As a mom, one of the hardest things to do can be prioritizing yourself first.
Serving others first and putting other people ahead of ourselves is easy to do. With our many duties and responsibilities, the thought of actually stopping to take time for ourselves is almost unfathomable.
But despite how difficult it may seem to do, it’s necessary.
Here’s why…
Why you need to prioritize yourself as a mom
Let me start by saying that prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. In fact, pri8oritizing your wellbeing before others may be the most selfless thing you can do.
If you’ve ever flown, you’ve heard the phrase, “Put on your oxygen mask before assisting someone else.”
That statement is as much applicable to flight safety as it is to life in general. You can’t be the best mom or wife if you haven’t taken care of yourself first. Another way to put it is that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
So taking care of yourself first benefits everyone around you.
Signs that you need to prioritize yourself
As a mom, it’s crucial to begin prioritizing self-care, prioritizing happiness, and to prioritize your health. When you neglect these things, it begins to show in other areas of your life.
Here are a few signs that you need to start prioritizing yourself.
You feel like you’re losing yourself as a mom
It can be easy to lose yourself as a mom when you’re constantly giving yourself to others. You’re making sure your kids are cared for and, if you have a spouse, you’re giving to them as well. Before you know it, you don’t feel like yourself anymore. You aren’t doing the things that you once enjoyed–you’ve lost your spark.
You experience burnout & stress
An easy way to experience burnout and stress is by saying yes to everything and doing everything for everyone. At some point, you need to rest and restore yourself. The stress caused by not taking care of yourself can manifest itself in many ways– including physical sickness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and more.
You’ve become less social
The reality is that you’ll lose some of your social life once you become a parent. However, if all of your time is consumed by your duties as a mom and you haven’t talked to friends in a long time, it’s time to prioritize yourself.
What does it mean to prioritize yourself?
Prioritizing yourself simply means that you take care of yourself and your own needs. This doesn’t mean that you neglect everything and everyone else. It simply means that you make your well-being of utmost importance in your life.
Here are 12 ways that you can start putting yourself first as a mom.
10 Ways to prioritize yourself as a mom
1. Schedule time for yourself every day
In order to prioritize yourself, you have to be intentional about it. This means putting time on your daily schedule for yourself.
The best time to do this is when everyone else in your home is asleep. My “me time” is at 5:30 AM. It’s when the house is completely quiet and I can spend time to myself uninterrupted.
Waking up early may not be your thing; however, it may be your best option if you want to prioritize yourself.
So whether it’s 5:30 AM or during your lunch break at work, make sure there’s an intentional time for you.
Bonus: Start the day with these affirmations for moms!
2. Exercise & eat healthily
The one thing that you can’t afford to neglect is your health. Many times we get so busy with other responsibilities that exercising gets put on the back burner.
I’d encourage you to make exercising and moving for at least 30 mins a part of your daily routine. This really takes intentional planning, but it’s worth it. Exercising can instantly make you feel better and more energized to take on the day.
In addition to exercising, you’ll also want to make sure you’re fueling your body with healthy food. Remember that we eat to live, so eat well! Show your body that you love and appreciate it.
3. Buy things for yourself
As a mom, you’re always buying something for the kids. Whether is more clothes, the latest gadget, or simply something “cute” you saw while perusing. But when is the last time you bought something for yourself?
You deserve to spend your hard-earned money on yourself. This means making it a line item in your budget and actually spending it on yourself.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you can check out these budget-friendly self-care ideas for moms.
So the next time you go shopping, pick up something that you’ll enjoy.
4. Ask for & accept help
There’s no such thing as superwoman and there’s also no prize for doing everything alone. It’s important to be ok with asking for and accepting help.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed, so try to just push through it. Ask for help and let others help you.
If you need a break from your kids, ask your spouse or a trusted adult to watch them while you decompress. You’ll be a better and healthier mom for not trying to carry the world on your shoulders.
5. Learn to say no
Setting boundaries can be tough. So tough, there’s even a popular book about it.
A part of setting boundaries is learning to say no. And to be clear, “No,” is a complete sentence with no further explanation needed.
It’s ok to not volunteer for everything or go to every playdate or party. If it’s going to stress you out or cause anxiety, just say no.
6. Invest in yourself
Investing in yourself is another way to prioritize yourself. What you spend your money on is an indication of what you find important. So be sure to spend money on things that will help you grow and develop.
Some ways that you can invest in yourself include:
- Buy a course to learn a new skill
- Enroll in a coaching program for accountability and personal growth
- Invest in your mental health by hiring a therapist
These are just some of the ways that you can invest in yourself and prioritize your own growth.
7. Take a solo staycation
Every mom deserves some time off. One way to do that is by going on a staycation.
A staycation is just an overnight or weekend stay at a local hotel. So although you’re still in town, you get to rent your own room and do whatever you want for the day.
Be sure to budget for this so that you can stay somewhere nice and get pampered. Put your phone on do not disturb and take some time for yourself.
8. Pick up a hobby
Your life needs to be more than work and caring for your family. Having a hobby is an outlet that you can enjoy.
The key here is making sure your hobby remains something fun that you can do. This means that you don’t have to turn it into a business.
Some hobbies to consider include crafting, roller skating, painting, or picking up a sport.
9. Dress up for yourself
Sweat pants and sneakers can become the norm as a mom. However, it’s crucial to prioritize looking nice for yourself. When you look better, you feel better.
Dressing up doesn’t have to be for a special occasion. You are the occasion! Take some time to put yourself together so that you can boost your confidence.
The great news is that you don’t have to spend a ton of money on clothes. There are tons of hacks for looking fashionable on a budget.
10. Go on a fast
Sometimes silencing your surroundings can be one of the best things that you do for yourself. One way to do that is by going on a fast.
You can fast from social media so that you aren’t distracted from everyone else’s life. You can also fast from eating to strengthen your self-discipline and learn to control your body.
When you fast, you should abstain from whatever is distracting you so that you can focus on yourself. When it gets tough, remember that it’s mind over matter!
Bottom Line: Learn to prioritize yourself
The bottom line is that you have to learn to prioritize yourself and your wellbeing. If you don’t care for yourself, who will? Love yourself enough to put yourself first. Prioritize yourself before taking on life’s many challenges as a mom.
As Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), she has been teaching personal finances to women & youth for over a decade.
Fo is an established writer and expert contributor on the topics of personal finance, budgeting, debt payoff, money mindset, saving, entrepreneurship, investing, motherhood, personal development, and more.