(A guest post by Little Mountain Mommy)
I’m SO excited to share this post with you! Not only is it the first time I’m publishing a guest post on the blog, but it’s about one of my most favourite topics – the importance of self-care. I’m a firm believer that self-care isn’t selfish and that we shouldn’t feel guilty about making our own wellbeing a priority. But as busy mums, incorporating self-care into our daily routine can be hard – especially in those early days when our babies are brand new. And so in this post, the lovely Athena from Little Mountain Mommy is sharing her take on the importance of self-care for new mums. She gives four very good reasons why, as a new mum, we shouldn’t let self-care drop from our list of priorities.
Whether you’re a new mum or your babies are a little older, this is a great reminder of why we should never feel guilty about putting ourselves first!
The importance of self-care for new mums…
New motherhood is an eye-opening, beautiful rollercoaster. Some days you feel like you have everything under control. Other days you’re constantly running around trying to keep your little one happy and content. No day is ever the same and that’s the beauty of it. However, in those first few months and years of your baby’s life, it’s so easy to forget that sometimes you need to do a little something for yourself. Often you are so busy learning and tending to your baby that the thought of you taking a second for yourself seems unnecessary.
Whether that’s going for a nice walk along the river or grabbing a bite to eat with one of your girlfriends, it’s very healthy to take time for yourself. Motherhood in general is difficult, you shouldn’t feel like you have to do it all on your own – or without taking some time for yourself.
Why self-care for new mums so important
1 | A healthier you
New mums always try to sacrifice themselves and their health to tend to the needs of their little ones. You feel like you don’t want to let your family down. However, it does more harm than good to not focus on your health. Especially in those first few months of recovering from childbirth. I’ll be the first to admit I often forgo that exercise routine just because my baby needs my attention at that moment. Then by the end of the day, I realize I completely skipped what I had meant to do. Don’t make this a habit! I’ve learned it is much better to keep a little plan in place, to eat right and exercise to ensure my health remains just as good as before I became a mum.
Taking care of yourself physically is so vital to the baby for a multitude of reasons. By just taking a quick walk during the day or practicing yoga for twenty minutes, your health will remain in good standing. And the healthier you are, the better you are to take care of your little one.
2 | A stronger you
By a stronger you I’m not talking about how much you as a new mum can lift. I’m talking about something deeper. I mean a stronger EMOTIONAL you. I have found that on days where I can unwind in the evening for half an hour by writing or reading a book, my mindset is recharged and my emotions are in a much better place. Spending a little time for yourself can provide you with that reassurance and realisation that you’re doing great. I’ve been a new mum for almost six months now and I am constantly learning about how to balance mum life with everyday life. And one thing I have noticed, if I am consistently working on my emotional well-being, my family as a whole is much stronger of a unit as well.
3 | A happier you
Making sure everyone in your family is good to go is something that a new mum deals with constantly and that feeling is so new and fresh. Self-care will give you a little boost to feeling like you are not such a completely different person since having a child. As a new mum struggling to find a new normal, often just taking a moment to breathe and accomplish a normal task of yours provides that much-needed comfort and leaves you feeling happier.
4 | A better you
Self-care provides an additional sense of identity for a new mother and in turn, helps a new mum be the best version of themselves. Trust me, if you take some time to focus on yourself while juggling new motherhood, you will be a better version more equipped to handle all the tasks you have set for yourself.
Self-care for new mothers is vital to remaining healthy and keeps you able to be the best version of yourself for your baby. The importance of taking care of yourself physically and emotionally will ultimately benefit you and your family in the long run.
Self-care for new mums…
There you have it, four great reasons why we should be making our self-care a priority. Whatever stage of motherhood you’re at, these reasons apply…but especially as a new mum! My favourite was reason number 2. I really do believe that not only does focusing on our self-care make us emotionally stronger, it makes our family unit stronger too. What was your favourite?
Thank you SO much Athena, for sharing such valuable advice – and for being my first guest poster too!
About the Author…
Hi, I’m Athena. I’m a mom to a sweet baby boy, happy wife, and lover of the outdoors. I blog about all things motherhood, lifestyle, and travel at Little Mountain Mommy. I truly enjoy sharing my stories and encouraging you to live your best life! When I’m not blogging with a warm cup of coffee in hand, you can usually find me on my next mommy and me adventure with my husband and little one in the beautiful mountains of Idaho.
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