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Note from Lisa: Looking for some simple self-care habits as a work-from-home mom? This guest post from Peyton is for you! She shares some fabulous ideas!
Take it away Peyton…
My husband is a commercial pilot who travels for half of the month. I work from home as a website editor while caring for our baby son. Needless to say, I’ve discovered so much about balance, priorities, and accepting imperfection… often through intense moments of trial and error.
For a while, I believed that each decision I made that wasn’t a complete sacrifice of self for the sake of my child was selfish. This idea seemed bold yet benevolent. But when played out, its deception wreaks havoc on the body, mind, and soul.
During this period, “taking care of my son” often looked like:
- Surviving on a granola bar until nearly supper time.
- Not brushing my teeth for 24-hour stretches
- Not getting out of the house, whether to sit in the sunshine or run errands, for days and days.
It took months of exhaustion (and therapy) for me to not only understand but accept that I couldn’t show up well for my son if I was depleted.
Now, I’m not here to argue whether or not mamas can “pour from an empty cup.” I’ve heard both sides of that argument and understand the differing perspectives.
Rather, I will share that while so many work-from-home (WFH) mamas suffer from burnout and a loss of identity, there are unselfish ways we can care for ourselves.
WFH mamas have a unique opportunity to counteract the notion that all forms of self-care are selfish, financially unsound, and excuses to splurge.
How?
By applying five simple, affordable ways to recharge the body, mind, and soul, equipping ourselves to honor our careers and kiddos.
Simple Self-Care Habits
Here are five self-care habits that make a big difference for me.
1. Making a specialty drink
I start my day by changing my son’s diaper, getting him settled in his high chair with breakfast, and making myself a strawberry refresher. (I’ve learned how to create these “pink drinks” to save money… though a store-bought one is necessary on days when I need to get out of the house.)
It’s no secret that a special treat is kind to the mind and provides the body with endorphins. And what better treat for a busy mama than a specialty drink that can be carried from the desk to the playground, to anywhere the little ones take you?
Whether you’re drinking an iced coffee with caramel drizzle or a steaming peppermint tea with honey, this thoughtful gesture towards yourself boosts your energy and provides joy.
This addresses the basic human need to eat and drink and the innate desire to find beauty in life’s simple things. The emotional stability this simple act creates allows you to engage your children and email inbox with intentional love and gratitude.
2. Establishing a healthy skincare routine
Healthy skincare isn’t just a spa treatment but an active desire to care for the body you are blessed with. For me, this looks like including daily SPF, pore cleansers, and moisturizers as part of my morning routine.
Truthfully, I often spend my days rubbing three-day-old mascara out from under my baggy eyes. However, taking an extra fifteen seconds to apply an SPF moisturizer reestablishes the reality that I must take care of my body so my son understands the importance of taking care of his.
Most of us admit that we are a product of our environment: who our parents were, which schools we attended, the places we lived and traveled, etc. This means we should be mindful not to neglect our responsibility to teach our children to care for their skin by taking care of ours.
3. Making a creative update to the house
My husband and I are flipping an 1890s farmhouse in the foothills of Tennessee. Though it’s a taxing (and expensive) endeavor, I truly enjoy taking rooms from bare, white walls to spaces that sport beautiful wallpaper, handcrafted shelving, and all the delicate, personalized touches.
There’s something warm and inviting about walking into a room and knowing you brought it to life. That makes a house home — family photos hanging everywhere, kids’ artwork acting as garland on the mantle, antique finds whispering of rich history that connects with your present.
This doesn’t have to be an expense or overwhelming chore, nor should it be. But consider adding new pictures to frames, updating your dining room centerpiece, or burning a fun candle.
Make tiny “renovations” to the space where you and your little ones spend so much time. This will offer peace of mind and reenergize your creativity as a WFH mama.
4. Getting outside
Ladies, there’s just something incredible about Vitamin D. I struggled with post-partum depression for the first four(ish) months after my son was born, but simply taking him outside to swing on our front porch and look at the mountains made a world of difference for my head and heart.
Here’s the thing about Vitamin D: most of us have too little, but we all need a lot of it. After all, this big, beautiful world was created for us to tend to and indulge.
So on those pretty, warm days when the birds are singing, and the bugs aren’t swarming, take a walk, visit the local park, ride your bike, go kayaking, get your hands dirty in the garden, etc.
These moments declutter the mind but are also great ways to spend time with the kiddos without feeling confined to the four walls of your home. Meanwhile, this could be an interactive lunch break when you need time away from all the blue light devices.
5. Investing in a personal hobby
Each of us mamas was made with a uniquely creative body and soul. We find meaning and value in different hobbies: reading, writing, painting, gardening, etc.
This is a sense of our identity, a creative way to maintain who we are and reaffirm why we believe in life’s simple pleasures.
Taking care of the little ones while working from home doesn’t leave much free time… trust me, most of my writing these days is simply garbled letters and symbols my son has created by stealing my laptop and deleting my work. (Good thing he’s cute, right?)
Nonetheless, when you get those 10-30 minutes of “you” time, treat yourself to those hobbies. If you’re trapped in a contact nap, read your book. If you have a few minutes while your little one colors, sit beside them and work on your drawing.
Let yourself be you because one day, sooner than you might expect, your child will understand what it means to imitate you. If they see you investing in beautiful, good things that bring you life and can be shared with others, that’s quite a legacy their creative hearts will carry on.
What Are Your Favorite Self-Care Habits?
I pray these simple, self-care habits resonate with your WFH life as you find hope and light in life’s little things, from fresh coffee percolating to tiny feet dancing across your floor.
Do you think you’ll add any of these into your daily routines? Or do you have another favorite self-care habit? Please share in the comments below!
Peyton Garland
