It’s safe to say that motherhood is amazing, but it is also downright exhausting at times. I have only been a mama for a little over a year, and I have already realized how important self care is.

From working full time as a teacher, trying to mainitain a healthy and fulfilled marriage, working in ministry, making my house not look like a tornado runs through it on the daily, maintaining my friendships and relationships, I’M BUSY. We all are.

BUT…

“You can’t fill from an empty cup.”

I learned this expression when I was in college studying to become a teacher.  We were taught we must take care of ourselves, before we can pour into our students.  How much more true can that be for motherhood!

I cling on to that phrase whenever I feel the dreaded mom-guilt when I leave my baby to do some self care.

I’ve complied a list of my top 5 self care tips for busy moms, in hopes that it will help you get some much needed TLC.

1. 10 minutes daily of time to yourself.

There are some days where getting in this 10 minutes is nearly impossible. From working full time, to serving in ministry, and being a help-mate for my spouse, sometimes it’s next to impossible. But I can’t tell you enough how needed and beneficial those 10 minutes to me are. Make it a priority for yourself to have this time.  It can be 10 minutes before everyone else wakes up, or 10 minutes when the world is quite and your house is asleep. I like to take this time to read the word of God and reflect on my blessings or how my day went.

2. Practice Yoga

This is a newfound hobby of mine.  And I absolutely love it.  I am the kind of person who has never been able to touch her toes, and after practicing yoga for a few months, I can now do that! That may sound like such a simple thing, but it’s something I have always wanted to be able to do.  But more importantly that than, yoga has given me such a clarity of mind, and its been an amazing stress reliever.  I attend class in the evenings one or two times a week when my daughter is already down for the night.  You will learn breathing techniques and an added bonus is you’ll start to tone muscles!

3. Invest in Relationships

I try to, at least once a month, go out to dinner or a movie with friends or my spouse. Child free.  I know it can be difficult for schedules to match or to pay for a sitter if you are going on a date-night, but it really is so important to invest in relationships and have time to be YOU –without a child attached to your hip. I was so guilty at not ever going out when I first became a mom, and I can’t tell you how much it has helped my mental health when I began to do this.

4. Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy

I have been guilty of not always obeying this commandment.  It wasn’t until recently where I decided to give it a try–as  I was in desperate need of rest.  If you are an OCD, a neat-freak, type A personality like me, you will always find SOMETHING that needs to be done. Floors haven’t been mopped in a month, laundry is piled up, you haven’t bought groceries, etc.  But we are COMMANDED to spend a day and rest. If the creator of the entire universe needed a day to rest, I know I sure as well do, too.

So, one day a week, I don’t do chores, I don’t do stuff for work, I just, rest. It is amazing the difference this has made in my life.  I just get all of the other “stuff done” on different days.

5. Little Luxuries

Bath bombs. A massage. Grocery delivery service.  A cleaning lady. Weekly trip to Starbucks. Essential Oils. Nails painted. Whatever it may be, find one thing that is a luxury for you.  For me, the budget currently doesn’t allow massages and cleaning service, but it does allow for me to buy my new favorite shower gel from Bath and Body Works.  It’s such a simple but small “luxury” that I look forward to everyday.

Take care of yourself, mama. The world needs a happy, healthy, you.

What are some ways you practice self care?

-Leah