Did you know that 30% of us are dedicating more time to self-care since the pandemic, with massage, facials and wellness treatments topping the list of favoured self-care treatments?
That’s according to new research into post-lockdown beauty trends, which got me thinking about what being a mum has taught me about self-care.
Before becoming a mum I’d never really paid much attention to the term ‘self-care’. It was the sort of thing I’d seen bandied about on social media or when flipping through a magazine, but I didn’t really stop and think about what it meant.
Now I’m a mum of four though I completely get it, and self-care is something I’ve learnt to put as highly as possible on my agenda.
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Whether you’re reading this because you’re a knackered mum like me, or you’re after some self-care tips for a friend or loved one, in this collaborative post here are 5 things motherhood has taught me about self-care.
5 things motherhood has taught me about self-care
1. Self-care isn’t selfish
The idea of self-care can seem self-indulgent. Especially if you feel like you’re already doing too many things and none of them well and there’s already so much going on in your life. But that’s precisely why self-care is really important. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s that self-care isn’t selfish. Afterall, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
2. Putting your family first doesn’t make you a better mum
Apart from the fact you can’t pour from an empty cup, how can you look after everyone else if no-one is looking after you? You can carry on and carry on but without some form of self-care routine eventually you’ll crash and burn. I know because I’ve been there, done it and learnt how to pick myself up again.
3. Motherhood is the perfect time to start looking after yourself
For the reasons listed above there’s never a better time to start looking after yourself than when you become a mum. Especially if you welcomed a baby in lockdown like me. That’s why it doesn’t surprise me that massage, facials and wellness treatments are enjoying a surge in popularity post-pandemic. While motherhood is the perfect time to start looking after yourself, now is also the perfect time to treat yourself. I’ve been making a conscious effort to shop local since the pandemic and there are various salons and clinics like Infusion Wellbeing Clinic offering wellbeing treatments in specific areas.
4. Self-care is actually really simple
You might think you can’t spare the time to make time for yourself, but self-care can actually be as simple as pausing amid the chaos to sip a cold glass of water or opening the window and taking some deep breaths. It doesn’t have to involve time you don’t have away from your family or the need for childcare: it can be incorporated into your day without anyone else even noticing.
5. There will always be something that gets in the way of self-care
It’s easy to make excuses like you don’t have time, the baby missed their nap or the school holidays are on the horizon so you’ll start a new routine afterwards, but the fact is there will always be something that gets in the way of self-care. The key thing is to make sure it doesn’t! Plan ahead, book that beauty treatment, and remember: putting your family first doesn’t make you a better mum!
What has motherhood taught you about self-care? I’d love to hear about your experience!
This is a collaborative post.
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