really, when we’re doing it for the wrong reasons, we may as well not do it at all. Think about the physical things you loved doing as a kid; maybe it was climbing trees or swimming or playing netball. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t do this stuff now. Find a way to move your body in a way that lights you up – no excuses!
5. Have one minute of quiet, distraction-free alone time and check in with yourself It is possible. More often than not it’s in the moments of overwhelm, chaos, yelling and screaming and the times of business that we need to do this the most!
Download your FREE ‘Daily Self-care’ printable with our list of 10 self-care practises.
ABOUT MUMMY MIND DETOX
Our mission is to support all Mums so that they never feel alone. We offer group courses in Melbourne; an online program plus loads of free content. We aim to connect like-minded Mums to each other and reconnect them to themselves, inspire them through education, experience and honesty; and to help them thrive as individual women and as Mums who lead by example.
Biz owner: Erin Reghenzani
Favourite café: : Acai Brothers – Croydon
Coffee order: Latte
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