Resources: Articles
May 2009: Taking Care of Mom
Being a Mom is about taking care of everyone: the kids, the house, your partner, the family pet. These tasks can easily fill a 16 hour day and for some Moms you may even have to balance a job and/or career as well. Being a Mom is the most rewarding job one can have but I think we all know that it can also be challenging, stressful, and draining even on the best days! The good news is the investment is well worth it. The difficult comes with the collateral damage that often occurs when you put your career as a Mom first, by doing so it is extremely easy to lose sight of YOU and what it takes to take care of you, and let's face it… that is the one job that guaranteed no one else is going to do!!!
My message this month for everyone reading this is simple but also life altering. All you Moms reading this need to do the one thing that you probably find the hardest, and start putting yourself first, before ANYONE else. Trust me, your children will thank you, you partner will thank you, your colleagues will thank you and most importantly YOU will thank you.
In order to be the best Mom, partner, friend, co-worker, boss you need to be the best YOU.
How often do you cart your kids to their sports practices, schedule your husband's dental cleaning, make sure someone else is taking it easy on a sick day (I know you asking yourself what a sick day is?!?!), or guaranteeing that the vegetables on everyone's plates are eaten/ But what about you? Are you the Mom that by 8:00 at night you have postponed your trip to the gym so you can make sure that everything else is done and by then you are just too tired to go, or some days realize at 2:00 pm that you haven't eaten anything because you forgot or were too busy, or possibly you are the Mom that takes so long to schedule your own appointments that your “annual” never happens once a year? These are just a few examples of things that need to change and the secret is to just change ONE thing: putting yourself first. It may sound selfish to you but in fact it is selfless because you are doing this for everyone you love.
One of the best ways to implement this new approach to living is first thing in the morning. I highly recommend finding some “YOU” time first thing in the morning, whether you use that time to meditate, exercise, read, take a bath, it doesn't matter but it has to be something that will help you focus and prepare for the day on your own terms (so adjust your alarm clock). This is the key to establishing your energy, approach, and outlook that will carry you through to the end of the day and it is invaluable! I also recommend making a time for you at least once a week that is SET IN STONE “you time.” You can take this time to go out with friends, go to a movie, go for a walk, take a yoga class, get your nails done, doesn't matter but it is your standing date with yourself so make the most of it. The catch is that you unequivocally can never feel badly or guilty for taking this time because not only is it something that you deserve but it is also something that you need in order to de-stress, unwind, and refocus on being YOU.
Follow these 2 simple steps to making yourself a priority and it is bound to make not only you healthier and happier but also your loved ones!