7 Reasons “Me” Time for Mom is SO Important

Guest Post by Scott Reddler

As a mother, there always seems to be a running “to-do list” of demands. When we signed up for this gig, we knew there would be late nights, hectic mornings, and carpool duty. However, many of us didn’t realize that we would be signing over almost every precious minute of our days to our children and partners. On any given day, we are faced with juggling the demands of children, spouses, and work, all the while continuously cleaning the house and preparing healthy meals, or at least ones that include more than reheating frozen pizza.

As we muddle through our chores that appear to never end, we also continuously hear reports about how important “me” time is for mothers. It might appear impossible to squeeze one more demand into our days, but we need to seriously step back and consider all the benefits taking a few minutes for ourselves can have. Scroll through the following 7 reasons why “me” time is important, to get a good glimpse of why we should focus on ourselves from time to time:

“Me” time allows us to be our best selves. Dr. Jeffrey Arnold said, “Taking good care of ourselves puts us in a better position to help and be of service to others. If we are exhausted, unwell, and unhappy we are generally not in the best position to support and care for others. If we feel healthy, happy, and energized – we are generally in a much better position to love, support, and nurture others.”

Taking time for self-care shows that you respect and value yourself. This sends out the message to those around you, which encourages them to value and respect you likewise.

By valuing your “me” time and practicing self-care, you are modeling healthy values and habits. After all, we want our sons and daughters to care for themselves and be happy. We can help our kids learn these values by setting a good example.

Some alone time, and we mean not hiding in the bathroom, gives us the opportunity to “just be”. It allows us to enjoy solitude and our own company. These times can help us become more in tune to our own needs, wants, desires, and help us be more self-aware.

Prioritizing some valuable “me” time can actually help you feel more energized, healthy, caring, creative, and patient. It boosts our immune systems and provides mental clarity. What’s not to lose?

Stealing away some alone time can relieve stress. It’s no secret that life can be stressful at times. Stress can wreak havoc on our health, minds, and relationships. “Me time” helps us find balance and relieve that vicious cycle of stress.

It reduces blood pressure, levels of cortisol, and tension. According to WebMD, our bodies react in a fight or flight response to ongoing chronic stress. This can lead to anxiety, headaches, muscle pains, and insomnia, and a whole host of other undesirable elements. We owe it to our families to be at our best.

Looking Forward …

Knowing why we need “me” time is important. Unfortunately, figuring out a way to squeeze one more thing in our day is easier said than done. Listed below are 6 suggestions to make “me” time a reality, instead of a fantasy:

Sneak away for a massage or pedicure once a week or month. For added fun, invite a girlfriend along for the day.

Find time to meditate every day or night. Providing yourself some quiet time to let your mind rest is a great way to take advantage of some “me” time and reap all the mental benefits.

Unwind in a hot bath with a homemade spa. If you don’t have the time or resources to enjoy a day at the spa, bring the spa to you. Buy some epsom salts, use essential oils, add some flowers, and turn on your favorite music. Let the bath do its work and soak away all your stress.

Channel the power of flowers. Order yourself a bouquet or splurge on something truly unique, like gold dipped roses. This will bring some color and fragrance into your home and brighten up your days.

Wake up a few minutes early during the week. Use this time to spend reading your favorite book, studying a devotional, or exercising. If none of that floats your boat, watch your favorite guilty pleasure TV show or listen to some music while you make breakfast. Just do something for yourself.

Take a drive alone. Turn on the radio, roll down the windows, and let your hair fly. As a mother, time and money can be short, but taking the long way home can be a great way to add “me” time to our schedules.

How do you sneak “me” time into your busy day?

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*Photos courtesy of Scott Reddler