You Must Make Time For Yourself To Be Your Best Self
Do you ever struggle to find time for yourself? If you’re a mom like me, time to yourself is few and far between. Regardless of being a mom or not, time for self-care can at times, seem impossible.
While we spend so much time caring for others or taking care of the responsibilities in our day-to-day lives, we tend to neglect the person who needs it most –OURSELVES
As a mother, I have always stated that my kids come first. While my kids come first over anything else, I must come first to show up as the best mother and role model I can be for them.
There are so many benefits to prioritizing self-care. Self-care is not only essential for your mental health, but it can improve all areas of your life. With the right tools and self-care practices you will be able to live a more positive, healthy lifestyle.
I’ve learned that when I’m not feeling my best, I can perform one or two of my self-care practices and improve my mood and mental state.
With these self-care practices, over time, it becomes easier to develop an awareness of why you are having certain feelings, and you are better able to process and overcome those negative feelings.
When you take time to care for your needs and recharge, you are better equipped to care for others. Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is an act of love – both for yourself and your family.
What Is Considered Self-Care?
In short, self-care is any deliberate act you undertake to keep yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.
It entails things such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting sufficient sleep. Practicing gratitude, journaling, and meditation are also forms of self-care that enhance your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Why Is Self-Care So Important?
Self-care is crucial if you want to improve your overall well-being and live as your best, happiest self.
Self-care has been clinically proven to reduce stress and depression, increase your energy, reduce risk of illness, boost self-esteem, and help you better handle life’s challenges.
There are so many self-care and self-improvement practices made available for all aspects of your life.
Whether you are trying to better yourself or make improvements to any single area of your life, making time for yourself will replenish your energy and enhance your overall well-being.
Once I started incorporating self-care into my daily routines, I gradually felt better about myself. Of course, it didn’t happen overnight. But the more consistent I was, and the more self-care practices I implemented, the happier and kinder I became.
Self-Care Practices
Eating nutritious meals, exercising, getting adequate sleep, and attending medical check-ups, are all forms of Physical, Mental, and Emotional Care
Meditating and practicing mindfulness are essential for Spiritual and Mental Health.
Journaling and practicing gratitude are beneficial for both Emotional and Mental Health.
Additionally, listening to uplifting music and inspirational podcasts can also improve our Mental and Emotional Health.
How I Incorporate Self-Care Into My Daily Routines
Some of us have more free time than others. But for me, with working three jobs and having three young boys, it’s very hard to find time for much of anything else.
The best way to fit self-care into your life is to make it a part of your morning and evening routine.
Morning Self-Care Routine
I make an effort to wake up before my kids, this way I don’t have someone constantly calling out for something or barging into my room every five minutes while I’m getting myself ready for the day.
I incorporate self-care into my morning routine by waking up anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour before my usual wakeup time.
I like to start my morning with a simple meditation.
Ever since I introduced meditation into my morning routine, it has become a constant staple in my life. It conditions me to start my day feeling positive, peaceful, grateful, and calm. Even just five minutes of meditation, practiced daily, can have a profoundly positive impact on your overall well-being.
After meditation, I like to get in a quick workout.
The length and type of workout depend on how much time I have in the morning. Running first thing in the morning always gives me a boost of energy and helps me feel more confident. I also enjoy 30-minute high-intensity interval workouts.
If I’m pressed for time or don’t have the energy for a full workout, I do quick and simple exercises, such as push-ups and squats. This way, I at least did something, and that’s better than not doing anything at all.
If you prefer to workout first, then meditate, by all means, have at it. It is whatever works best for you.
Listening to music, books, or anything beneficial to your personal growth and happiness is an excellent addition to your morning routine.
As I prepare myself in the morning or whenever I have free time, I enjoy listening to podcasts, personal growth books, or music.
I really enjoy listening to my books on the Amazon Audible app. I love that I earn credits each month and also receive credits for downloading specific books. This means I get to download and listen for free! You can check it out here!
Journaling, practicing gratitude, and affirmations are other examples of self-care that can be done in the morning or anytime during the day.
Beginning your morning with any form of self-care is conducive to a more positive rest of your day. Secondly, if daily self-care is a priority for you, tackling it first thing in the morning allows you to mark something important off your agenda for the day. This way if something unexpected pops up you’ve already accomplished your number one priority- to care for yourself.
I also keep up with self-care throughout the day by drinking plenty of water and consuming nutritious foods. Both of these have a significant impact on my mental and physical health.
Healthy foods and water are essential for me to feel my very best.
Evening Self-Care Routine
I like to start my evening self-care routine with some light stretching or yoga.
Once I finish stretching, I reflect on my day and write my gratitude list in my favorite journal. (I like this one because of the positive affirmations on the front.) I write about anything from my kids or significant other to necessities and positive experiences throughout the day. This helps me see the abundance in my life and all the things for which I have to be grateful.
Then, taking a few minutes to read, even if it’s just a page or two, is a positive way to end the day.
And of course, we don’t want to forget the importance of a good nights sleep. Which is an essential part of self-care.
Meditation is another excellent addition to any nighttime routine. If you prefer to practice meditation at night instead of the morning, or even during both times, it will only benefit you. Meditation can also help you relax, fall asleep faster, and sleep more soundly. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep through the night, meditation may be the solution.
If you’re looking for additional ways to fit self-care into your schedule, you could look into “Self-Care Habits for Busy Women” by Tula Rhodes. You can either purchase the book here or listen on the Audible app
Conclusion
Self-care is not selfish. It is essential if you want to be and feel your best.
Whether it’s spending time with people you love, taking a bubble bath, or getting a massage, they are all beneficial to your overall well-being and all forms of self-care.
For me, personally, waking up earlier to meditate and workout starts my morning off on the right foot. Then, I top it off with listening to inspirational books or music.
When it’s time to settle down at the end of the day, a light stretch, a gratitude list, and reading, help to get me settled for a good nights sleep. Not to mention the feeling of contentment my gratitude list brings me as I drift off to sleep. What a great way to end the night- peaceful, calm, and happy.
Ultimately, self-care can be done at anytime throughout the day. It all depends on what works best for you and your schedule.
My personal development and self transformation these past few years are largely in part to my daily self-care practices.
Once I decided to start caring for myself my life changed significantly. I started with small steps, and as I started to feel better and notice positive changes, I aspired to be better in every area of my life.
Today, I continue to focus on being the best version of myself. From the moment I wake up, self-care is my top priority.
I strive to feel my best and be the best version of myself every single day. Self-care is undoubtedly the most effective way to achieve this.
What’s your self-care routine? Do you find this helpful? I would love to hear from you. Please reach out and let me know your thoughts!
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