Self Care Practices For Mums: 5 Tips From Pyschotherapist, Tayla Knable
Motherhood can take its toll and it’s only a matter of time before many women start neglecting their own personal wellbeing while trying to be mum, wife, and in-law. But, to serve and love your family more efficiently, it is important that you take time to care for your own self and it is easier than you think! According to mum-of-two, blogger, wife, and psychotherapist, Tayla Knable, there are at least five simple and practical steps you can take to self-care as a mum.
As a follow-up to one of her blog posts: Self Care Practices All Moms Can Do Today, Tayla wanted to use her experience as a clinical psychotherapist while helping her private clients who constantly share their struggles with finding time for quality self-care.
She wanted to offer some of the advice she gave directly to her clients because according to her, the biggest drive behind her decision to blog is to share my expertise as a psychotherapist in addition to my own personal experiences as a mom.
Here are a few quick tips for self-care that everyone, especially mums, can benefit from including in their lives.
1. Deep Breathing:
This is a great practice in just trying to slow things down a bit. Take a moment and try to just connect with yourself. Close your eyes, take a few breaths in and out, and try to let go of anything you might be holding in. You can do this as a great way to start or end your day or as a break when things start to get difficult. There is not even pressure to et aside specific time to do this (although that would be great). You can practice deep breathing while your kids are watching a TV show, or playing next to you for a few minutes, or even while waiting in the carpool line (just make sure your car is in park and you are ready to move when you need!!).
2. Journal What You Are Grateful For
As busy moms, it is so easy to get caught up in the struggles of life and lose sight of the positive. It is so important to remember the things that we are grateful for and bring those to the forefront of our minds every once in a while. Taking a little time to write down the positive in our lives will remind us of all of the wonderful things we have going on. Share them with your spouse at the end of the day. Put them on post-it notes around the house as an easy pick me up when things might feel like more of a struggle.
3. Journal About What You Are Struggling With
Okay, so I know this is the opposite of what I just suggested, but with how easy it is to get caught up in the negative, taking some time to write it down can be very cathartic. I often suggest that clients do this and then close the journal and put it to the side. Kind of symbolic of letting go of their struggles, at least in the short term. Also, sometimes putting things into writing and reflecting back on them later can allow you to look at the problem with a different lens, and perhaps find a solution you did not realize was there before.
4. Go On Social Media Kindness Spree
So I read this on another blog and I loved the idea!! We tend to be so connected to social media anyway, why not take some time and share some positivity. Spend 10-20 leaving thoughtful comments on your friend’s news feeds. Let them know how cute the most recent picture of their kids is. Congratulate someone on a new accomplishment they posted about. Offer words of encouragement to a friend who might have shared a struggle they are going through. It is amazing how wonderful sharing a little kindness can make you feel.
5. Take The Long Way Home
This is one of my favorites that I always suggest to clients! If you are really feeling like you do not have the time or the means to do any other self-care practices on this list, here is one you can do! Rather than rushing home, take a long way and allow the drive to be a little bit of self-care time. With the kids strapped in the car seat, you can take a little extra time for you! Enjoy a cup of coffee or listen to your favorite song. You can even stop in a parking lot and do a little deep breathing if the kids are quiet enough for you to enjoy this!