The sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the cozy kitchen as the morning light peeks through the window. As a single mom, you wake up early to start the day and make sure everything runs smoothly for your child. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be easy to forget about taking care of yourself. That’s where self-care comes in, providing a necessary pause in your busy day to tend to your own needs and recharge.

Self-care is crucial for single moms who bear the weight of not only caring for their children but also managing the household, finances, and work responsibilities. By taking the time to prioritize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, you can better care for your little one and show up as your best self. Whether it’s a hot bubble bath, a quiet walk in nature, or a soothing yoga session, self-care rituals are essential in nourishing your soul and replenishing your energy. Remember, a happy and healthy mom means a happy and healthy family.

Related: How To Incorporate Self-care Into Your Day

What Is Self-Care?

Prior to becoming a mom, my notion of self-care revolved around monthly spa visits, weekly nail appointments, and starting the day with a glass of lemon water. While these practices hold their importance, I’ve come to realize that self-care can and should encompass a variety of forms.

I also understand that it should be an integral part of my day.

One of the worst things you can do as a mom is to neglect yourself. Because if you fail to take care of yourself, you won’t be able to care for those who rely on you.

Self-care is basically doing activities that bring you joy and help relieve some of the stress you may encounter in your daily life. It is taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being and essentially refilling your cup so you can be able to pour out to the various areas and people in your life.

Why Is Self-Care Important?

As a single mom, you have a lot of responsibilities: From caring for your children to taking care of household tasks and ensuring that your children are financially set.

All of these responsibilities take from you. Whether it’s time, energy, peace, or sleep. When you don’t allow yourself to replenish, it can be detrimental to you and those around you.

Within the last month, I started a new online business, surpassed my YouTube goals, and even appeared on a major television show. All of these achievements were great, however, they came at the expense of my well-being. While taking care of my children and house and accomplishing my career goals, I failed to take care of myself.

The consequence? Burnout, depression, overeating, lack of sleep, and constant irritation.

These are just some of the effects of trying to do too much while neglecting oneself.

Before I truly understood why I was always cranky or tired, I blamed it on my kids. But once I realized that I wasn’t doing anything to alleviate the stress in my life or make sure that I am properly cared for, it made sense.

The negative effects I was experiencing were a result of my lack of care for myself. Lack of much-needed sleep, exercise, and healthy meals; and lack of proper planning to ensure that I avoided any more stress and overwhelm.

5 Benefits of Self Care

Self-care has many benefits that pertain not only to your overall physical health but also to your mental health. Here are some of the benefits of taking better care of yourself:

1. Avoid burnout and depression which may be caused by taking on too much and neglecting your mental health.
2. Promotes a better self-image. When you care for yourself, you look at yourself differently. You appreciate yourself and your body more.
3. Helps you have a better relationship with your kids. Taking time for yourself allows you to replenish which in turn makes it possible for you to give to your children.
4. It makes you a happier, calmer parent. You are less likely to yell at your kids or get frustrated easily when you have allowed yourself to relax.
5. Helps to reduce stress. Certain self-care activities such as exercising, getting enough rest, meditating, and journaling, can help you reduce stress.

What Happens When You Make Self-Care A Priority?

I have noticed that whenever I wake up a little early and do something for myself; be it waking up an hour early, taking a shower, or having some time to myself before the kids wake up, it completely improves my whole day.

• I feel more prepared and ready to handle the day.
• I feel more capable to handle any demands on me.
• I am usually happier and a lot nicer.
• I am more likely to devote more of myself to my children and avoid getting irritable.

The same would be true for you. If you find that you are always upset with your children or you are constantly depressed, then you may need to make self-care a priority.

How To Include Self-Care In Your Life

As a mom, it may be hard to find ways to take care of yourself, however, there are a lot of budget-friendly ways that will help you make self-care a priority in your life.

To include self-care in your life:

1. Write down self-care activities you can do that you enjoy.
2. Create a self-care calendar that allows you to plan out your self-care activities.
3. Incorporate self-care activities into your routines.
4. Be intentional about “me time” and take the necessary steps to make it a possibility.

Related: Solo Date Ideas for Single Moms

Conclusion

Be intentional about self-care. Make sure that you are not neglecting yourself and don’t ignore the signs your body is showing you that you need to take better care of yourself.

How do you make self-care a priority in your life? Let me know in the comments.

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