Being a mum entails going through all sorts of emotional and physical changes.
The life that mummies used to have when they were single or just before becoming a mum varies greatly.
While that is the sacrifice that most of you mummies make to care for the family, you should also not neglect yourself along the way.
This is super important because as the saying goes, “you have the love yourself before you can love someone else”.
So, here are 12 ways on how you can love yourself and appreciate your body more:
Be Grateful No Matter What
Gratitude is a very powerful emotion that can change how you see things in life and how you feel about yourself.
There are times when we look at other people’s lives and may think about how much better they have it than we do.
This is one mindset that many people, not just mothers, should dismiss.
Take some time each day to reflect on all the things in your life for which you are grateful.
Make a list of them; even the smallest detail can serve as a reminder of how many blessings surround you.
Also, don’t worry too much because there will always be good and bad days as a mum.
It’s Okay to Say ‘No’
Moms may become so consumed with a fear of missing out that they refuse to miss anything that is happening around them.
You may want to attend every party event, family gathering, friendly reunion, kid’s activity, and pretty much any other occasion.
The same is true at work, where it can be difficult to refuse requests for additional work, projects that call for later completion, etc.
All of this can put you under a lot of stress.
So, be honest with yourself about what you can handle. It all starts with loving and putting yourself first.
This means, learning to say ‘no’ when you’re too tired to commit to something.
Take Special Care of Your Body
You must look after your mental health as well as your physical health.
Consume healthy foods and plenty of water daily.
It appears to be a simple task, but many mothers often overlook it.
When you’re pressed for time and have a million things to do, it’s tempting to eat whatever you can get your hands on.
The next time you want to take a bite of an unhealthy snack, ask yourself, “Is this going to harm my body?”
If it is, it is better not to.
Keeping healthy snacks on hand can also help you during a craving.
Keep Your Body Moving
Physical activity is also important for long-term health. It can do wonders for your body and make you feel more refreshed daily.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, regular aerobic exercise will change your body, metabolism, heart, and spirit dramatically.
It has a one-of-a-kind ability to excite and relax, stimulate and calm, combat depression, and relieve stress.
You can walk, dance, hit the gym, or do any other exercise, as long as you move that body.
Stay Positive with Positive Self-Talk
Negative energy can drain and suffocate you.
This could be because you’re always thinking that you’re not good enough, that you’re doing a bad job with the kids, or that you don’t like anything about yourself.
If you continue to do so, it will affect your mood and how you deal with everything around you.
That is why it is critical to give yourself a pep talk regularly to stay positive. Tell yourself that you do your best every day, that you’re a good mother, and that you can handle it.
Positive self-talk can make you feel good about yourself, encourage you to keep going and help put things into perspective.
Understand and Talk About Your Feelings
Some mums may often not know how to express their emotions or prefer to keep them to themselves in order not to burden others.
This can happen when you are so busy caring for everyone else in the family that you overlook your mental health.
However, if you do not try to understand and communicate your feelings, you will become frustrated, overwhelmed, and unloved.
So, take a step back and try to recognise what is going on before talking to someone about it.
It has the potential to be extremely therapeutic. Since nobody is perfect, sometimes the only way to deal with something is to express one’s feelings.
Every Day Is a Learning Experience
Every action you take as a mother is an opportunity to learn.
Don’t feel bad if you forget something, misunderstand something, or fail to act as you ought to.
Things may not always go exactly as planned. Make amends with yourself and move on if you make a mistake.
Remember that everyone makes mistakes.
So, accept responsibility for them, take lessons from them, and improve moving forward.
Don’t worry so much about what other people may think of you.
What matters most is that you’re getting better every day at being a mum.
Embrace Your Body, Enjoy Life
Your life and world can change in an instant, just like when you first became a mother.
However, nothing in life lasts forever, so appreciate what you have now.
Is it worth it to cry over physical changes? Is that more important to you than having happy kids in your arms and a loving family to grow with?
Think about it.
Have you ever viewed a photo of yourself as a teenager and questioned why you didn’t value the body you had at the time?
You’ll probably have the same questions about your current body when you’re older.
Take advantage of all the natural features you have while you still have them because time does not wait for anyone.
You can then live your life to the fullest.
Challenge Any Negative Perceptions of Your Body
There may be times when you are unhappy with certain aspects of your body.
For instance, you may believe that your thighs are too large, your arms are flabby, your fingers are too chubby, and so on.
However, replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones, such as ‘I have great thighs,’ may not be the ultimate solution.
It is preferable to challenge such negative thoughts.
This may seem a bit complicated, but it isn’t really.
PscyhCentral defines it as a practise of reframing negative self-talk to create a positive shift in your mindset.
Challenging thoughts requires a little more effort than simply thinking positively. To begin, consider your effort in relation to the outcome.
For example, what initiatives do you have in place to make you feel good about yourself?
Pay Attention to Your Body’s Capabilities
Accepting your body as it is will help you to love and appreciate yourself more.
This requires concentrating on a concept known as body neutrality. With body neutrality, the emphasis is more on the body’s capabilities and non-physical qualities rather than how you look physically.
For example, instead of hating your thighs and arms, you say, “I love my thighs because they help me run” and “I adore my arms because I can hug my kids”.
When you do this and concentrate on what your body is capable of, you will be able to find that happy medium.
You’ll feel better about yourself as well.
Consider Healthcare As Self-Care
Do you constantly worry about working out and eating well in an effort to lose weight or improve your physical appearance?
That might ultimately make exercising and eating healthfully seem punishing and frustrating.
So, instead of exercising or eating healthy to change your appearance, make it about caring for your body.
After all, practising self-care involves taking steps to maintain your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Choose things you’ll enjoy and that are healthy for your body.
Additionally, you can prevent yourself from experiencing stress and burnout as a result of your daily obligations.
Break the Habit of Discussing Bodies
The more you talk about bodies, the more obsessed you may become with your own body’s flaws.
Particularly if you’re comparing yourself to supermodels, celebrities or friends who you believe have perfect bodies.
Keep in mind that discussing someone’s body is not appropriate. It makes no difference who you see gaining or losing weight.
Just remember not to pass judgement because generally, we are unaware of the difficulties that people may be facing.
Some people may experience weight gain or loss due to illnesses they are unable to avoid.
Engaging in body talk serves no purpose and may even be harmful to both you and the other person.
Hence, it’s a good idea to stop remarking on other bodies as well if you want to spend less time preoccupied with the appearance of your own body.
Lastly, always remember: You are who you believe you are. So, never stop believing in yourself, loving yourself, and taking the best care of yourself. Be mindful of both your physical and mental health.
Hopefully, these 12 ideas will inspire you to start loving and appreciating yourself and your body more.
Mummies, you matter a whole lot to everyone!
Motherhood wishes all mummies and women a Happy International Women’s Day! You’re all strong, intelligent, and an inspiration to everyone!
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