Moms are stellar organizers when it comes to all of the routine maintenance required for kids — hair cuts, dental appointments, well checks, etc. — but where many of us are lacking is our own self-care. Here is my monthly guide to the mom tune-up that will help ensure you are never running on empty and are always ready to go. You must take care of yourself, mama, before you can take care of little people.
January. Phew! You made it through the holidays. The house is put back together now that the tree is put away. This is the perfect time to commit to your self-care routine for the year. Make a few lists: things you enjoy doing, people you need to catch up with, books you want to read, movies you want to see, and ways you want to improve your health. Commit to spending time on yourself every week this year.
February. It’s Valentine’s Day, and everything is coming up hearts and flowers. Time to take care of your heart, mama! Schedule your annual physical, but before you go, write down any concerns you have about your health, however minor they may seem, and share those with your doc. Writing them down will help you remember everything you might forget once you slip into that less-than-comfortable gown. Make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol are in the normal ranges, and listen to the doc if they aren’t.
March. It’s time for spring cleaning. Do a gut health check this month to clear all the gunk out of your trunk, err . . . colon. March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Know the signs and symptoms of colon issues, and make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your gut healthy.
April. Get in to see your gynecologist this month, and schedule your mammogram if you need one.
May. The kids are almost finished with the school year. Soon you’ll be trading schedules of soccer games and band practices for boredom busters. Use this time to make a plan (for your own mental health) to keep the kids busy this summer and do something nice for yourself this month! Take a mom-cation weekend with the girlfriends, get a mani/pedi or a massage . . . something . . . anything to help you feel relaxed so you can power-up to take on the summer doldrums.
June. The kids are out of school! Hooray! Take advantage of the wide-open schedule, and get the whole family in to see the dentist, including yourself.
July. It’s hot outside. Are you drinking enough water? Is your skin dry? Are you using sunscreen? July is get-yourself-to-the-dermatologist month. Have a skin check done, and talk to your doctor about ways to keep your skin hydrated and to guard against the sun’s damaging rays.
August. You survived the summer, mama! Congratulations! Remember those lists you made back in January and then promptly forgot? Yeah, it’s time to revisit those again. Schedule in some you time. Reconnect with yourself and your friends.
September. Fall is in the air. You can smell it. Sure, maybe it’s just the pumpkin spice lattes that Starbucks released a month ago finally permeating every molecule of air, but who cares! The promise of cooler temps is so close you can taste it. Sweater weather is coming, so you don’t have to worry about the summer body you never found, but do you know your BMI?
If you don’t know it, use the calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. If it’s not in the healthy range, make a plan to get healthier. Stay on top of your numbers. The marathon holiday season is almost upon you; Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dressing, and Christmas cookies await you. Be prepared so you can enjoy them in moderation without fear. You can also check out this super cool scale I found. It’s bluetooth and syncs with an app on your phone so you can track all of your body numbers you’d really rather not think about.
October. October can be the stuff of nightmares. Time for a mental health check. Ask yourself these questions: Am I lacking a healthy support network of friends and family to talk to? Do I often feel sad or lonely? Do I spend copious amounts of time worrying about things outside of my control? Am I often too tired to take care of the things I need to take care of? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may need to check in with a counselor or psychologist. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We all experience weariness — we’re in the trenches of motherhood, ya’ll! That takes a lot out of even the most stalwart women.
November. Gratitude shouldn’t be limited to a month. Ask yourself daily: What am I thankful for today? Institute a tradition of daily gratitude at dinnertime. Allow all members of the family to share one high from their day, one low, and one thing they are thankful for. Keep a gratitude journal, and refer back to it often when you are feeling less-than-grateful.
December. Time to see the dentist again! Get everyone in during the school’s winter break so no one has to miss class time. Nothing says happy holidays like that drill in your mouth, but your pearly whites will be gleaming into the New Year.
Self-care is a year-round business. Keep your mind, heart, and body in shape. You’ve been tasked with the job of raising humans to be good adult humans. Model the healthy behavior you want to see in your kids. Teach them how to care for themselves by caring for yourself. You deserve it, mama!
