You are important. You are why your kids are here. If you need more motivation than just words, stop and look at them, or if they’re sleeping, break out a photo album or look at your camera roll. Sometimes that’s just the nudge you need to get back in the game.
Because let’s face it: you need to take care of yourself.
Whether you’re on a budget or have a swollen piggy bank, it’s an absolute necessity. The worst place to be in the world is tired, rundown, and defeated. So, here are a few of my personal favorite things to do to make sure I keep on trucking.
Get Outside
Run, bike, walk, with or without the kids. Getting outside is a great way to de-stress on a budget. I’ve personally learned that getting outside has benefited me in so many ways. Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s a routine – once you’re in the rhythm, you will crave it. Even eating a meal outside is peaceful, and you kill two birds with one stone – a meal and nature! I’ve also noticed that as soon as we hit the fresh air, my son immediately relaxes. I don’t fully understand what happens or if it’s just the sight of nature, the sound of birds, or the falling leaves, but it’s free, so I’ll take it.
Eucalyptus
I’ve started using it all over the house. First, I started in the basement, and almost instantly, my mother-in-law complimented me on the smell down there. So I decided to grow it outside during the spring and summer and then started bringing it inside. I love it. I use the essential oil in the shower, but since that could be pricey, I found it at Home Depot and Trader Joe’s.
Get your skin checked out at the dermatologist.
I recently started going and taking care of my skin. I use some expensive products and like to think it will help in the long run. Taking care of a few skin issues causing me stress was like having a piano lifted off my shoulders. It hurt like hell, but it worked.
Love your feet!
Before bed, massage your feet with body cream and put on socks. This leaves your feet so unbelievably soft. Think about how often we use our feet and how many hours we stand, run, and tend to everyone around us. My favorite cream right now is Basic Naturals. Take care of those feet, and you won’t regret it!
Ladies’ night in or out because you need some play dates too!
While I was on bed rest during my pregnancy, even my doctor was concerned that I wasn’t getting out enough. He told me it was better to have my mind right than to be in bed all day. He allowed me to get up and go to someone’s house, get on their couch and be with friends/family. You are probably going through the same thing as one of your besties, but neither of you has any idea because every time you get together, you can’t hear yourselves talk over all the kids. Put them to bed and get out. If your finances allow you to, get a sitter, let someone else feed the gremlins, and put them to bed. If not, invite some ladies over after bedtime. Trust me; if you invite them, they will come. I’ve done holiday wrapping parties two years in a row, and it’s become a tradition because my friends and I realized – who wants to wrap presents alone?
Essential Oils
I’ve recently been using Young Living oils, and I never go anywhere without them. There are so many oils out there to try, so dig in and learn about what you need. I’ve found that I really react to citrus smells, so I wear orange oil every day as a perfume. It’s natural and doesn’t hold all the chemicals that perfumes do. It’s scalable, so you don’t have to spend a ton, and the oils tend to last a decent amount of time.
Download the THINK DIRTY APP.
This app lets you see the ingredients of the products you’re using. This information blew my mind. I have been using Beautycounter products for years and didn’t realize all the other products I was using could be toxic. I’m now treating myself to safer products which leads to less stress in my life.
