We take care of a lot of things as mothers and usually taking care of ourselves is not something close to the top of the list. When we are happier, we are better mothers! We all know that children are capable of picking up on our habits, so we might as well show them good ones. Here are some simple and quick things that you can do to work on your happiness that doesn’t take much effort.
Be Yourself
Nothing seems more exhausting than not being yourself. Then you don’t have anything to worry about. If you are constantly having to retake pictures because the baby’s pacifier was in it and you don’t want anyone thinking you’re a “bad” mom for giving your child a pacifier, that is going to get exhausting after a while. Add on all those crazy noises you have to make to try to get the baby to look at you and after time it becomes even more tiring. Especially if you are one of those people who has to get the perfect picture and will take 472 of them in the process. When we are exhausted, we get grumpy, and no one wants that.
Take a Break
Go get some me time. I’m not just talking about getting to do the grocery shopping alone; although that is nice too. Take a weekend, get a hotel room and watch trashy reality shows if that’s what will make you happy. Go to the spa. Catch a movie with your friends. Do what you need to do to recharge your batteries.
Enjoy the Moments
Put the phone down and enjoy the moments. Set aside certain times of the day where you don’t have your phone and just focus on playing with your children. There are apps out there that can help you with this, too! I downloaded one and couldn’t believe the time I had spent on my phone by the end of the day. Everything will be okay if we wait a few hours to find out who the next Bachelorette is going to be.
Don’t Compare
We’ve all heard “comparison is the thief of joy”. Whether it’s comparing yourself to the mom who gets their child all the new must-have toys or comparing yourself to your childless friend who travels the world. Just stop. I know it can be hard, but you already have everything you need to be happy. Chances are, these things don’t even matter to your child and six months down the road they aren’t going to matter to you, either.
Plan Ahead
I know this isn’t completely realistic because kids like to throw things off track occasionally, but even just a little planning can go a long way. A simple meal plan will lead you to have something ready for dinner and not resort to cereal for another night again. f you spend ten minutes one day planning out meals and ingredients for the week ahead, you won’t have to spend time looking for a recipe or going to the store for last-minute ingredients.
Reflect
At the end of each day, take some time to think of three things that made you feel good, thankful, or happy today. These can be crazy things your child said, a surprise your spouse brought home, some good news you received… anything that made you smile. If you are willing to take this a step further, write these down in a journal and review them at the end of the year. Focus on the positive!
I know it takes time to learn that you create your own happiness and to find out what makes you happy. I know happiness is different for everyone and it is up to us to find what makes us happy. What are your happy mom habits?
