Stop feeling guilty about taking time for yourself.
Self care does not make you selfish. That way of thinking is one of the biggest reasons why moms don’t have a proper self care routine. We are selfless people who live to serve others. But taking some time for ourselves doesn’t mean that we are taking time away from others. When it comes to self care, just like most things in life, it’s about trying to find the right balance.
Here are a few of the many reasons why self care does not make you selfish.
You Deserve It
You’re not an unemployed slob living in your parents basement. You’re a grown adult with real responsibilities. And you take care of those responsibilities every single day, whether you want to or not. Being a mother is a tough job and there are so many days you won’t want to do it at all. But you do. And for that, you deserve a break every now and then. Even well paid employees get a mandated set of breaks, so why not a hardworking mom? Self care does not make you selfish because you’ve earned it.
You Need It
Self care isn’t always a spa day or a solo vacation. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Self care can be as simple as taking a long, hot, undisturbed shower or an afternoon nap. It can also be more long term such as taking a course or joining a gym. But it’s not selfish because it’s something you need to do to improve yourself. It’s especially necessary for healing from a physical or mental illness. Self care does not make you selfish because you need it in order to survive.
You Are Important
The way we treat ourselves says a lot about how we feel about ourselves. If you want to be seen as important and respected, then you need to treat yourself that way. Making yourself a priority tells everyone around you that you matter. But it’s more than just your physical appearance. Meditation, self help books and positive affirmations can help to boost your confidence and thought process. Reading, writing, doing puzzles, painting, crafts or games improves brain functions, making you smarter. Self care does not make you selfish because you are worthy of just as much attention as everyone else.
You Are In Charge Of Yourself
A long time ago, you depended on someone else to take care of you. As you grew older, that task was handed over to you. You learned how to bathe, feed and dress yourself and you learned how to shop, cook and clean up after yourself. You learned how to take care of you. And then you became a mother and the task of having to take care of someone else came into the picture. It’s hard to juggle taking care of kids and yourself at the same time. You can find someone to help you take care of the kids, but you will always be responsible for taking care of yourself. Self care does not make you selfish because you are the only person who can take care of you.
You Are An Example
Now that you are a mother, everything you do is an example to your children. They learn by watching you. So when you take time for yourself, they learn that you are important in your own right, and not just their snack slave. They learn that it’s necessary to take care of yourself and to do things that make you happy. This is an important lesson for your children to learn. If they don’t appreciate it while they’re young, they’ll look back on their childhood when they are parents themselves and realize the importance of self care. Self care does not make you selfish so raise a generation of humans who understand that.
