As moms we wear MANY hats. We are nurturers. We take care of our kiddos, the house, work, cook, clean, wash, fold, grocery shop…we pretty much do everything under the sun. Not often do we take care of ourselves.
This, my friends, is what we call “The MOMbie Apocalypse.”
We all have that certain something that helps us get through our busy exhausting days. Whether it be sitting down after “bedtime” and watching our favorite show, a glass of wine, a mug of soothing tea, or even a few minutes to trim our dry cuticles and remove that hideous half-chipped nail polish off our nail beds. Okay, I must confess…that last one was totally about me specifically. Please tell me I’m not the only one!
My point is, we all need something to remind ourselves that we are still human, not just zombies running through the day on autopilot.
A few things that keep me sane everyday may not be something that the next mom does…or even cares about. I absolutely love putting on “my face.” I used to slap makeup on my face to go anywhere, even the grocery store. (FYI, that quickly changed after I had my second child.) But, it makes me feel good. It’s not that I need to have makeup on to feel good about myself. It simply makes me feel like I can take on the day if I know I look fierce “somewhat” human. It’s a fact. When you know you look good, you feel good. It’s that extra boost that makes me feel like I can take on anything that’s thrown my way.
Now, let’s talk about the liquid beverages. My morning kryptonite is coffee…LOTS of coffee. I can survive without it if it’s one of the many things I forget to grab while at the grocery store. Although, if I don’t get it, STAY AWAY! I’m more the Beast than the Beauty.
Which brings me to another necessity. My planner. My husband will laugh when he reads this. I have bought a new planner every year, with every intention of using it. Then it just sits there: Unopened. Unused. Neglected, until it eventually makes its journey to the trash can after it becomes an unwanted part of the counter’s décor. I have purchased yet another planner this year, and I’m actually using it! It’s a 365 Planner that I purchased at Michaels and it’s a lot like a creative project. Almost like a scrapbook, with fun packs of stickers and funky little accessories you can buy to make planning fun. I’m actually becoming organized — keeping track of appointments, important dates, grocery lists, you name it! I’m so tired of being that mom who’s unorganized and unprepared. So, now I can add organization to my day, without my day running me. This is important to get me out of the MOMbie-like state.
Something else that’s important to my day and makes me feel more alive, is being a maker. I recently opened my very own ETSY shop called Stella Lace Shop. I create wire-wrapped bangles with all sorts of stones and gems, and it’s something that I LOVE to do. It puts even more meaning to my day and it feeds my appetite for creativity, which is something I need in life to thrive. Without a creative outlet, I would go crazy. This helps me de-stress.
All moms need to have something they are passionate about, something to drive their spirit and feed their soul. Something other than their kids and their husbands. Something just for us.
There are so many different things out there to snap some semblance of humanity into our “mom life.” A few things I’ve found to be helpful are soothing essential oils, especially the ones in roller balls. A fresh coat of ESSIE nail polish, preferably in a bright magenta or pink, or especially a light minty-blue *my fave*. Or the amazing organic herbal moisturizing mask that I have; it will distress me from any kind of hectic day I’ve had! Not only does it restore all the much needed hydration that gets depleted from running around all day like a crazy person, but its minty feel revives my senses.
So now it’s your turn. What do you do to snap yourself out of your everyday mundane routines? What makes you feel human again? What little thing helps make you feel special or more in control of your day? What are your secrets that remove you from the “MOMbie apocalypse” we call the daily hustle?
