What Is The One Thing You Do For You?
We’ve all heard the saying… “you can’t pour from an empty bucket”. It’s the truth. Although rewarding, being a mom is physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. Add the fact that we live in an extremely fast-paced society that loves to shame moms for everything. Ugh! We all need a break sometimes. You deserve to take care of yourself, mama. Let that sink in. It took years, and being diagnosed with serious medical issues, for it to hit home for me. I promise that not only will you be a better, more rested mom after taking some time for yourself, you will also teach your children how important it is for them to take care of themselves, too. As a single mama, I don’t have much time to get out alone, so I get it. I have learned that it’s quality over quantity, and to really manage my time so when I do have those moments alone, I treasure them and use them wisely.
Things You Can Do For You That Don’t Cost Much
After a couple years of health challenges, I became a very negative person. To remedy that, and get back to my positivity, I start every day with 10-15 minutes of gratitude writing or praying. I know it sounds corny, but it sets the tone for my day. It’s become such a habit, that I find myself half awake/ half asleep thanking God for anything from my daughter to the fact that I have working air conditioning in the middle of summer. Even in the worst of times we always have something to be grateful for.- My absolute favorite thing to do for myself, that costs me maybe $5.00, is walking up to Starbucks for a latte, and then taking a blanket, a good book, and a notebook to a park near my house. I settle into a good story–one by someone else, or writing one of my own, enjoying coffee with the sound and gorgeous view of waterfalls calming my soul.
- Netflix and Hulu are my boyfriends. One of my favorite solo date nights involves ordering a pizza (allll for meeee), snuggling up in sweats on the couch, and watching whatever I want, with zero interruption. I even scored a ridiculously good Hulu Black Friday promo and only pay .99 cents per month for it for the first year–so this boyfriend is a particularly cheap date!
- One of my best friends lives in Dallas, and I rarely get to see her, or even talk to her because we are so busy. We plan and schedule delicious 1-2 hour long conversations once every couple of months, as we can. Super free, and super good for both of our souls!
- Another fun thing to do is to date yourself! I used to be scared of this, but now I don’t mind going to a movie or lunch by myself. I think that once you become a mom, time alone refuels you.
- Inspirational books, podcasts, and videos are life (and can be free!). Lately I have been obsessed with Jay Shetty and Red Table Talk for feel good, transformative information.
Things You Can Do For You That Involve Splurging
I will never forget the stress of my divorce and those early years, navigating as a newly single mom. Money was very tight as I embarked on my freelance career. Please don’t take any of these splurge ideas as me not appreciating the fact I am able to treat myself once in awhile, because I do appreciate all of it. Any time I spend money on myself for clothing, etc., I fight the urge to feel like the worst mom. “I could be banking this for my kid’s future, instead” runs through my mind. I’ve worked hard to get to this place. My child has what she needs, but I am here, too. The same goes for you, mama. You give your all to your little people, but you need to give back to yourself!- I try different salon services when I can afford to. It’s been a long time since I’ve had my hair or nails done (I just do the latter at home). My recent splurge has been eyelash extensions, thanks to an insanely cheap package that I purchased for my birthday. I won’t keep them forever, but they make me happy, and I don’t even bother with make up anymore.
- Keep an eye on Groupon for different spa packages or fun fitness classes you might want to try. You can find amazing deals. *Be careful using Groupon for more involved services such as lash extensions. You want to make sure you are working with an experienced lash artist. Definitely IG stalk the salon or tech, and ask for references before they touch you.
- Salons and gyms run promos throughout the year, so take advantage! Massages help my autoimmune issues immensely. I can’t afford to get them regularly, but around the holidays, my favorite spa offers discounted massage vouchers. I buy myself a couple for Christmas, and then save them for when I am in the middle of a flare.
- Outsourcing any work or chore that adds to your stress is an amazing gift to yourself! This doesn’t have to be really expensive. Hire a teenager in the neighborhood to help with yard work, or to be a mother’s helper, giving you a much-needed break this summer. I made friends with other single mamas and we barter play-dates so that we can take turns spending time with the kids, and then sneaking off for a break, alone.
Playing Motherhood Free Online Summit for Moms: Speaker Rachel Martin
Looking for a free way to pamper yourself? With summer break upon is, balancing work, the household, vacations, and the kids’ summer activities makes it even harder to carve some time out for you. Register now for the free Playing Motherhood Online Summit for Moms, and kill two birds with one stone! Not only will you be listening to invaluable information on self-care from Rachel Martin, you will be doing something for you, at the same time!
Rachel Martin
Finding Joy
Self-Care: Taking Care of Yourself Before All The Pieces Fall
Rachel believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net and author of The Brave Art of Motherhood. Her articles have been translated into over 25 languages, her site reaches millions of visitors per month and she has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her content has been featured in The Huffington Post, iVillage, The Today Show, Star Tribune, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand, PopSugar, Motherly, Parents, What to Expect, NBC Parents, IJR, Dr. Greene, and many more. She speaks worldwide encouraging moms and entrepreneurs to live each day with purpose and drive. Beyond that, she’s a single mom to seven, and calls Nashville, Tennessee, her home.
More Self Care Inspiration for Moms
- Divine Connection: Self-Care
- Why Patience Runs Thin
- Playing Motherhood: Free Online Summit for Moms!
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