Every mom should practice these self-care resolutions.

The concept of self-care has been getting increased attention in recent years, and all the attention is for good reason. More and more, adults are discovering that self-care does not mean you are choosing yourself over someone else. But it does mean that you are becoming more mindful of your own needs. By ensuring your own needs are met, you can better support the people you care about. 

For moms in particular, it can be easy to deprioritize time for self-care. However, this can have dire consequences, and the truth is moms who take the time to indulge in some self-care every now and again are far better able to meet the needs of their loved ones than those who do not.  

Whether a mom works out of the home or not, they typically find time to prepare healthy meals for their family, assist kids with their homework, and make sure everyone is healthy and ready for another day. Some moms finish a full day of work and then need to run kids to multiple events and meetings. 

And even moms who stay home face loads of laundry, dishes, and other home upkeep that doesn’t get done by simply looking at it. But with all of these demands for everyone else, where does today’s stressed-out mom find the time to do things for herself?

Ultimately, the answer is that moms need to learn to press the pause button. And at the very least, they should prioritize time and energy toward some beneficial self-care resolutions.

1. Take 10 minutes for yourself each and every day.

Whether it is lingering in the shower under the hot water or devouring a chapter of a New York Times bestseller over a cup of coffee, take 10 minutes for yourself. And those 10 minutes are not to be combined with time driving to pick up a kid from an activity or the time needed to fall asleep at night. Make the time stand out, and make it be for no one but you. Knowing how to set aside some “mom time” will serve you well and benefit those around you too.

2. Seek out a hug and words of affirmation from your partner every day. 

We all get busy, and sometimes, it can be easy to forget the significance of a hug from our romantic partner. When we get busy, even those important words, I love you, can fall to the wayside. But by stealing just a few seconds every day for a lingering hug, kiss, or kind words, you will feed off your partner’s positive energy, and you may even be surprised by how far it takes you into the day or evening.

3. Remind yourself how to count to 10.

When we’re overtired, stressed, or burdened with the pressures of the day, it can be easy to lose our patience. And when we lose our patience, our reactions aren’t necessarily what we want our children or our partners to see. So when you feel that upset coming on, allow yourself the time to count from zero to 10 before reacting. You may find that what was upsetting you just 10 seconds ago is now that much more manageable. 

4. Hug your kids and tell them you love them every day.

Remember that point earlier about stealing a hug, kiss, and some words of affirmation from your partner each and every day? Well, know that it is human nature to want to be loved and to feel that love from those around us. Our children can thrive off of those same words of affirmation that we want from our partners. So, no matter how busy you are or how difficult the day might be, pause to give those kids a hug and remind them that they are loved. They, too, will feed off the positive energy, and they may even be better behaved for it too.

5. Prioritize sleep.

Busy moms often complain that they don’t get enough sleep. And though there are many reasons that moms are so tired, the truth is that sleep indeed needs to be prioritized. Adults need more sleep than you might realize. Seven to nine hours of sleep per night is necessary for the best brain and body function during the day and to ward off illness. So if you aren’t hitting at least seven hours of sleep, look at what life changes you need to make.

6. Eat healthily.

When we are busy and on the go, it can be easy to grab a sugary latte from the local coffee shop or a bag of chips for sustenance. But these junk foods are laden with fats and calories that will slow us down instead of speed us up. And eating healthy really is a form of self-care. If it feels like you don’t have enough time to eat as healthy as you should, explore some easy nutrition swaps that are perfect for mom. Try making homemade granola bars with the kids, swap out the salty snacks for crunchy tooth-friendly vegetables, and grab a bottle of water instead of an energy drink.

Take time for a dental cleaning and oral examination.

Though you should take time for annual visits to your physician and twice-a-year trips to the dentist anyway, you should understand that visiting your dentist is a bit of self-care too. When your oral health is in check, it can positively impact your overall health as well. So whether you are looking for a smile makeover or just need a cleaning, don’t forget to request an appointment with your family dentist. And if your kids are due for a cleaning too, now is the time to request an appointment for their next exam. We look forward to seeing you!