I can’t explain how important self care is at least once a week.
By the end of the week, I usually can feel my body and mind aching for a little me time. Just a few moments of not being a mom or any of my roles. Five minutes of just being me.
I was able to write another poem and knew I needed to share it here.
Keep growing…
even when things pull you apart, it’s just the time to show heart.
you can do all hard things, no matter what life brings.
just keep growing.
Throughout life, there’s always times where it feels constant. You might feel like different responsibilities are ripping you apart. Before letting it tear you down, center yourself. Realize how powerful you are. All you have to do is keep growing and going.
After filling out my planner this week, my thoughts were running; which isn’t the goal for that activity. It was nice to be able to take a few minutes and just paint.
I love plants. They remind me we can grow through any conditions, but when we try to give them what they need, they thrive. Humans aren’t too different from plants in that aspect. I see my plants that are slow growing right now, even during spring. They remind me of myself and getting through these last two weeks of school.
Soon, I’ll be thriving. I need to just keep growing.
After another intense week of grief, schoolwork, and parenting, Self Care Sunday is here.
Now I know it’s still hard find a moment to yourself when you’re a mom, but taking a few moments for yourself is crucial. Set your child up with an activity, go outside with them, or give them a few minutes of screen time. Setting time aside for you is needed.
Even though my time is short today, I wanted to share with you three tips I use every Sunday to recoup. It’s not a ton of time, but it makes me feel prepared and refreshed for the next week.
Use a planner.
If I didn’t have a planner or make lists of what needed done every week, I’d be lost.
I try to put important dates in there every month, but like to review each week. Things pop up and I need to know the game plan.
If you’re juggling more than a few things like me, I’d highly suggest using different colored pens. It makes your schedule more appealing to look at and it’s always fun to write with gel pens. I guess you could say I’ll always have the heart of a middle school girl.
Don’t let your planner make you stressed out. Sometimes if I plan too far in advance, I want to get everything done. Your planner should help guide you, not stress you.
Looking for some planners? Check out this one from Alena Michelle. I love how it breaks down habits, weekly schedules, and your role goals. Or if you prefer a classic planner with lots of space to write, try something like this out.
Take ten minutes for you.
Yes. You deserve ten minutes ALL to yourself.
This shouldn’t be the ten minutes with your planner, but ten minutes (or more if you can) of something you actually want to do. Maybe this is just sitting in silence, listening to your favorite songs or podcasts, or reading. Trust me, after you take that small chunk of time for yourself, you’ll feel refreshed.
Here’s a list of toddler activities you can use to occupy them and give yourself ten or more minutes.
Today, I read rupi kaur’s home body. Rupi is a poet that I’ve followed on Instagram for a long time. Her writing is beautiful and I really connect with her words. She’s relevant to what’s going on in the world and I think anyone can find a connection through her writing.
In my ten minutes today, I read, cried, and felt a lot better about the week and where I’m at with life.
Drink water.
This might sound like a silly tip, but drink some water.
I’ve cut out almost everything besides water with mio added to it. Admittedly, I still can’t cut out my Cherry Coke with dinner, but what can you do.
Anyways, there are SO many benefits that come with drinking water. A big glass always makes me feel better. Plus, my body is thanking me for all the water. My skins been clearer and I’m not craving sugar as much.
The drink your water tip is not just for Sundays, but you could do something special today. Find a water bottle that you love to motivate you to keep drinking water. Lately, I’ve bought different cups and water bottles to keep me wanting to drink more. One of my favorites is my S’well bottle because it stays cold all day. Plus, I love the marbled look.
Pun intended, but you deserve self care and to feel your best.
Did you get any self care time in this week? What can you do to get some in this week?
Self love can be a difficult journey, especially during hard months. One way to keep my self care routine in check is by using positive affirmations.
I have a ton of affirmations saved, but this month I needed more than just saved pictures.
Since I’ve been really following the Law of Attraction lately, I figured I needed to physically create March affirmations.
If you don’t know the Law of Attraction it pretty much means you attract whatever you’re focusing on. Affirmations are great for this mindset. I can literally write down what I want to focus on and read it out loud everyday. Those affirmations will find their way back to me.
Or that’s the belief with it.
Anyways, after Mila’s rainbow activity earlier this week, I made prints with the left over paint. All I did was take white sketch paper and pressed it on the bubble wrap.
I knew they would make a cute project for later!
Then, I cut the paper into four rectangles. That way I didn’t have huge pieces of paper for the March affirmations.
Next came the more challenging part: coming up with the affirmations.
I will admit, I did look to Pinterest for some inspiration. Then I searched for some crown chakra affirmations, since mine easily gets blocked.
Eventually I ended up with these.
I love and accept myself.
I am here to make a difference.
I am creating the life of my dreams.
Good things are coming.
The final one I made digitally so I could share with all of you.
All of them are so powerful to remember.
With my anxiety, I have to constantly keep myself in check. My thoughts can race, but these help remind me that anxiety does not run my life.
This next month is going to feel heavy for me; as March usually does. We’re quickly approaching Jensen’s fifth birthday and my grief feels really heavy this year.
I’m hoping with the extra positive energy I’m putting out in the world that it’ll surround me when I need it most.
Last weekend, I went to a new tattoo shop and picked a tattoo from a sheet.
Before I went, I had no idea what I’d leave with or if I’d like even like it. I just knew I was getting one. It might be crazy to get a random tattoo, but it reminds me nothing is really permanent.
I’ve wanted a tattoo for a while now. Since I’ve been trying to do a new self care project each week, this happened to be what I wanted to do last week.
When I went into the tattoo shop, I instantly saw the one I’d be getting: a little flower.
To test me, I had to wait two hours to actually get it done. After some chips and salsa with a margarita, it was time to get my new ink.
It hurt a little more than I remembered my other ones. I’m going to blame the placement.
I think it turned out beautifully.
The healing process has went smoothly too. Honestly, the only bad thing from my spontaneous, surprise tattoo is Mila dislikes it. She loves all my other ones, but not this one.
That’s okay though.
Of my five tattoos, only two of them have not been ‘planned’ or rest thought through. My favorite tattoos will always be my Jensen ones, but these are full of me.
It’s been years since I’ve gotten my last one and I have more in mind now. Actually, I’ve planned for another tattoo here soon and I’m embracing it.
Self care is also about self expression. This is what’s working for me. Tattoos are kind of like glimpses back to our old selves. This tattoo will remind me of this healing time of my life.
I love it.
It’s me in the present moment and I think I really like the path I’m on.
Even though Mila HATES this tattoo, she graciously helped me take these pictures of it. She did a pretty good job.
Have you ever spontaneously gotten a tattoo before? Or would you in the future?
Grey Skies & Rainbow Highs 