Happy Friday!!! Who’s excited for the weekend? We sure are. We have such a wide range of activities from Emma Grace’s ballet performance to visiting Santa to adult holiday parties to family visiting from out of town. If you’re celebrating too, and you’re off to a holiday party tonight, be sure to check out this post for holiday dresses for any occasion.
Okay, so have you heard? It snowed in Texas last night! It didn’t technically snow in Dallas, but our friends in San Antonio and Austin got snow. If you’re from Texas, you know that’s a big deal. If you’re not from Texas, well, it’s a big deal! Haha. Speaking of snow…did you notice it’s “snowing” on my blog! So cool, right? Yesterday, my web developer figured out how to make it snow on my blog and I just think it’s so fun!
So let’s talk self-care, ladies and gents. In this crazy busy world we live in, self-care is so hard to come by. As a mom, self-care is often the first thing to go when our schedule picks up. Somehow mom guilt always seems to creep in when I attempt self care. You know the feeling – feeling like taking time away means you’re neglecting your kids, or feeling guilty for spending a little on yourself and not using that amount to go toward your kids, or even just the guilt that comes with spending time doing something you like rather than doing what your kids like.
Self-care is something I stink at. Terribly. And it is not something to write home about. In fact, I’ve found that my lack of self-care often effects my family in a negative way. If I don’t take time to care for myself, I feel more stressed at home, have a shorter temper, and honestly am just plain tired. This very thing is what started to weigh on me this past year, and so I’ve been on a long, hard journey to force myself to start making more time for self-care both for my sake and my family’s.
5 TIPS FOR SELF-CARE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS:
- EXERCISE – exercise is obviously good for our health and something that should be a part of our weekly routine, but exercise serves as so much more for me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this conversation with my husband, explaining what exercise does for my headspace. For me, physical activity gives me time to rest in my own thoughts, to regroup if needed, and just to recharge. Whether I’m listening to music, a podcast, praying, or just allowing my mind to drift, that quiet time sets me on the right path. How many of you require physical exercise as part of your self-care?
- GIRL TIME – by girl time I don’t mean party time. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good mambo taxi, but that’s not what fuels my soul. What helps me get back to “me” is time with close girlfriends. Whether it’s a phone date or grabbing coffee with a friend, girl time allows me to take off my mom hat or my work hat and just be me. It’s so crucial and it’s a great way to stay grounded.
- TIME IN THE WORD – this is a big one for me and one I feel the effects of almost immediately. Spending time daily in the Bible/with God not only helps me to start my day on the right foot, but it reminds me of my role as a wife, a mother, a friend, and a Christ follower. It helps me stay grounded in this crazy world we live in!
- SLEEP – did anybody else read the word “sleep” and mutter a quiet laugh? I did and I’m the one writing this, haha. We all know the benefits of sleep and yet it seems like it’s still impossible to get to bed on time. My husband and I have tried the following this week and it’s helped a lot – 1) get in bed 30 minutes earlier, even if you just lay there and talk and 2) turn electronic devices off 30 minutes before bedtime.
- SAY “NO” – Yep, this one stinks. Who wants to say no during the holidays? No one. It’s so easy to feel pressured to be at everything and honestly, most of the time I want to be at everything. I get so much joy from being around others, but if I pack my schedule too tight it ends up draining my energy and then my family feels the weight of it. I was reading in “Choose Joy” this past week about battling business and the remedy they suggested was balance. The best way to beat business is by balance. That means knowing the stage of life you’re in and prioritizing your kids/family/events in such a way that brings joy to you and to them and ultimately to Christ. Easier said than done, but still it makes a big difference!
- PAMPER YOURSELF – this one is the absolute hardest part of self-care for me. I feel all kinds of guilt spending money on myself in this way whether it’s a massage or getting my nails done. But what I’ve come to realize is that spending a little extra time on “me” really does help me feel like “me.” I recently got my nails done with my mom and sister and forgot how it makes you feel. I’ve also started waxing my legs and it’s been a game changer. It sounds weird probably, but when you wax your legs you only have to do it once every 5-7 weeks and you never shave. It’s been so freeing cutting out the shaving part of my shower routine and at the same time I feel great. Taking care of your physical appearance whether it’s getting your nails done, getting waxed, or simply putting on clothes that aren’t sweatpants, pampering yourself gives you confidence and a sense of worth.
Soooooo, because I think self-care is such a big part of staying true to yourself, I have partnered with Waxing the City again to gift one of you a $50 gift card! This was one of my most popular giveaways in November and I am so excited that I get to give you guys yet another chance to win and get waxed! So, be sure to follow me on instagram and check back throughout the day as I’ll be posting the photo below for the giveaway! Best of luck!
sweater: jcrew | denim: similar | bag: tory burch | pumps: similar | sunnies: karen walker
photography: fort lion studio
