The first time I flew with Baby T, the flight attendant personally reminded me that in the event of an emergency, I needed to put my own oxygen mask on before putting one on Baby T.  Sure, I had heard this very same announcement dozens of times before.  But now I was a mama.  My stomach clenched in a tight knot.  Even as I nodded yes, I had serious doubts about whether in a real emergency I could put my oxygen mask on first.

If presented with the choice, almost every mama I know wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice her own life if it meant saving her baby’s life.  It almost seems selfish not to, right?  Not so fast.  Perhaps moms need to be self-interested, perhaps all people do.  Because as much as we might want to, we can’t save someone else if we’re not breathing.  While the life and death scenario might be a bit drastic, we as mamas are also better able to take care of our families on a daily basis if we make a point of also taking care of our own needs.

Let’s be clear here, I’m not talking about being self-absorbed or living a selfish life.  Self care is about carving out a little time in our day to maintain a relationship with ourselves and taking care of the needs only we can take care of, like taking care of our bodies, taking care of our minds, and taking care of our spirits.  If the thought of taking time for yourself makes you feel panicky, wondering where exactly this time will come from,  relax.   Self care doesn’t require a lot of time.  Self care only requires that some of our day-to-day attention is on our own needs, and if necessary, asking others to revolve around our needs, if only for a moment.

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In terms of taking care of our bodies, this basically comes down to eating and exercising.  We all have to eat.  It takes me the same amount of time to put an apple in my mouth as it does a cookie.  It all comes down to thinking about  food and nourishment before it becomes a crisis situation when we’re forced to grab the fastest and easiest thing.  As for exercise, this doesn’t even have to be about spending time away from our babies.  There are so many options for taking babies along for the ride, from mommy and me yoga classes to hikes in the woods to runs in the park.  What it does mean is setting aside part of the day when baby conforms to mama’s needs – which, incidentally, is a great way to set a good example for babies that all relationships require some give and take.  Taking care of our bodies also means indulging in the occasional massage or long soak in a tub filled with bath salts.

As for our minds, it’s important to learn something new every day.  That helps to keep us interested and engaged in the world around us, and, just as importantly, makes life more interesting.  Learning can include information about DIY craft projects, a new word, keeping up on the news, or simply listening while we converse with others and absorbing an interesting fact they tell us.  The important part is that we make time to take an interest in something separate from our everyday responsibilities.  And as life becomes more interesting, so will we, as mamas and as individuals.

As for taking care of our spirits, this one is really personal and only you knows what most nurtures you.  We all need that feeling of finding peace, being refreshed, and embracing the sense of possibility.  For some this might be going to a place of worship.  Others meet their spiritual needs by meditating or in yoga class.  For me, nothing leaves me feeling quite as good as a run in the woods or paddling on the river.  Mother nature leaves me with a sense of awe for the world around me every time I open up myself to her.  The end result is the same — it’s up to the individual to cultivate the quiet place that allows one to take care of her spirit.

As mamas, we all too often are so busy taking care of others that we leave little time for taking care of ourselves.  Having been a mama now for just 10 months, I have a sense of how easy it is to prioritize everything and everyone else above myself.  But I also know that in order to be a happy mama, I need to lead a life that my baby will one day have a reason to emulate.  I also know that happiness is not about pleasing others at the expense of pleasing myself.  As difficult as squeezing self care into my busy routines is, I have come to realize that it’s my first priority in order to be the mama I desire to be.

How do you fit self care into your busy daily routine?  What aspects of self care are most important to you – body, mind or spirit?