As a mom we pour so much time, love, and energy into our little ones that we often forget to take the time to care for ourselves. Taking this time for yourself can often be easier said than done.

The thought of finding even just a few minutes throughout your day to do something for yourself can feel overwhelming at first. The most important thing to remember is starting small, find 10-15 minutes a day to sit down and do something you enjoy.

The biggest factor for many moms is time. When I first thought about taking time to do something for myself, I felt like I was going to have to sacrifice sleep because I didn’t know where else the extra time would come from. It’s important to remember when trying to find the time to care for yourself that you don’t sacrifice your sleep.

My little one is about to be five months old and has never been the greatest sleeper. Any extra time I have I try to sleep, even if it’s just a few minutes. For me that was my first step towards self-care.

Over the past few weeks, I have been trying really hard to find a few minutes a day for myself. While I was taking the time to get the rest I needed, I felt like I was missing out on some of the other activities I enjoy doing.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have started to take a few minutes first thing in the morning to sit on the couch and drink my coffee. There is something so calming about sitting in the dark quiet house before I start my day and the chaos begins.

I realized just how important it is to take the time for self-care since attending a support group for moms.

If you are a mom and looking for a support group to share stories and struggles, ways to cope, and how to navigate motherhood, join us!

This group is held weekly at the Wayne County Health Department. These groups are led by experienced moms that are trained by Anazao Community Partners. No registration or RSVP is needed. Come as you are and babies are always welcome.

The group meets every Monday from 1-2 p.m.

If you are interested in learning more, please visit www.waynefcfc.org

Kaitlynn Tonn is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or tonn.13@osu.edu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaes.osu.edu/nondiscrimination. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.