Go to the doctor: A few months ago, I fell on my ankle. It was a pretty big fall, and I was certain it was a sprained, if not broken. If this had happened to my kids, I would have rushed to the emergency room, but for me? I just grunted, hit Walgreens, and bought an ankle brace for $15.
I figured it would be fine in a few days. I was wrong. After three weeks of "taking care of myself," which means simply going about my daily life (with the exception of running), my ankle was still hurting. I needed to go to the doctor.
So many working mothers I know are amazing at caring for every single family member, big or small, but when it comes to taking care of themselves, they let it slide. As working moms, our goal is to work and be moms for a long time. Take the extra precautionary steps needed to care for yourself and be with your family for the long haul.
When you set up an annual visit for your child, make an appointment for yourself too. Think about taking the whole day off and just making it about you: get to your dentist for a teeth cleaning and have your physical exam done. And then when it's all over, reward yourself with a mani-pedi!
Follow your dreams and learn something new. In addition to all of the day-to-day things we need to accomplish, staying connected to our dreams helps us become inspired.
One of my personal goals has always been to write something that would be a source of support and inspiration for other working mothers. I started brainstorming ideas for this book when I had only a few spare minutes a day. With a lot of time and perseverance, look at what I have accomplished!
You may not dream of writing a book, but whatever it is--whether it's learning a new language or playing an instrument--gaining a new skill can be very personally rewarding.
Spending time on your own, dedicated to learning something new, is a great way to improve your mood and boost your self-esteem. While you're benefitting yourself with personal development, you're also being a fantastic role model to your children. You'll teach them that they can learn to do anything they want, as long as they're committed.
Take a day off work: Oh, I hope my boss isn't reading this! If your guilt is really gnawing at you, take a day off work to spend with your children or on yourself. Whether we're catching up on needed rest, recharging our batteries with some time alone, or sneaking off to enjoy fun-filled activities, sometimes we've all got to blow off work.
It can be hard to ask for a day off. We feel weak, or perhaps ungrateful, or maybe we're just scared we'll lose our positions. As someone who has managed countless employees, there's one thing I know: happy employees are better employees and happy moms are better moms!
If you're run-down, over-worked, and running on empty, you're a detriment to your company, not an asset. Take a day for you.
Credit to Samantha Knowles
