The other day, I left my husband in our bedroom with our screaming newborn and got in the tub with some earbuds for a nice, relaxing bath while he fed and changed her and got her ready to go down. By the time I had finished my bath, done my skincare, braided my hair back, and put on some comfy loungewear, he had put our daughter down in her crib for a nap and I was able to go straight to relaxing on the couch with him.
I felt so guilty.
But, here’s the thing: At 2am on the day that I did this, my husband and I were sitting on the couch while I sobbed because I couldn’t get anything done and I hadn’t showered in three days and felt disgusting. I felt like I was failing as a mom, I felt like I was failing at my job, I felt like I was failing in general.
The next day, my husband had to go to work at 10am, so we couldn’t do anything immediately. But, when he got home, he took over immediately and let me unplug and recharge. The next day, I checked three big things that I had been trying to do for the past month off of my to-do list before dinnertime. Just two hours of being “selfish” has made me so much more useful to my family in the past week. So was it really selfish?
Why is self-care important?
Self-care is important for a number of reasons. It can help to:
- relieve stress and tension
- improve your mood
- increase your energy levels
- promote better sleep
- boost your immune system
- reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
- improve your overall well-being
Furthermore, self-care can help you be a better parent, partner, employee, friend, and human being. When you take care of yourself, you’re able to show up as your best self in all areas of your life.
How can I incorporate self-care into my life?
There are endless ways to incorporate self-care into your life. It looks different for everyone because we all have different needs. However, some self-care ideas include:
- taking a bath
- getting a massage
- going for a walk or run
- reading a book
- writing in a journal
- practicing yoga or meditation
- eating healthy foods
- spending time with friends and family
- doing something you enjoy just for fun
What’s important is that you find what works for you and that you make self-care a priority. It’s easy to let self-care fall by the wayside when life gets busy, but it’s so important to make time for it. Your mental and physical health will thank you!
Investing in Self-Care Products
Self-care can be anything that makes you feel relaxed and pampered. For some people, this means taking a long bath with soothing aromatherapy products. For others, it’s all about getting a massage or spending time outside in nature.
But one self-care activity that is often overlooked is taking care of your skin. Your skin is your largest organ, and it deserves some TLC! Investing in high-quality skin-care products is a great way to show yourself some love.
There are so many different skin-care products on the market, and it can be overwhelming to try to figure out which ones are right for you. However, there are a few basics that everyone should have in their self-care arsenal. These include:
- A good cleanser: Choose a gentle cleanser that will remove dirt and makeup without stripping your skin of its natural oils.
- A moisturizer: Moisturize morning and night to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. If you have oily skin, look for a light, oil-free moisturizer. If you have dry skin, opt for a thicker cream or lotion.
- Sunscreen: It’s important to wear sunscreen every day, even if you’re not spending time outside. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
In addition to these basics, you may also want to consider adding some other self-care products to your routine, such as a face mask, serum, toner, or exfoliator. Experiment to see what works best