How much do you love yourself?

I love me some me..do you hear me!!

YES I DO!!!

Before becoming a mom, I did a great job of self care. I took time out to do ‘me’ and loved every minute of it!

When I became a mom, those ‘me’ times went away almost immediately. A feeling that ‘me’ times were a thing of the past since all my time now was focused on the kids. Yup I fell right into the mommy guilt hole so easily. Unknowingly, society, family and friends do a really good job of making moms feel like from the time the baby is born, life as a person ends and life as mom begins. Almost as if both can’t co-exist.  Moms are made to feel that “me” time is selfish and moms are not allowed to be selfish-right?

Accepting this mindset, I gave all to my children at 110% and gave 0% to myself. You know what happened…I held on to an extra 30lbs of baby weight, I was tired, moody, angry, resentful, and just not myself.

Then a light switch came on brighter than the North Star! Being miserable and not myself meant I was not giving my kids, my husband, my family and myself the best of me. I realized that if I was going to be the best mom, the best wife, the best me, I needed to get back to being me. I needed to find me. I needed to create those ‘me’ time moments for me!

Let’s rewind about 4 years, when I started on my healthier lifestyle transition….’me’ times became my workout times. In the beginning, creating those ‘me’ times were a real challenge! I almost had forgotten how to do it! It took weeks….if not months for me to get it right and to let go of the mommy guilt.

It also took a change of mind set in a big way. It turned out that the only way to get my true ‘me’ time in was to wake up before the household. This meant ‘me’ times would have to come before the crack of dawn which means 5 or 5:30am wake ups. This was and has been the best decision that I have made towards self care/self love.

I do a pretty good job of self care but can always use a reminder and tune up of this commitment to myself.

How perfect that Mar has decided to host a 14 day Self-Care Challenge! Perfect for the month of February which is often equated with love…so why not focus on self care and self love!

Coach Mar says as parents, children, spouses, coworkers and friends – you cannot take care of others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Practicing self-care means to intentionally engage in activities that support your physical, emotional and mental health. This practice is unique to everyone – what makes me feel good emotionally might be completely different for you.

Mar states:

Here’s how it works: beginning today,  Monday, February 1st through Sunday February 14th, post daily on Instagram showing how you are practicing self-care. Tag her @marontherun and use the hashtags #14daysofself #selfcare. Posting for the duration of the challenge enters you into a giveaway prize for a Whole Foods gift card! There will also be a couple of other “care package” prizes given away during the challenge.

In addition to the Instagram challenge she has created a private Facebook group to offer additional motivation and support (or if you choose not to participate via Instagram). By joining you will have access to the “Daily Dose of Self” a daily post offering mindful meditations, recipes, yoga poses and self-care tips. Join the group, post on Instagram or both! She as well as others in the group, look forward to you joining and welcoming in the month of LOVE (yourself).

Mar wants to know..
Who’s in for the 14 Days of Self? What are looking forward to in February?

I know I am….are you?

Do you feel like you do a good job of self care/self love? What is something you so for yourself?

 

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