Self Care. These words have been popping up everywhere lately, but what does that really mean? Most moms — working or stay at home — know self care comes last, after packing lunches, laundry, grocery shopping, carpooling, updating and tracking the family calendar, and last, but definitely not least, actually trying to spend adult time with your spouse.
This year, I am resolving to find time for self care. I’m not sure exactly what that looks like for me, but I know it is a must. I’ve been thinking about what would make me feel calmer, happier, healthier, and feeling like I have something going on in my life other than what is going on in my kids’ and husband’s lives.
I don’t have a clear or complete picture of this. I know it involves working out more, not waiting until I have a unibrow to get my eyebrows done, more time with girlfriends, less time unloading the dishwasher (a girl can dream…), and a new hobby. How do I achieve this?
My husband is wonderful and supportive of all of the above, so I’m not throwing him under the bus here. He always tells me to go out with my friends, or we should have more date nights, to get a massage, and even yes, he unloads the dishwasher when he knows it’s been a tough day, but in order to go out with my friends or have a date night, or even work out sometimes, I have to schedule. Moms, in general, are responsible for finding the babysitters, making the reservations, scheduling with other couples, booking hotels, plane tickets, etc., so by the time plans roll around, I’m kind of over it.
So…the big question is…how do I find the time to take care of myself, but not stress myself out in the process? What I really need is a self care concierge (aka, what I am for my husband), but in the meantime, I have to figure this out.
I don’t have an answer or even a plan yet, but I know I really want it. I’m tired of feeling like a hot mess, and I’m ready to start feeling like I’ve got this again.
What does self care mean to you? Do you make time for it? How?!
