4 Ways I’m Taking Care of Mommy

Everywhere you look, you see the new hot phrase: SELF-CARE.

I can’t say I really bought into it; then again, I can’t say that I’m the “buy-into-trends” type of gal. I didn’t rearrange my house when Feng Shui was a thing. What is hygge, anyway? I think Marie Kondo is adorable, but I never thanked my old stuff for anything.

However, I recently realized that this self-care thing is hot for a reason. Everyone’s over-scheduled and under-rested, overextended and undernourished. It’s me. I’m everyone.

As the new month begins, I’m determined to take better care of myself. Mommy doesn’t have to be at the top of the priority list, but it would be nice if she’s ranked somewhere on the list.

What is Self-Care?

To begin my journey, I had to figure out what self-care is and isn’t. For me, it’s that list of things that I do for my own health. That includes my physical health and my emotional health. It is not selfish. It can’t be a regimen; I like a peculiar mix of control and spontaneity in my life (hey, I’m a fire sign).

Once I had that part down, I had to figure out why I hadn’t put much stock in self-care. I came up with a list of reasons, but the one at the top of the list is easy to explain. I thought I was already taking pretty good care of myself. Mommy didn’t really need to do all that extra stuff.

Small acts of care

I was so wrong. I looked at September as a whole, and I couldn’t remember many deposits into my own tank. That’s not going to happen in October. I’m determined to take better care of Mommy.

Lest one forget, I’m a fire sign. I can’t make a long list of things that I will surely ignore. The list has to be short and sweet. Each item has to be short and sweet. I need things I can do in short spurts if necessary. This is what I came up with:

1. Taking a walk.

Extra points if it’s in the sunshine. I need the vitamin D, and I love, love, love when I can actually take a slow stroll. This isn’t for exercise. I don’t like sweat. I just like to breathe and smile.

2. Crocheting/Knitting.

This one’s tricky. As much as I enjoy making things, yarn work can become goal-oriented. I get focused on the finished product instead of focusing on the needle itself. I don’t want to do that. Working with my hands is soothing when I can do the same stitch over and over again. I need to find patterns that are monotonous. I find free patterns at most of the yarn websites, including Lion Brand and Bernat.

3. Baking.

Yes, I hear you, this one can also be goal-oriented. However, I really enjoy baking. There’s something about taking simple ingredients and turning them into something amazing. I don’t even bake unless I’m emotional. The more emotional I am, the better the baked goods. True story. I have an awesome group of friends who are always ready to take my Angry Cupcakes off of my hands.

4. Listening to music.

No-brainer. My musical tastes are eclectic. I will surround myself with the music that makes me happy, and I won’t apologize for it. From show tunes to old school R&B to disco to disco…well, you get my drift. I will sing at the top of my lungs and dance like nobody’s watching.

That’s my October list. I might not get to everything, but I promise to try. I will be looking for more ways to take care of Mommy while she takes care of everyone else.

Do you have additions for me? How are you practicing self-care in October? Let me know in the comments.