As mothers, we tend to lose ourselves in the selfless act of raising children.
It’s time to reconnect with yourself on a deep, fundamental level.
This post and the postpartum self-care ideas listed are here to guide you through an inward journey and bring clarity in motherhood. Think of it as a tool to direct you into a brand new world, a glimpse into what’s possible for who you are and the life you’re living.
So often we scoff at the idea of self-care as a mother as if to indulge in such a luxury means we are inferior and defective in our abilities to “do it all.”
But, listen. Even Wonder Woman needs to take care of herself.
What good is a woman to her family if she can barely function due to lack of sleep, taking no time for her own enjoyment and creativity, and poor nutrition, surviving on goldfish crackers and granola bars?
Motherhood and postpartum self-care must go hand-in-hand. Learning to take care of yourself as a mother needs to become just as important of a rite of passage as becoming a mother. It’s vital to the health and well-being of your entire family.
So, now. How do you make postpartum self-care a priority?
When you do have some time to yourself, it can feel overwhelming to even decide what to do! Laundry? Shower? Grab a coffee with a friend? Take a nap?! Before you know it, you’re stuck in analysis paralysis, an hour goes by and you spent it scrolling everyone else’s highlight reel.
We’ve got you, mama.
5 Steps to Prioritize Postpartum Self Care
- Write down some things that have brought you joy in the past.
- Then go through your own list and the ideas we’ve given you here. Circle or highlight everything that would feel fulfilling, joyful, relaxing, or fun.
- Pick the top three things that would make you absolutely giddy.
- Put these things in your schedule somewhere within the next two weeks (this timeframe is non-negotiable)!
- After you’ve done these things, take 20 minutes of sacred time to journal about how you felt during those times.
Repeat this process often!
40 Postpartum Self-Care Ideas
- Paint
- Write
- Meditate
- Yoga
- Dessert at a coffee shop
- Walk/jog in the woods
- Sew
- Write poetry
- Knit
- Journal your story
- Get a massage
- Aromatherapy
- Acupuncture
- Explore a bookstore
- Get a mani/pedi
- Volunteer
- Sleep in (with lots of pillows!)
- Reiki
- Write a letter to a friend
- Enjoy a movie
- Solo lunch date
- Read a novel
- Light candles
- Photography
- Sunbathe
- Create a gratitude list
- Write thank-you cards (Don’t forget yourself!)
- Catch up with a friend
- Collect nature
- Make bouquets
- Walk the beach
- Create something
- Take a bubble bath
- Look at old photos
- Dance
- Go shopping
- Laugh
- Garden
- Listen to music
- Color
There are so many more ideas, this is just a start! Tap into what makes your inner child feel happy, thankful, and free. Put it on the list!
Now that you have your list, it’s time to dive a little deeper.
Make the time to reflect on these eight journal prompts to get a deeper understanding of what your inner self really needs and desires during this transition into motherhood.
Though some of these questions may bring up difficult feelings or feel challenging, they are a necessary step to feeling the self-confidence and self-love that will sustain you.
- What does self-care mean to you?
- How often do you currently give offer care to yourself? Why?
- What self-care did you grow up witnessing from others? How did this affect you?
- What’s standing in the way of your self-care? What will you do to change this?
- What permission do you need to give yourself to move forward in this journey?
- What changes are you wanting in life? How will self-care allow for those changes?
- Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself and everything that you need to let go.
- Write a letter of love, compassion, and gratitude for yourself.
I encourage you to make this self-care ritual a regular part of your schedule.
You’ll see massive shifts in your mood, energy levels, and relationships with this shift in your priorities.
