Self Care For Parents

Self–Care is deeply personal
Self–Care can be absolutely anything that fills your cup
Self–Care can be very, very simple
Self–Care is essential
And finally, (and maybe most importantly for caregivers) let’s dispel the myth: It is not necessary to engage in Self–Care practices alone!

My personal 9 essentials nourishing habits for mothers are:

️ Daily: skincare routine twice a day (and I would add flossing every single day!) meditating or praying at least once a day for 5-10 minutes and taking my supplements/tinctures.

 Weekly: weight training twice a week and something more aerobic another 1-2 times a week- in the summer this is often just a big old day in the garden, having one day a week unplugged with devices away and phone on airplane mode for the majority of the day (this is Sunday for us), weekly meal prepping – chopping vegetables, making muffins, boiling eggs, grilling meat, washing lettuce leaves and making bone broth all in preparation for the week ahead

 Monthly: Breast self-exam around the same time each month after my period with oils and a warm bath, attending a therapy session (or in the past prioritizing time to connect with others who are grounded in similar rituals/faith practices), checking in with personal and business goals, setting intentions for the season and checking in with myself (usually around the time of my period too).

*I might add “writing” in there too. Many people find catharsis through creative expression- crafting, painting, sketching, music…. I have consistently found peace and comfort in writing- one of the many reasons the work here in this space is so enjoyable for me.

Early morning rhythm for parents:

Let me start by saying: This list is the panacea for all parents with young children. If it looks too good to be true maybe you have young children who co-sleep, extra early risers, a demanding work schedule or you’re just not a morning person. I hear you!

My morning rhythm doesn’t always incorporate all of these things but I do try to include most. In total (not including a healthy breakfast and taking my vitamins), it likely takes me 10-15 minutes to do from start to finish.

So here it is:

Drink a glass of water and make a cup of tea
Light a candle
Write down five things you’re grateful for and looking forward to
Connect with spirit (however that looks to you)
Stretch
Review your calendar for the day
Take your vitamins
Eat a nourishing breakfast

*When my children were tiny and in our bed with us sometimes this simply meant waking up, sitting up and turning on and meditating for five minutes, recording some gratitude and reviewing my Google calendar before moving on to breakfast, vitamins and getting the children ready for the day.

Some other ways to ground yourself before children rise that can be done without even leaving your bed (as long as you have a pair of earphones and an iPhone) are:
️ listening to an episode of @onbeing
️ listening to a sermon or spiritual music – for those with a Christian background I personally use @prayasyougo_official
️ writing in a digital diary like @evernote
️ using @calm or @headspace meditations
️ recording gratitude on an app like Grateful : A Gratitude Journal by @reflectlyapp

The key to a successful morning is of course – preparing my space and any tools I want and need the night before. I have a candle in my little spot right beside my journal. I make sure any surfaces I will work on are clear of unnecessary items like my laptop or old mugs. I pour a glass of water for myself that evening for the next morning and set it in place. And on the days I want to add 5-10 minutes of stretching to the routine I lay out my mat in an inviting way, ready and waiting.

I hope you’ve been able to pull some inspiration from this post. I will be sharing more next week, so keep an eye out and as always, feel free to pop over to my Instagram @meaganrosewilson to join the conversation

Struggling to give yourself some self-care? I understand. And I’d love to help you. Book a mini session using this link. I think you’ll find having a practical, actionable plan and an accountability partner is exactly what makes the difference.