The Importance of Selfcare For Mothers

Why Self-Care is Crucial for Mothers

Motherhood is certainly a beautiful journey, but it also comes with an overwhelming amount of new responsibilities and emotional labour. Amidst the new chaos that is bringing up children, many mothers find it difficult to carve out time for themselves. Yet, I truly believe self-care is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Taking time for yourself helps you recharge, refocus, and ultimately show up as the best version of yourself for your family. Without prioritizing self-care, the exhaustion can lead to burnout, emotional dysregulation (aka screaming your blooming head off at your loved ones, kids and partner included), and feelings of resentment.

Self-care helps you to maintain your mental, emotional, and physical well-being, so you can better navigate the challenges of motherhood.

Types of Self-Care: Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Social,

Self-care is not one-size-fits-all, and it extends beyond just taking a bath or treating yourself to a night off with a bottle of wine and a packet of buiscuits. It encompasses four main areas:

1. Physical Self-Care: Taking care of your body through rest, movement, and proper nutrition. This can be as simple as a 10-minute walk in the park or stretching at home to reconnect with your body.

2. Emotional Self-Care: This involves processing and validating your feelings. Journaling, therapy, or even having a deep conversation with a friend can help you release emotions that have built up.

3. Mental Self-Care: Keeping your mind sharp and reducing mental clutter are key to feeling balanced. Engage in activities like reading, puzzles, or practicing mindfulness to refresh your mental state.

4. Social Self-Care: Mothers often lose touch with friends or supportive communities after childbirth. Rebuilding and maintaining social connections, whether through a coffee with a friend or joining a local mothers’ group, nurtures the soul.

Self-Care Routines: Simple Ways to Incorporate Self-Care Daily

Its easy to feel there’s no time for self-care, but small, consistent habits can make a world of difference. Here are a few examples of how you can integrate self-care into your daily life without feeling overwhelmed:

• Morning Ritual: Wake up 10 minutes earlier for a quiet cup of tea or coffee, practicing gratitude or meditation before the day begins. (This only works if the baby is giving you enough sleep though out the night and not waking up at 4am for the day)

• Mindful Moments: While your children are napping or playing, use that time to focus on your breathing or take a few minutes to stretch your body. I find this is one I don’t plan, I just take it when I can sense some peace sometimes its once a day sometimes I can manage more.

• Creative Outlets: Whether it’s painting, writing, or baking, finding time to express yourself creatively can be a form of mental and emotional care. For me I find painting or crafting to be a great creative outlet. If you like crafting I will be starting a monthly mothers crafting support group in winter 2024 so keep an eye out if that’s something you would like to be apart of.

• Mini Breaks: And lastly even on the busiest days, it can help to give yourself permission to take short breaks, whether that’s sitting in silence, stepping outside for fresh air, or listening to a favourite song.

You Deserve Time for Your self

One of the biggest barriers we as mothers face when it comes to self-care is guilt. Society often pressures women to put their families first at all times, which can make it difficult to justify taking time for yourself. But as I’ve said before and will keep saying over and over again self-care is not selfish—it is essential. When you care for yourself, you replenish that lost energy and patience, which ultimately benefits your children and your household. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking even small moments to nurture yourself creates a healthier environment for your family. Let go of the guilt and embrace the truth that you deserve this time.

Resources for Self-Care

To support your self-care journey, here are some resources that can guide and inspire you:

• Books:

  • The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson

  • The Self-Care Solution by Julie Burton

  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

• Apps:

  • Calm or Headspace for guided meditation

  • Shine for daily self-care tips and mental health support

• Online Communities:

  • The Motherhood Collective on Facebook, a space for mothers to share experiences and resources

  • Peanut, an app designed to connect moms for friendship and support

  • HeyMama, a supportive network for working moms

• In-Person Communities Edinburgh

  • My Monthly Craft and Share support group for mums

  • Bookbug – in library’s

Self-Care Enables You to Care Better for Others

Self-care isn’t about escaping your responsibilities it’s about enhancing your ability to fulfil them. When you make time to nurture yourself, you become more patient, more present, and more capable of handling the ups and downs of motherhood. You deserve the same care and love that you give to those around you. So start small, be consistent, and give yourself permission to prioritize your well-being—you’re worth it.