We’re coming closer to the end of 2020 and I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling drained. I’ve always heard about the importance of self-care and to be honest, it usually manifests itself in my life as spending money on stuff I don’t need and taking naps. I’ve been really interested in trying new habits and moments that make me feel better. So I wanted to challenge myself and test different types of self-care that I don’t normally do.
Day One: Relaxation
The first area of self-care I wanted to try out was the indulgent evening. The typical “bath, chocolate, champagne, and a good book” type of night. So I picked up some essentials. When I was checking out at the grocery store with roses, chocolates, and champagne, the cashier asked, “So what’re you celebrating?” I just smiled and said, “Myself.”
As excited as I was to spend the night solely focusing on myself, I got preoccupied with mom duties and random tasks until it was already close to midnight and I was exhausted! Truthfully, all I wanted to do was fall asleep. I couldn’t believe that the night I was looking forward to the most was turning into a chore! So I forced myself to fill up the bathtub, light some candles, grab my book, and enjoy it anyway. I didn’t end up getting to bed until 1:00 a.m., but I was insanely relaxed and slept better than I had in quite a while.
Conclusion: Hard to fit into my day. But a classic, indulgent, relaxing way to focus on yourself.
Day Two: Beauty
The next day was pretty simple. I woke up early so I could dedicate time to do my makeup and hair. Often times I find myself wearing whatever I wore to sleep the previous evening or throwing my hair into a messy bun (and not the cute Pinterest-y type of messy bun.) When I spend time getting ready, I feel like a different person! I’m confident, I’m more likely to get out of the house and do something fun–it just sets me up for more possibilities.
Conclusion: I love the confidence I gain from taking time for hair and makeup, but personally it’s not sustainable for every day.
Day Three: Health
To be absolutely honest, I put off this day for quite a long time, but I know how important this is for my life. It’s also how a lot of people perform their self-care. I started my day with a simple workout routine I found online. I got winded after the first ten minutes and felt really embarrassed, but I was surprised at how easy I could fit working out into my morning. At the end of the workout, I thought, “I could totally do that every day!” which was NOT expected. Instead of grabbing my usual, I ate healthy cereal with pea protein milk and a banana. I definitely caved and ate pasta later, but today’s challenge isn’t about guilt. It’s about loving yourself enough to love your body, too.
Conclusion: Although you won’t see me hitting the gym anytime soon, I love these healthy little habits!
Day Four: No Guilt
The last day was simple but really important. I wasn’t going to push myself to get anything done. That sounds lazy, but all it really means is that the laundry can wait, the dishes can wait, don’t stress today. So when my son took his afternoon nap, I did too. And in the evening, we watched Netflix and ate take-out. A lot of my days can look like this, but there’s always a twinge of guilt within myself and it weighs me down over time. Well, I’m leaving that negativity in 2020. Of course, we need to clean our homes, accomplish our tasks, and turn off the technology sometimes. But when I feel overwhelmed or quarantine is getting to me, I’m no longer going to feel guilty about letting some things go.
Conclusion: I obviously can’t do this every day, but it’s an important lesson overall.
My Takeaway
I’m glad I tried this out! There are things from each day that I’m going to adopt and remember. I know sometimes these things take more energy or time than we can handle. So I also want this to be a reminder that self-care looks different to everyone. Even getting out of bed and showering sometimes is difficult and should be celebrated. If you haven’t heard it from someone lately: I’m so proud of you. If you haven’t had the chance to take care of yourself in a way that you enjoy, here’s your sign. Here’s another article from our blog about Self Care for the Busy, Tired Momma. Take care of yourself with no guilt attached. You deserve it.
Originally published November 2020.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
