Essential Self-Care Tips for Moms

The best gift we can give to our family is to take care of ourselves. As mothers, we often keep ourselves as a last priority and forget to take care of our physical and mental health.

According to India’s first Time Use Survey for the period January to December 2019, the participation rate of women in domestic activities is 81.2%.

National Family Health Survey-5, 2019 – 2021 found that 57% of the women in India, in the age group of 15 to 49 years were anaemic.

Multitude of moms would keep the requirements of the family above their own. However, it is important to remember that self-care is necessary even to take care of others. So here are some essential self-care tips for moms.

Do not shy away from asking for help

Many of us hesitate to ask for help. Remember that we all require help at some time or the other. So, it is okay to ask for help when required. Look around with an open heart and you will find empathic friends and loved ones, who will be happy to help you. Value your support systems and make efforts to strengthen them.

Prioritize your diet and nutrition

While mothers are extremely committed to serving nutritious and wholesome meals to their kids, they often overlook their own dietary requirements. I have personally found planning a weekly menu, along with other family members, immensely helpful. It aids to include all the food groups in the diet and to prevent unhealthy snacking. Since the kids also participate in the planning, they are more likely to make healthier choices.

 Be creative with your recipes, like home-made fruit ice creams and shakes or soups, to include fruits and vegetables in your diet. Also, make it a point to eat along with your family members and not after them.

Make time for exercise and physical activity

To stay active and fit, we need to include exercise and physical activity in our daily schedule.

We can think of innovative ways to incorporate small doses of exercise in our routine.

For instance, after you drop your kids at the bus stop in the morning, take out 15-20 minutes for a short walk. While waiting for your children as they participate in activities, make time for a walk or some simple stretching exercises. You could also find a group of like-minded moms and exercise with them.

Have a morning routine

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, ensure that you have a morning routine to get dressed and feel ready for the day.

Learn to trust your kids

As your kids grow older, learn to trust them with small household chores and their homework.

This helps them learn essential life skills. It also helps them to be self-reliant and to feel more capable.

You may read more about it in my earlier article, Building bridges: Creating a connection with your child. (https://hnw.brandsnarrative.com/building-bridges-creating-a-connection-with-your-child/)

Unapologetically carve out time for your beauty, alone time, recharging, hobbies, and health check-ups. As you set these boundaries, you must also learn to be firm about them.

This Mother’s Day, let’s make self-care a priority and gift ourselves self-love.

Do share, in the comments below, the things you do to take care of yourself.