Balancing Act: A mom's guide to self-care and juggling life
Being a mother who is also striving to thrive in her career is like being in a constant balancing act. Every day, there are meals to prepare, meetings to attend, presentations to prepare and children to nurture (not to mention, a partner that also needs your attention! hehe). Amidst all of this, I recently came to realize that there’s something missing—something incredibly important—I forgot about myself.
In playing the roles of mom, a wife, and an employee, I’ve been all about ticking off boxes on my to-do lists, ensuring everyone else is happy and taken care of. But what about me? I had almost forgotten what it feels like to sit down with a good book (not that I don’t sit down and watch Netflix after dinners in between dish washing and putting the kids to bed), or to lose myself in acrylic painting, to play on my keyboards, or to simply listen to my favorite music on Spotify.
It hit me that I had been neglecting the person who was playing all these roles—I wasn’t giving any time to myself. And I mean GOOD. QUALITY. ME TIME.
I had ignored my needs and forgotten my hobbies and interests. So, guess what? I’ve decided to change that. I need to find time for myself again—to read, to paint, to play the piano, and to explore new interests like listening to podcasts. I just have to find even if it’s an hour or two of my busy schedule to try something or to reconnect and just make sure that I get to pamper myself and care for myself.
So here are some tips that I’d like to share with you which I found online about Finding “Me Time”
1. Reconnect with Your Hobbies
Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Paint that scene you’ve been imagining. Play your favorite piece on the piano. Do what you love. I plan to start reading this book I read 20 years ago called Doctors by Erich Segal.
2. Try Something New
Discovering new interests can be refreshing. For me, tuning into podcasts (thanks to my sister-in-law who’s also into this) has opened up new worlds of knowledge and entertainment. And I’m even learning while multitasking!
3. Create a Personal Space
Find a spot in your home where you can be alone with your thoughts, where you can relax and focus on your hobbies. Maybe you can even play some relaxing music on the side.
4. Establish Boundaries
It’s important that we communicate our need for personal time to our family. Setting clear boundaries helps in managing our own expectations and responsibilities.
Why Self-Care Matters
Taking time for oneself is not selfish; it’s essential for mental and emotional well-being. It’s true thoug. When I do get those little chances of allocating an hour for myself, it does feel relaxing, and I’m less moody (hehe). Only then will I feel rebooted to give more to my family and my work. Self-care is about maintaining our well-being so we can be our best selves for the people around us. It’s about giving ourselves the love and care we give to others. I know it will make me a better parent, a better partner and a better employee.
So I hope this blog serves as a reminder of the importance of self-care.. for all of us. It’s crucial to find that balance between taking care of others and taking care of ourselves. We all deserve to allocate time to do what we enjoy, to relax and recharge.So, to all the busy moms and everyone juggling multiple roles, let’s not forget to take a break, to do something we love. Let’s not forget about ourselves in the hustle and bustle of life. We owe it to ourselves to remember who we are, what we love, and to find time to just be.