As a mom it’s important to remember that taking time for yourself is important, so check out these tips on how to improve emotional health and take a breather!
You don’t know what tired is until you become a mom. Between getting up throughout the night to feed and check on the baby, entertaining them throughout the day, and protecting your child 24/7, mom’s don’t really get any days off.
You’re constantly being asked to show up for your baby and your whole family. If it’s not the baby who needs something it’s your husband, your dog, or one of your other children.
But, no matter how many things you have on your plate, you have to prioritize your needs, too. It’s important to learn how to improve emotional health as a mom early on. This helps you handle the ups and downs of motherhood, and also not lose yourself in this one role of your life.
Here are 3 tips to help you create a good mental balance during motherhood.
1. Make “Me Time” a Priority
Being a mom does require you to get a little creative about how you do “me time,” but it’s not something that should eliminate alone time from your life altogether!
You need a chance to sit with your thoughts and take care of your mind and body. This should be a regular part of your days or at least something you do every week – and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time, either.
Taking time for yourself can be as simple as creating a morning and nighttime routine to practice mindful self-care. You only need 5-10 minutes to wash your face and moisturize, to sit down and journal your thoughts, or maybe just drink a cup of tea and take things slow.
You’ll still need bigger windows of time to do things like take a bath, go for a run, or watch an episode of your favorite show. But, the shorter instances of having me time will be what keep you mentally grounded and motivate you to take the longer periods of time when you can!
2. Be Honest About Your Experience
Another mental health issue that many new mothers experience is the pressure to be perfect. New mothers have this perception that they have to have everything under control or be happy all the time because they have a baby.
As beautiful as motherhood is, it’s also extremely challenging. You don’t have to put on a show for anyone; not your husband, your parents, or yourself. You can let go of the need to control everything or be happy all the time and express what you’re really feeling.
This is the healthiest way to deal with all the emotions that come with being a new mom. The worst thing you can do is keep everything pent up. Such actions can lead to more serious mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which this post by Landmark sheds light on.
3. Ask For Help
The more comfortable you get about being honest when sharing your experiences as a mother, the easier it is to ask for help. Remember, your baby has a mother and a father; you can rely on him when you need to!
If you’re a single mom, you still have people you can lean on. Don’t be afraid to call your mom to help you watch the baby for a few hours or to see if one of your close friends is willing to lend a hand.
You’d be surprised how many people will support you and your baby if you just let them. This takes a huge load off you and gives you the strength you need to better take on motherhood.
How to Improve Emotional Health for the Whole Family!
Maybe you feel like focusing on your emotional health is a little selfish right now. Maybe you’re not sure how to do this and still give the baby your all.
Think about it this way: as you figure out how to improve emotional health for yourself, what you’re really doing is benefiting the emotional health of your whole family! You’re setting an example for your partner to take care of his/herself too, and you’re putting good habits in place for your child to mimic as they grow.
If you want to encourage them to catch on sooner rather than later, use these learning tips.