How to Make Time for Daily Self-Care

How to make time for daily self-care? Well, for me, it started with recognizing I needed self-care. In 2018 when I was a new mom I started to feel a little lost on how to take care of myself. I didn’t really notice that’s what I was battling at first, but little things started to add up. I wasn’t working out like I normally did because I struggled to make it to the gym between breastfeeding and diaper changes. I wasn’t reading for personal development like I use to. I rarely had a full meal for breakfast. And for a lady who loves a clean house and a consistent routine, I had no such thing. I was craving a way to feel like myself, while also feeling like I was giving my best self and the most quality time possible to my new family. I think this is pretty common for new moms, or moms at any stage, maybe you can relate.

Even if you’re not a “recovering type a personality”, as I like to call myself, it’s likely the transition to motherhood still left you a little out of sorts. Having a new baby always comes with change and it forces you into a new normal. Even if you’re thrilled about motherhood, as I was, it can still come with its challenges and growing pains — that dichotomy was hard for me to wrap my head around, but it’s true, you can love your baby and still want to find time to love on yourself.

Once Hayes was sleeping through the night, I decided I needed to take intentional steps to figure out how I was going to take care of myself the way I know I need to take care of myself. I decided I had to figure how to make time for daily self-care. I took a lot of testing. And failing. But I figured out how to consistently make time for myself.

** The easiest way to make time for daily self-care is to become a morning person. **

Ok, ok. If you’re not currently a morning person, you might have shivered a bit when you read that. I get it. Truthfully! I’m not naturally a morning person. Although I’m not a night owl either, I’m some sort of tweener. But I decided that in order to feel like myself and show up as someone I’m proud of for myself and my family, I had to rock the mornings. So I’ve become a morning person. I taught myself how to consistently wake up an hour before my family does to workout, read, pray, practice gratitude, and eat breakfast.

Why mornings?

The short answer — when I can use my time for good from the moment my alarm goes off each morning I have better energy, better moods, and I’m a better me. The long answer…

There are fewer barriers in the morning

There are no guarantees that a day in motherhood will go according to plan. In fact, I’d be silly to believe it would. So even if I plan on working out in the evening, other priorities might come up during the day, I might be dealing with a sick kid, or I might be exhausted and convince myself to watch Schitt’s Creek for the third time instead. Because mornings are the very first part of the day, it’s harder for other things to get in the way.

Starting your morning with self-care can transform your day

When I work out, I feel better. When I take time to read for personal growth, I feel better. When I pray (meditate, whatever you want to call it), I feel better. Heck, even if I just have a chance to sip my coffee, by myself, in silence I feel better! When I feel better, I am more energetic and more patient — I am a better me, which I can see in my relationships, especially with Jeff and the girls.

Practicing daily self-care in the morning leaves your evening wide open

When you practice self-care (workout, read, meditate, do your nails, whatever is your thing!) in the morning, the rest of the day is wide open for other things. My favorite part is that I am more present with my family after work. But I’m also more productive after the kids go to bed (household chores, meal planning, remaining work to-dos, etc.), and more likely to have 1:1 time with my husband (to watch a show, talk, sit outside, etc.).