Moms: learn to level up and put your needs on the list, too.
As mommas, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the daily grind. Making breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks (SO many snacks – right?), doing laundry, washing dishes, giving baths….the list goes on and on. The easiest thing to do is to completely eliminate ourselves from that list, or at the very least, we tend to put ourselves last. It can be a difficult task (seemingly impossible at times) to work on our own goals and self-development. I have always been a goal-oriented, driven individual, but recently I was determined to take it up a notch. I wanted to LEVEL UP in all areas of life. I wanted to level up as an individual, mom, wife, business owner, in my physical body, in how I show up to the world, and I was ready to step into a better version of myself. I’ve read some self-development books in the past, but I’ve never done a deep dive into personal growth in development like an event or coaching session.
The stars aligned this spring, and I was introduced to one of Tony Robbins’ national speakers. I attended one of her online seminars, and she lit a fire underneath me that I needed to dive into. They were offering an 8-week course designed specifically for women as well as a ticket to one of the Tony Robbins in-person events, and I was IN.
I don’t think I’ve ever invested that much money in myself (MOM GUILT AGAIN), but I knew it was exactly what I needed. I committed Monday nights to my online training and they have been eye-opening, but not in the ways you would think. I went in to the training pretty confident in some areas of my life, but I quickly realized I had so many areas to improve. We are not our patterns, but we do allow patterns to run our lives. The key is to demolish the patterns that don’t serve you and create patterns that allow you to show up as the best version of yourself. Sounds easy, right? Until life happens, and we are presented with the same obstacles— not enough time, too tired, not being present, and we fall into our usual patterns, which is why we get the same results repeatedly. What if we decided to change our patterns? What if rather than put ourselves last, we put ourselves first? What if we took an hour each morning to ourselves to meditate/run/journal/workout/find gratitude….how would that change how you start your day? What if rather than looking in the mirror and criticizing ourselves, we found the things we LOVE about ourselves and we spoke them out loud? CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
I am not suggesting that you need to invest in a personal development course to implement change. Still, you should absolutely place yourself at the top of your list in order to show up in all areas of your life as a happier, more fulfilled momma. Here are some small, simple ways you can focus on yourself.
- Move your body! Find fun ways that you enjoy exercising and do it consistently. You’ll get the endorphins flowing and feel better throughout the day, plus it’s important for your health!
- Get connected. Make plans to meet with friends or your spouse at least once a month to get coffee, grab dinner, or catch up on the phone. Relationships are so important to our mental health, yet it is so easy to not make them a priority. Whether it’s scheduling date night the first Monday of the month or wine night with your gal pals the last Friday of the month, set up a schedule and make it a priority!
- Stay connected to YOURSELF. What do you love to do? What hobbies do you have, or perhaps loved at one time, that you let fall to the wayside? Staying connected to our passions keeps us feeling alive, joyful, and fulfilled.
- Morning routine. This is one that I swear by. Whether it’s waking up an hour early to meditate, journal, go for a walk or get a workout in, take that hour for YOU. I prefer to wake up before everyone else so that there are no distractions. My reward for an early morning workout is a cup of coffee on the back patio in silence watching the sun come up. It’s my time to refocus, relax, and get in the right mindset before starting my day.
- You do you. There are literally hundreds of thousands of books, podcasts, and articles offering tips and advice on self-care. Take note of the ideas that resonate within you and leave the rest of it behind. The last thing we need is another long to-do list for ‘self-care’, but the important thing is to focus on the one or two areas that interest you because then you are more willing to actually put them into practice!
You’ve got this, Mommas!
