Take Care of You! Why self-care is important for a homeschool mom
Take Care of You!
Being a parent is hard! It is full of demands and sacrifice, and while there are countless moments of truly memorable, loving moments that you would never trade in for all the gold in the world, there are also moments of torment and destruction. In my opinion, being a homeschooling parent only multiplies the highs and lows of parenting. With all of the ups and downs or parenting, are you taking care of yourself? Yes, I know, you are thinking do I really, seriously need one more “todo” on my list? Well, today I am going to be talking about why self-care is important for a homeschool mom and why it needs to be added to your daily “todo” list.
How are you feeling?
Have you been feeling exhausted, burned out, frustrated, sad or even angry? While it is normal to go through periods where you are feeling like this, there is a good chance that if you are feeling like this a lot, you are in need of some good self-care. Self-care is never something you should ignore, even if you truly are exhausted because taking care of yourself is an important part of taking care of your kids. You must come first, yes you even before your family. I know this is a difficult concept, especially as a homeschool parent. Your kids are most likely your number one priority. Then you come somewhere down the line. But that needs to change. If you aren’t giving to yourself then everything is going to start falling apart. You are the most important person in their lives, especially as a homeschooling parent. They are with you a great majority of the time. If you are not 100%, you can’t give them 100% of what they need.
Reality Check
If you don’t take care of yourself, you will find that you are exhausted and depleted. Look at it this way, have you ever made a drink from one of those powder mixes? Like Iced Tea or Kool-Aid? So you have a large pitcher that is empty (this pitcher is you) if you want to be able to give your friends and family the best, most delicious drink then you need to fill yourself up. You need nice clean, cold water. You need to measure the right about of mix to make it tasty and you need to mix it up. You need to put the time and energy into yourself before you can give yourself out to everyone else.
From experience
I know from experience that if you don’t just take 10 to 15 minutes a day to pour into yourself then you will find yourself in a rut and possibly depressed. I have been there and I go through it because of course I try and there are always times I slip up. I know how hard it is to carve out a minute for yourself. Even though my children’s father is an amazing man and father our current situation leaves me with a great deal of the childcare. It isn’t something he chooses, it is just how it is and it makes it really hard for me to get a moment to myself. Not only is it hard to find a minute it’s hard to have enough energy to take that minute for yourself. It is so easy to choose sleep or to mindlessly scroll through your phone instead of doing something that fills you with energy and joy. It is so hard to not take that minute for yourself, to go do laundry or clean, to go do work that needs to get done. However, it is so needed if you want to avoid the downward spiral.
Signs you are in need of self-care
While our bodies aren’t like appliances, they don’t shine a light when something is going wrong. There are some clues to tell you, you are in need of some self-care. These hints that self-care is needed can be finding yourself easily frustrated, yelling at your children, becoming increasingly forgetful, and even physical symptoms.
What is self-care?
Self-care simply is pouring into yourself the resources you need to perform at your best. These are the things that keep you healthy and feeling good. These are the things that bring you joy besides your family. They are the things that remind you who you are as a person versus as a parent or spouse. Self-care is asking yourself, “How am I feeling, and what do I need right now?” While some may be tempted to label the act of putting your own needs first, or even considering your needs at all, as selfish, it’s actually the exact opposite. Taking care of yourself, the most important person in your child’s life is foremost to be the best parent you can be. Self-care helps you build up the energy, stamina, and inner strength to do this job well. It won’t happen by accident. Self-care requires an ongoing, intentional effort.
5 Categories of Self-Care for Homeschool Moms
Tending to your own self-care requires you to acknowledge all of the different needs you’re experiencing.
- Physical self-care – This refers to making sure you get enough rest, eat healthy foods, drink enough water, and exercise. More than a ‘to do’ list or New Year’s resolution, these habits help you be at your best each and every day.
- Emotional self-care – This type of self-care involves acknowledging your feelings and working through them. Sharing your thoughts with others or writing them down can help, too.
- Relational self-care – This taps into your sense of social well-being. When you’re in contact with others who care about you, your burden is lighter and the challenges you’re facing can be put into perspective.
- Cognitive self-care – Often ignored, this type of self-care refers to your need to continue learning and growing.
- Spiritual self-care – This type of self-care broadens your sense of self in relation to the rest of the world. This your spiritual self-care may involve regular practices like meditation and prayer, you may also find that being out in nature helps.
Just because you are taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you need to be doing it alone, in the absence of your kids and family. Let’s get real if you are anything like me you can not get away from the kids to save your life. So you may need to include them in your self-care routine and of course, alone time is another important part of self-care as well.
Tips for Making Regular Self-Care a Habit
Here are some ways to take care of your emotional needs and build your inner strength:
- with your kids
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LET US KNOW!
Do you take time for self-care? What are some of your favorite self-care rituals? I would love to hear from you so comment down below!
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