Do you ever find yourself in a bit of a funk? Lately, I’ve been feeling somewhat swallowed up by motherhood – IT’S SO MUCH! With a 2-and-a-half-year-old and another one on the way, my brain is pretty much always hooked on these little ones. Hopefully Adeline will take a nap today. Does she have enough clean clothes? Also, I need to clip her nails. I wonder how the baby’s doing in there…it’s the size of a pea pod this week! That still seems pretty small… AND SO ON.
These thoughts are never ending, but I’m curious to see if they’d curb themselves a bit if I made an effort to do more for myself. A lot of things in life bring me joy, and it’s so important we don’t lose sight of that in motherhood. Easier said than done, I know. As 2017 came to a close, I got to thinking about some of these things – the things outside of parenthood that make me feel good and bring me comfort. The following are just a few ideas I have to get in touch with this. Are they simple? Yes. Could they be highly effective? I think so.
Get Back to an Old Pastime
I don’t know about you, but nothing feeds my soul quite like music. Ten years ago, it was a big part of my life – discovering new bands, going to festivals and concerts, all that. It’s a part of me, but a part that understandably tends to land on the backburner. This year, I want to listen more to the music that makes me feel so good. It’s a pretty simple idea, but an important one. Motherhood is this journey full of constant new experiences and emotions – I find that having a favorite old pastime to fall back into provides some comfort. My favorite bands do that for me! I’ll listen in the car, while I’m showering, cooking, or getting stuff done on my computer. What does it for you?
Stay Moving
If you don’t exercise regularly, then you probably feel a lot like me – the last thing you want to hear is that you should get your body moving at least three times a week. However, I’ve realized it’s the gosh darn truth that our bodies need regular exercise to be their best. I am not a gym person, have never been a runner, but I have discovered something that I actually enjoy – Jazzercise. Whatever ‘80s image you have in your head of pink sweatbands and frizzy bangs, erase it! Jazzercise is a lot different these days, and at my studio, they even offer free childcare. It’s a win-win! When I work out, I feel better as a whole – mentally and physically.
Rediscover Creativity
They say every single one of us is creative, but once again – Eeek! Motherhood takes over and such hobbies may be out the window. I tend to get focused on the day-to-day tasks at hand and by the time 8pm rolls around, I’m ready to hit the sofa and watch TV. What if, instead of just focusing on an episode of The Bachelor (yeah, I can be really basic), I was creating something special? I started practicing embroidery last year and loved it – I won’t lie, it’s something I had to force myself to do. It requires lots of concentration at first but is so satisfying to finish a cute, delicate piece! Do you have any favorite creative hobbies? I’m always open to new ideas!
Read, Read, Read
I’ve always been a reader, even if it takes me months to get through one book. My current favorites are anything from Liane Moriarty – she wrote Big Little Lies, and since watching the show and reading the book, I’ve been HOOKED on her other titles. I definitely tend to be the chick-lit type, but when it comes to non-fiction, I’m looking into The Highly Sensitive Person to gain a better understanding of this unique personality of mine. Consider a book like that to knock out two birds with one stone – get some reading time in, and learn more about yourself.
See? Just a few simple ideas that could make a big impact. We hear it more and more lately – how taking better care of ourselves makes us better mothers. It makes complete sense and I’d like to do my best to get there! What are the ways in which you take care of yourself as a mother? Hopefully this got you thinking of even more. If you have any to add, we’d love to hear about them.
