Congratulations momma on your new little nugget! Now that you are home, you are working ’round the clock caring for this new one, and possibly other children as well as….I have to say it….your husband too. I have some great tips on how to take care of you. I have some wonderful ideas to help with your self-care momma. You have to fill your cup before you can take care of everyone else in your house. Bonus – most of these types you could get started on right away and most are free or at least very inexpensive!
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Why you Deserve this self care
As a new mom, or even a seasoned new mom (you have older children running around too) we always, and I mean, ALWAYS put others before us. God gave us these beautiful and sometimes crazy little ones, and we are here to take care of them. Our little ones need our help, demand our help and we love taking care of them. But at the end of the day, we are exhausted.
I tell everyone I know, that we cannot fill from an empty cup. Point being, we cannot help take care of others, love on others, and give our all to others if we ourselves are not completely filled inside.
Self-care is exactly as it states, we must take care of ourselves, daily. There is a physiological shift that takes place when we give birth, when we learn the in’s and out’s of our newborn, the around-the-clock care for our newborns and so much more. That is why I have put together a list of self-care items that you can do with your sweet little one, but also alone – so you can have that much-needed peace to balance your life out.
1. Get outside
It is so important for our health all around to get outside at least once a day, even if it is only for 5 minutes. Obviously, the best time to get outside is to soak in and enjoy that beautiful sun. The warmth, the peace, and the doses of serotonin that we get from enjoying the vitamin D from the sun will do wonders for your momma soul.
Some ideas to enjoy while outside:
- Go for a walk – this can be with your baby or alone
- Go out barefoot and feel the grass, dirt or sand between your toes – this is called grounding and there are so many, many benefits to grounding!
- Enjoy a picnic with your spouse, alone or with the whole family
- Just sit in the warmth of the morning with a cup of coffee or tea
- Best idea (that I cannot do – darn this landlocked state I live in) go to the beach, put your bare feet in the sand, listen to the waves and soak in the sun
2. Quiet your mind
This one sounds completely crazy. I can just hear you, “Lady, I just brought home a new baby that doesn’t sleep very well, wants to eat all the time and I have a couple of other children all around as well as my husband – Quiet my mind? I think you’re crazy!” And what I will say back to you is….just trust me!
This is something that you can start today and it doesn’t take too much time out of your day. Start with 5 minutes here and there. Find someone you trust to leave your newest addition in the care of so you can step away for five minutes. These next suggestions can be done whenever you feel like you need a little break away from all the craziness that is around you. Some of these activities may take 5 mins and some you may want to give yourself 30 minutes. Whatever time limit you give yourself, just know that you are filling your cup and making your heart happy!
- Meditate – take some time out of your day to really focus on your breathing and concentrate on your heart and your mind
- Read a book – this is a huge win for me! I love reading and still make it a priority even a couple years down the road
- Sip on some of you favorite coffee or tea. Make sure that you are in a comfy space where you can enjoy what you are drinking. This does wonders for my well-being when I do this in the morning
- Prayer time – give yourself a devoted amount of time to really pray, read scripture, study in the Word or just listen to what God is telling you. This is another big one that makes my day run smoother every time I can give time to praying
- Take a nice long soak in your tub – you can even do this after all the children have gone to bed, add some lavender and Epsom salt and let the warm water do all the magic needed to relieve the stressors of the day
3. Invest in Yourself
This one may be the hardest to do. You are being pulled in a million directions, but this one is just as important as ever! You are the foundation for all the things in your home. Hopefully, you have someone around to help a little here and there. Maybe giving those older kids a couple of new chores to help out around the house. Sending some positive vibes to your spouse to help with meal planning and cooking meals.
I have some well-learned advice (I mean, I may have learned some of these the hard way but they are well worth investing in yourself). Take some of these ideas and prepare to invest in yourself, as a daughter in Christ, as a momma, as a wife, as a friend, and everything else in between.
In the beginning stages, it is so hard to mentally understand the importance of taking care of you but the following tips will be so good to get started every day –
- Get ready every single day in some capacity – in those beginning days just brushing your teeth and running a comb through your hair is enough. Eventually, add daily showering (definitely not washing your hair every day- we don’t have time for that, that’s what dry shampoo is for!)
- Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink 8 cups of water and more a day! Keeps things on the inside working well too. I always have an insulated water bottle by my side all the time.
- Limit any alcohol – I know you’ve waited 9-10 months to have that drink and enjoy that congratulatory drink but limit after that. Alcohol definitely does not help in any way to heal your body inside and out.
- Eat well most of the time. Eat fruits and veggies as often as you can, but also enjoy those yummy treats. I promise eating “well” makes a huge difference in your mood, on your mindset and your body’s recovery after having a beautiful little one.
- Exercise in some way every couple of days. We live out in the middle of nowhere, so my exercise was pushing my little one in her stroller around our u-shaped driveway while listening to a podcast or an audiobook. I started out with 5-10 minutes and added more time as I felt better.
- Set boundaries! This is a very hard one for me- very hard. But you need to set boundaries with family, and friends, and even set boundaries with your spouse. Giving time to spend with just your spouse is crucial in those beginning days. Setting boundaries with your children is important and healthy – such as giving momma those 10 minutes of quiet time in the morning for journaling or spending it in your quiet time.
- Sleep – what is sleep in those first few weeks and months? Sleep is so important to feel like a human and not a zombie. If you have someone there to help you at night, take turns so you can get some uninterrupted sleep. If you do not have anyone to help at night, (my hubby was gone for some time for the military – all I have to say is you’re a superhero) then truly sleep when the baby sleeps during the day. Get in those little cat naps every once in a while. We are amazing mommas, but we cannot run on little sleep and fumes.
- Find a therapist or counselor that you trust. I am a huge advocate for mental health and wish that I would have done this after my first child was born. You may just realize that you are not in such a parenting rut as you may have thought. Another great thing about a therapist – they help you to realize that you are a great momma and to never compare yourself to other moms around!
- Gratitude journal – at first it is so hard to think of any other blessings other than your precious one in front of you. But if you are struggling with those first couple of days/weeks- start a gratitude journal. Start small and simple at first, just jot down a few things that you are thankful for every morning. What a great shift in mindset to start your crazy and hectic day with a new one at home.
Okay, okay, I will stop. I just love helping another momma out when I can! That is quite the start to an extensive list to help you get started on your self-care as a new momma! Always remember:
- You are an amazing human being. You just brought a new life into the world!
- You are doing a wonderful job no matter what your brain is telling you! Even a little is enough!
- It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s a great tool to learn how to do better.
- You are God’s daughter and that in itself is the best feeling in the world.
- You got this! But it is also okay to reach out and ask for help!
- You are loved and cherished and I am happy that you are here in this world!
Congratulations!!
What small task can you take on today to better your self-care? Share below, I can’t wait to hear!