CHOOSE YOU : Self Care For The New Mom + Self Care Ideas
As a new mom, it’s so hard to find time for yourself. I honestly give credit to every mom with a full time job hustling out there, because I can’t find time to do anything, let alone work 40 hours a week. I can only imagine how incredibly difficult it must be for them to find time to treat themselves! This is not an optional thing, it is a necessity to survive motherhood! When I say “Choose you” I obviously don’t mean to necessarily choose yourself over others, especially your family, but I do mean that occasionally you to need to CHOOSE to take care of YOU, too.
* Side note : this is actually a necessity for EVERY human out there, but especially mamas! *
#TreatYoSelf
*Just so you know, my posts usually contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase by pressing a link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.*
There are so many countless things you have to worry about as a new mom, that treating yourself definitely gets put to the back burner WAAAAAYYYY too often, (Don’t even want to discuss how long I have gone without a haircut). But we HAVE to find time to do it! This weekend, thanks to my long time friend Kara, I was able to help her as a hair model and get an amazing and fresh new hair style! Something like this is just life changing! I have not given my hair any love in probably two years. No exaggeration – and that is just awful. It really got me thinking on how much more often I need to be doing this for myself. Here’s my before shot.
Wish I could describe my fancy new hairdo in cosmetology terms, but basically she took trash and made it into a masterpiece and I just cannot figure out how she does it. She does all of my friends’ hair, and everytime I think she can’t get any better – she does. Okay enough of my girl crush on Kara, here are the afters!
Annnnnnd a side by side Before and After… for dramatic effect, duh.
I feel like an entirely new person! You can follow Kara’s hair journey as a stylist here ! And if you’re a local (or even visiting) the Treasure Coast of FL give Calvetti a call and book with Kara ASAP!
I honestly felt SO good after this haircut, that Matt & I ended up planning a last minute date night to get dressed (semi) nicely and have a quiet meal together (at Moe’s LOL) followed by a movie. It was the greatest domino affect and that is exactly what I’m talking about today y’all.
SOMETHING LIKE A FRESH HAIRCUT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND IF NOT THAT, AT LEAST YOUR DAY.
We are so worried about making sure our husbands are taken care of, and their laundry is done, and they have a meal to come home to, and making sure the baby is dry, fed, happy, the dog is protected from fleas, and oh wait you have to pay 3 bills and sit on the phone with the cable company for an hour today, and oh no your husband lost his wallet for the 12th time this week and you need to find it (true story, actually happened while I was in the chair LOL) and now your lawn mower is broken so you live in a jungle, etc! (I know that was the worst run-on sentence) But that’s my point! We have to STOP putting ourselves on the back burner. I went Into this Monday morning feeling READY for the week, and it’s because I did a couple of things this weekend to take care of myself.
Here are a couple of self care ideas you can do that are simple, quick, and affordable. Even if you can’t possibly find the time to get away for a couple of hours, this self care plans are pretty close!
1. GET A HAIRCUT
What Kara did for me was definitely more than just a haircut and took more time than just your average haircut would – but I needed it. If you don’t have time for something like this, I still suggest at least getting your run of the mill haircut/trim/whatever it is you do. Sitting in that chair, not having anything to do with my hands for more than 20 minutes was indescribable. It DEFINITELY took time to get used to, but once I was adjusted it was SO NICE to relax. *Bonus* If you get your hair washed when they cut it, that’s prob one of my favorite things in the world. It’s the little things people!
2. TAKE A HOT SHOWER
LOL I know this should be a must no matter what, but once you’re a mom this is literally something you have to work to achieve and that’s rough. Give your baby to your hubby, mom, significant other, whatever and take a hot shower. I SWEAR by this method. Whenever I am overwhelmed and feel like I need a break, but know that it’s not in the cards anytime soon, I take a super hot and steamy shower. I don’t know what it is about steam that just completely calms me down but it works. I sit there and just breathe until I feel ready to clean myself and start fresh. Yes – I literally SIT in the shower sometimes. Don’t knock it until ya try it, okay! Sometimes I will do this mid day, and when I get out I feel so refreshed and motivated to finish whatever is at hand that day. Sometimes we need that mid day pick me up!
3. PAINT YOUR NAILS
Or the longer alternative, get them done. While your babe is napping in the other room (being watched via monitor of course) treat yourself to that cheap nail polish home manicure girl! I know this sounds silly, or like you can do a million other things during nap time. I know how hard it is to try getting so much done in and hour or two period without a baby in your arms. But fresh paint is another thing that makes me feel like I semi have my life together.
Sometimes taking care of yourself can be something as little as putting on some lipstick and dressing nicely, and whatever it may be just do it. Do it for yourself, because it’s not just a physical type thing, its mental too. And if you don’t, you will probably eventually have a mental breakdown and be overwhelmed from doing so much for others and never taking care of yourself – mentally and physically.
CHOOSE YOU, MAMA’S! YOU DESERVE IT!
I love chatting about this stuff, so if you ever feel like you need more suggestions or help in this area of your life please, just contact me, I’d be so happy to help!
Xo
-MMM
