TheRootedMomEdit

There are so many ways to engage in self-care, but I think when we hear that term, we automatically think of things in the realm of skincare, beauty, & external things such as getting our nails done, getting our hair cut, etc. But self-care, especially as mothers, encompasses so much more.

The self-care shift I’m referring to looks like putting yourself first, so that your family gets the best YOU. Putting yourself first is BEST FOR YOUR KIDS. If you neglect yourself, everyone else suffers with you.

So, without further ado…

Let’s get into the 10 self-care habits I am currently implementing, along with a few habits I would love to “re-work” and/or add to my own life as a SAHM of 2.

1.) Wake up at least 30 minutes before the kids. I do my skincare routine without feeling rushed, drink my DIY green juice and/or eat a bite of breakfast, and start getting their breakfast prepared without any distractions. Yes I am “busy” as soon as I come out to the kitchen, but having a successful morning (for me personally) begins with a chunk of quiet time to get everything ready for when they DO wake up. It sets us all up for success.

2.) If you do TV in the mornings with your kiddos, no shame if you do (we do!), use this time for something fulfilling. I used to fill this time with mindless scrolling and it totally wreaked havoc on my morning. My attitude was worse with the kids, my temper was shorter, and I felt like cortisol was at its PEAK at merely 7:30am. Once I figured this out, I now either read my Bible, a devotional of sorts, or read a few newsletters on Substack. The calming nature of reading, even if it is on my phone, is a much better start to the morning for ALL OF US. Save the scroll for later!! (I’m still preaching this to myself, btw. I am not perfect at it, but I am consistently working on it).

3.) Make the mundane tasks more enjoyable. Find a podcast you like to listen to, a YouTube video, music, audiobook, whatever it is you enjoy that you can listen to or watch WHILE you fold laundry or put dishes away. I kinda forget I’m even doing chores.

4.) We all know nap time is brief & over much too quickly! So for me, I have to pick one thing I want to do during nap & the #1 criteria for choosing the activity is choosing something strictly FOR ME. No chores during nap time! Pick something that actually fills your cup. I always make myself an afternoon treat (usually an iced matcha latte- see how I make it here: Drinkable Skincare: The Matcha Latte Trend Worth Sipping) & work on my blog, create Pinterest pins, save fun things on Pinterest that bring me joy, or literally do nothing; which sometimes looks like a nap or just simply resting on the couch. I promise you, ignoring the chores and focusing on yourself during nap time is the best gift you can give to yourself AND your family!

5.) Make time to move your body. Getting those endorphins flowing has kept my sanity in tact. It has been my go-to “vice” my whole life and you don’t have to overcomplicate it; any movement counts! Invite your kiddos into it if you need to; teach them to play by themselves while you get your work-out done, or tell them to “do their workout too”. My 4 year old has his own 3lb weights that he will mess around with for a few minutes with me before he ends up doing his own thing. My garage is a hot-mess, but we have several sets of dumbbells that get the job done. You don’t need a fancy gym or several hours in the day to move your body. Figure out what works best for your schedule/family & aim for a few times a week.

6.) Let the kids stay up a little later some nights. We are just now thinking about what this could look like, so this is one that we have not mastered or quite figured out yet, but my husband and I have been talking about watching a family movie together some evenings and not “racing to get to bedtime”. We have both noticed that some evenings, bedtime routine feels more stressful than it needs to be, simply because we can’t wait to do our own thing. While that is totally necessary & deserved at the end of the day (!!!), we have also learned that sometimes including the kiddos into our routine can also fill our cups. When we are getting more frustrated with them than necessary, it sometimes means we haven’t spent quality time with them. Little plot twist to what we think of when we hear “self-care”, but I have seen firsthand how uninterrupted, precious time with the boys is exactly what we need.

7.) Do more of what you enjoy. Truly. Make time for it; fit whatever it is into your schedule however you can. Schedule that coffee date or lunch with a friend while you are kid-free. Go read a book at a coffee shop. Mosey around Target by yourself. Go for a walk. Whatever it is that you truly enjoy- make it happen throughout the week! A filled mother is the best mother. It isn’t selfish doing things for YOU. Do it for the whole family- guilt-free- & everyone will benefit.

8.) Make your PM skincare routine relaxing and something you look forward to at the end of the day. For me, it’s one of my favorite things in the evenings. I just love the ritual of skincare, so making time at night to do it is a must.

9.) Plan ahead. I love having my DIY green juice or carrot juice every morning, but I don’t have time to make it from scratch in the AM, so I plan ahead and make it the night before. Most of the time I let the boys help me! Planning ahead sets me up for success. Sometimes I will air fry turkey bacon or boil eggs one evening so the mornings can be slower & more intentional. It’s the little things that cause me stress, so planning ahead/meal-prepping ever so slightly, makes a world of difference.

10.) Last but not least- I put makeup on everyday regardless of what we’re doing. I do my super simple routine daily, no matter what. It makes a difference! When you look put together, you feel put together.

Why putting yourself first is BEST for your kids...

Now that I have gone through the 10 self-care habits I implement regularly, let’s end this chat discussing the WHY behind it.

Motherhood is tough. Motherhood is fun. Motherhood is tiring. Motherhood is life-giving. Motherhood is challenging. Motherhood is beautiful. Motherhood is mundane. Motherhood is exciting. Motherhood can be BOTH/AND...

Mothers are incredible (if I do say so myself). Because we take on so many roles within the home, we HAVE to pour into ourselves in order to pour out. I think so many of us, once becoming mothers, fall into the trap of “not having time for that anymore” (me included!) but let’s shift this perspective and spin it the other way. What if we looked at becoming mothers as the perfect reason to make time to put ourselves first.

BUT… guilt-free.

Because once you start doing it, you will see the fruit. You will see your temper flare up less, you will be more patient, more resilient to the hard toddler days, more understanding during your child’s emotional melt-down. I could go on and on. I am also NOT perfect at prioritizing myself every single day, but when I am actively practicing the 10 habits above, I see a major difference in the way I mother.

Putting ourselves first is not selfish. When we prioritize our needs on the same level as we do our families, everyone benefits.

It’s best for our kids when we put ourselves first!

If there is anything I missed on my list that you prioritize, drop it in the comments! I would love to hear from you.