Tan Sweater – Lace Up Flats – Gold Watch – Sunglasses – Necklace
With the outpour of support from my post (thank you all!) about life’s changes and what I want to incorporate into this blog, I’d love to talk about making yourself a priority. As women, and especially moms, the to-do list that comes with life gets long, right? It’s in our DNA to take a lot on, sometimes too much. There’s not only society pressure, but the pressure we put on ourselves to keep our relationships going, look good, feel good, be a quality mom, sister, friend, partner, keep the house together, maintain a career, whatever. It’s a lot!
It can be easy to put others first and ourselves last, but at some point, it’s our duty to put the focus back on ourselves. It can seem like an oxymoron, but I think putting time into yourself ultimately makes us better for those we love. I also want to teach my boys that while women can handle a lot, we also deserve time for ourselves—just like everyone does!
You’ll probably have other things that refresh you and make you uniquely feel good, but here are some of my favorite ways to focus on myself.
Bath time
When my husband is kind enough to take the boys and let me have some mama time, I’ll take a bath, turn on “spa” music, put a face mask on, throw some epsom salt into the water, and either read or close my eyes. Something about sitting in warm water is so relaxing, and I come out 30 minutes later feeling like a new person. After the boys go to bed is a perfect time if my husband is busy.
Solo grocery shopping
It makes me laugh to think how happy this task makes me when I’m by myself since it’s so mundane, but browsing the farmer’s market or store alone is so blissful. I have time to look around and check labels, and I’m not moving as quickly as possible like I am when the boys are joining. Instacart (during nap time) is almost as nice for the days I don’t have time to get to the store.
Magazines and manicures
Ahhh, there’s not much better than going to the salon for a manicure and solid reading time. Not only am I getting pampered, but I’m catching up on mindless reading and just zoning out. Feels amazing!
Mom or not, I think it’s important for women to get their alone time and bring focus internally. Do you have a favorite way to pamper or prioritize yourself? I’d love to hear!