mommy maverick

Contrary to popular belief, ‘self-care’ and ‘selfish’ are NOT synonymous terms when it comes to motherhood. Yes, you read that right – moms can take care of their children, kick ass at work and also practice self-care. Let’s dive in…

Mothers are put in a position to have to overcome the stigma that self-care is selfish. We are made to believe that to be a good mom we have to kick our needs to the curb and throw all of our energy at our kids. How could a mom that takes time for herself possibly be devoted to her family? Then there’s work – how could a woman so devoted to her family possibly be committed to her career? I asked myself these questions a lot after having my first child.  I also believed that there was no way I could fit time in for myself when all my time had to go to my family and my career. My mindset was fueled by mom-guilt and excuses, causing me to put all of my energy in the mommy and maverick parts of my life, at the expense of – me.  

Let’s start by defining what self-care is not – self-care is not the weekend getaway you do once per year, being able to go food shopping alone, driving to work and getting to listen to your own music (instead of Baby Shark), or having the opportunity to shower on a busy day (we’ve all been there). It’s not those moments where you happen to be alone while taking care of routine obligations. So, what is self-care?

Self-care is both an act and a mindset. It is the act of intentionally and habitually engaging in activities that energize you, combined with the mindset that you are deserving of the act. Self-care is something that should be (intentionally) built into your daily routine, just as you would any other task on your to-do list. For those of you that don’t yet have a self-care routine, it’s important to start small.  Small, achievable, and realistic self-care activities will lay the foundation for self-care habits.  

I challenge you to start with just five minutes per day – meditation, light stretching, an ab workout, or reading a book, for example. Make sure to identify activities that energize you and make you feel like yourself. Once you’re comfortable, tack on more time, and/or incorporate more activities with the goal of finding 30 – 60 minutes of time per day where you focus on YOU and ONLY YOU. And while you may be thinking that 30 – 60 minutes is impossible, I’m here to tell you that 1) there are many creative approaches to self-care, 2) it all doesn’t have to be done in a single block of time, and 3) a little bit of self-care goes a long way.

Let’s end on a metaphor. You know that flight safety protocol about oxygen masks? The one where parents are instructed to put their oxygen mask on before tending to their children? Self-care is a lot like that. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t be the best version of yourself. And this directly affects your potential when it comes to being a great mother and having a successful career. It’s time to stop leaving untapped potential on the table – start taking care of yourself today. You deserve it.

Your Coach,

Kristyn