Are you making time for self-care? Once you become a parent, you have less and less “me time,” but it’s so important to carve out time for yourself. Walking is one of the best stress relievers for me. Somedays I like to listen to music or a podcast while going for a daily walk, and other days I just want to hear nature and not have to think through anything. Reading is another go-to outlet of mine. I read a lot of business and self-help books, but I occasionally read fiction. I just finished reading, It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover and finished it in two days! I am currently reading Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer and I am a big fan of Brianna Wiest. I occasionally read a chapter in her book 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think when I need a little pick me up.
Yoga is another great way to turn inward and decompress. I enjoy going to an actual group yoga class for a full hour, but I also have the Yoga-Go app. The app is great because you can sign up for challenges like the Slim Arms Challenge and do 30 days of 10–12-minute quick sessions. It’s great for busy moms, I highly recommend it! Going right along with yoga, meditation can really boost your mood. I use Spotify and search for either yoga & meditation sounds or do a quick guided meditation. Meditation Mountain has a lot of good options like 10 Minute Guided Meditation for Anxiety and Overthinking, Meditation to Boost Creativity, etc.
And finally, massages! After I had Isla, I signed up for the Massage Envy membership program. I try to go get a massage or a facial once a month. I recently tried microdermabrasion and loved it! My skin felt amazing, and it helps with melasma. If you don’t know what melasma is, it’s little brown patches on the face that can be caused from hormonal changes during pregnancy. And of course, the massages help with back pain especially if you are constantly lifting a toddler!