SELF-CARE FOR MOMS: WHY IT'S OK TO PUT YOURSELF FIRST

WE ALL KNOW THAT SELF-CARE IS ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING OUR WELL-BEING. WHEN WE BECOME MOTHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE OFTEN OVERLOOK OUR NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR NEW CHILD.

THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT LET US NOT FORGET THAT OUR CHILDREN RELY ON US. IT IS JUST AS NECESSARY THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES SO WE CAN BETTER CARE FOR THEM.

HERE ARE TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF

1. TAKE A BUBBLE BATH WITH A SOFT-LIT CANDLE

CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE ONE. I LOVE BEESWAX CANDLES—THEY EMIT A GORGEOUS, NATURAL HONEY SCENT. I ALSO LOVE THE BRAND LUSH. THEY SELL INCREDIBLE HANDMADE BATH BOMBS THAT YOU CAN PLACE IN THE WATER, MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A SPA DAY. THESE BATH BOMBS TURN COLORS AND CONTAIN BEAUTIFUL, INDULGENT INGREDIENTS THAT NOURISH YOUR SKIN.

2. LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST

I'VE WITNESSED MANY NEW MOTHERS LISTENING TO PODCASTS THEY ENJOY WHEN THEY HAVE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR LITTLE ONES.

3. READ A GOOD BOOK

A GOOD BOOK IS ALWAYS A RECOMMENDATION. I'M CURRENTLY READING CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN BY COCO MELLORS. IT'S EXCELLENT, AND I STRONGLY RECOMMEND READING IT.

4. TRY CRAFTING

CRAFTING IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF CHALLENGES AND RECONNECT WITH CREATIVITY. I'VE BEEN DOING IT, AND I BELIEVE CRAFTING TREASURES FOR YOUR BABY OR CHILDREN IS A WONDERFUL GESTURE.

5. BINGE A TV SHOW

SOMETIMES, JUST SITTING AND BINGING ON A TV SHOW IS OK TO DO, TOO. I STARTED TO WATCH THE SOPRANOS WITH MY HUSBAND RIGHT AFTER I PUT MY DAUGHTER TO SLEEP. IT'S SUCH A GREAT SHOW! I WOULD ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS AS WELL.

6. HAVE YOUR NAILS DONE

HAVING YOUR NAILS DONE IS ALSO LOVELY.

7. BOOK A HAIR APPOINTMENT

BOOKING THAT HAIR APPOINTMENT IS ALSO NOT A BAD IDEA.

8. PLAN A GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

HAVE A GIRLS' NIGHT OUT AND ORDER SOMETHING DELICIOUS AND MAYBE A DIRTY MARTINI.

9. GO SHOPPING (FOR YOURSELF!)

SHOPPING MAY BE THERAPEUTIC. I KNOW THAT AFTER HAVING MY BABY, I HAVEN'T EVEN CONSIDERED BUYING MYSELF ANYTHING. I DESPERATELY NEEDED NEW JEANS, AND I FINALLY BOUGHT THEM. MAYBE YOU NEED SOME NEW JEANS TOO.

10. BOOK A TRIP OR STAYCATION

BOOK THAT TRIP OR STAYCATION IN YOUR TOWN. IT'S FUN TO EXPLORE.

JAMIE