5 WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE AS A BUSY MOM

And I'm not just talking about locking your door to take a short shower while your kids try to break it down from the other side.

Mental health has become less taboo to talk about in everyday life. There used to be this stigma that if you struggled with mental health, then there was something severely wrong with you and you were treated like a pariah. I can tell you, from personal experience, that mental health should be talked about MORE; especially when it comes to mental health in motherhood.

Now, I'm not saying I am anything close to an expert on mental health; but, I strongly advocate for not only myself but other moms as well to take time to DO YOU BOO. I mean, let's just face the facts, most of us mamas put our wants and needs on the back burner simply because we don't feel like we have the time to set aside for ourselves. What I have to say to that is that you better MAKE the time because sooner or later you may just crack under the pressure of trying to please everyone outside of yourself.

Here are some helpful ideas to take a load off and give yourself that self-care that you've been talking about for weeks, but just haven't got to it yet:

SIT OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

If it seems like such a simple thing to do then you would be right, sitting out in the sunshine is such an easy thing to do, (depending on where you're located) and it's easily accessible. Whether you rent/own an apartment or house, you can easily walk your butt outside, lay a blanket down, or get out your lawn chair and pop a squat out in the vitamin D. If you're like me and your backyard is made up of dirt and pathetic grass patches, just know that you can always close your eyes and imagine yourself on the beach with an ice-cold beverage. Mama, it's okay to bring your kids outside with you and let them run wild. Sure, they'll probably get dirty and you'll have to rinse them off later, but it'll be worth the inner peace that you'll feel when the sun pierces through your skin into your soul. I highly recommend doing this in the nude if you have a private place where no peeping neighbors can spot you. Some people feel a certain type of way about being naked in front of your kids, and I guess age could definitely be a determining factor in regards to the nudity, but quite frankly, it doesn't bother me. We're all homeosapiens in the end; don't make it weird, okay?

Create a Skin-Care Routine

Routines in general are helpful to most mamas out there; however, taking the time to wash your face is sometimes hard to fit into a busy schedule. We're tired, our kids have needed our attention all day long and we just want to get into bed, and crawl into the fetal position BUT we haven't yet brushed our teeth and washed our faces. Mama, just do it. Sure, it could probably wait but you'll physically and mentally feel a whole lot better if you just did it.

You don't need some drawn-out, elaborate skin-care routine with all of the expensive and fancy serums. A cleanser and some lotion will do the trick and just like that, you've checked another box off of that mental load you're carrying around; but this time, that box is just for you and your needs. Usually, the best time to incorporate this routine into your schedule is right before bed so you remove all of the oils from your face before submerging into the fluffiness of your bed sheets. However, because our children are sometimes unpredictable, throwing this routine into your schedule can be done at any time of the day or night (especially if you're a stay-at-home mom and have the luxury of not wearing war paint every day). Your skin will thank you later.

Make a List

You may be thinking to yourself "How is this self-care?", and I'll tell you that this will help you with the mental load you're carrying around significantly; making it a form of self-care. You may not be able to write a list every morning, but you could always create a list the night before of things that you need to get done or goals that you have for the next day. It seems silly, but writing it out (or making a list on your phone) will literally and figuratively relieve your brain from the long "to-do" list that's taking up space in your head. That could also be the time when you could "pencil in" that face-washing routine I mentioned.

Have a Dance Party

Your kids will love this tip and so will your body. Even though you probably didn't get a lot of sleep last night (or in the past few years), get up and dance. Your kids will think you're the cool one and they get to be silly with you, what's better than that? Not only will your kids enjoy a dance party, but this is also a great way to sneak in a little exercise. Exercise is known to give you a boost of energy, therefore; giving you the ability to keep your eyes open as your children destroy any rhyme or reason that is inside of your household.

Don't Forget to Drink Water

I'm not kidding when I tell you that I have gone through an entire day without even thinking about drinking some H2O, and I'm sure you have too. We're so worried about making sure our kids are getting the right nutrients and fuel for their bodies that we forget about ourselves. We're surviving solely on coffee and energy drinks to keep us awake and it's justifiable, believe me, I get it. However, drinking enough water throughout the day will change your life. Not only will your organs thank you, but your metabolism will also increase and you'll lose weight. Additionally, your skin will clear up, your joints will hurt less and you'll be in a better mood overall.

Being a mom is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. There is not enough recognition and appreciation to honor just how much we do; so don't completely lose yourself and forget to take time to yourself. Self-care is an extension of the practice of being a role model for your little ones, and that's one of the best ways we can win the overall struggle of the negative stigma behind the taboos of mental health acknowledgment.