Why investing in yourself is an act of self-care - Tamsin Williamson, The Parenthood Coach
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WHY INVESTING IN YOURSELF IS AN ACT OF SELF-CARE
We don’t tend to over-think investing in our children, do we? Swimming lessons, football kits, maths tutors, Summer camps. We do all we can to support their development, health, happiness and wellbeing and provide them with the best possible opportunities in life.
As Mums we channel so much of our time, headspace and love into our kids and families. But all too often our own deeper needs and ambitions get buried under a pile of laundry or fall to the bottom of the to-do list.
But when we don’t prioritise our needs, we can feel trapped in our life rather than in charge of it. That can leave us feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or maybe even resentful, and that can chip away at the joyful moments.
So, it’s really important that we find ways to continually look out for ourselves as individuals as well as parents, and champion our own hopes, dreams and needs alongside those of our kids.
I genuinely believe one of the most precious things you can invest in is YOURSELF.
The word ‘investment’ naturally conjures up pound signs in our minds and we may subconsciously take a sharp breath in as we imagine ‘the damage’!
However, while there are undoubtedly many very worthwhile financial investments out there to be made, investing in yourself doesn’t JUST have to mean splashing a whole load of cash in the process.
It can also mean investing TIME, ENERGY and LOVE into yourself and carving out space for the things that matter to you amidst the whirlwind of life.
Making yourself a priority, allowing yourself to be seen and giving yourself room to grow and flourish will enable you to show up as your happiest and most fulfilled self for your kids and yourself.
There are so many wonderful ways to invest in yourself, whether it’s by acknowledging and responding to your wants and needs in the present or giving yourself space to explore your deepest desires and ambitions for your future.
Here’s a few ideas if you’re looking for some inspiration….
• Expand Your Mind
Expanding your mind can be a great confidence booster and help you to stay connected to your deeper self. Being inspired by an amazing book (or audiobook so you can listen hands free!), absorbing wisdom from the plethora of podcasts out there or delving into the impressive Ted Talk vault are all really powerful and accessible ways to keep your mind stimulated and engaged with the things that really interest you.
If time feels a barrier, try to replace some less meaningful activities like scrolling social media with something more nourishing for your mind. Or combine daily tasks like folding laundry or cooking dinner with a podcast in the background to make it more fulfilling!
• Make A Vision Board
Vision boards are an amazing way to gain clarity and discover what is truly important to you. They can help you to set or fine tune goals around what you want to have, do and be in all areas of your life and support you to grow in confidence, motivation and inspiration.
And they are SO accessible to make! All you need are some old magazines, a big bit of cardboard, scissors and glue – and a bit of dedicated time to invest in putting the spotlight on yourself!
Allowing your creativity to flow freely and giving yourself permission to dream can be hugely liberating and provide you with a sense of direction and excitement for your future
• Creating a Healthy Bedtime Routine
Being sleep deprived can have a HUGE knock-on effect on your energy levels, mood, motivation and self-esteem. So, creating a healthy bedtime routine is an important investment to make in yourself to leave you feeling fresh, energised and positive to face the day.
Resist the temptation to burn the midnight oil as that will only leave you feeling frazzled the next day, and beyond. Give yourself space to wind down at night; avoid insta-scrolling before bed and instead focus your mind on something calming like reading a few pages of a book, or some deep breathing. Switch caffeine for a soothing herbal tea. And try to get a couple of early nights a week as those extra hours will significantly improve your productivity, mindset and energy levels, and make tackling a hectic day of juggling feel so much more manageable.
• Seek Expert Support
There are loads of amazing self-development provisions freely available to us – including self-help resources, online fitness programmes and mindfulness apps, to name a few.
But sometimes it can be really hard to take a self-led approach because we might be feeling too stuck, overwhelmed or unmotivated to get off the starting block by ourselves. If your ultimate goal is important enough to you it can often be really worthwhile to invest in yourself by enlisting some expert support to guide you through the process so you can hit the ground running.
This could look like investing in a personal trainer to hold you accountable, teach you the right techniques and keep you motivated to hit your weight loss goal. It could look like working with a life coach to gain an impartial perspective on your situation, and support you to untangle your thoughts and regain control over where your life is heading. Or it could mean engaging with a councillor or therapist to support you through a period of anxiety or depression.
Investing in expert support can be hugely empowering and help you to unlock your own potential and build your self-confidence. It will often fast-track your progress towards your goals and provide you with invaluable tools for life. And often, having ‘skin in the game’ (if feasible) can make you show up with all the more commitment and energy to succeed, knowing you have something to lose.
• Stay Connected To You
Time for yourself as a Mum can feel like the holy grain – but it’s absolutely there for the taking if you can make that commitment to yourself! There are always pockets of ‘you time’ in disguise if you really look for them!
Pick a hobby or interest that you know will nourish, energise or excite you and book in a date with yourself willingly, regularly, and without guilt. It doesn’t have to be over-engineered or complicated! Investing even 20 minutes a day to you (and only you!) will make a world of difference and do wonders for boosting your self-worth and positive mindset. You could take a bath, do some yoga, call a friend or take a stroll in the fresh air. Dedicating that regular child-free time to yourself will allow you to rejuvenate, refresh and recharge, and stay in tune with yourself as someone beyond your role of ‘Mum’.
Ultimately, investing in yourself is an act of self-care and self-love and it’s a way of saying to yourself ‘I matter’, ‘I am worth it’ and ‘I am deserving’.
Because you absolutely are, and the sooner you can realise that and take action to support yourself, the better. You most certainty won’t regret it!
Bio:
Tamsin is an Accredited Transformational Life Coach (a.k.a The Parenthood Coach) and a Mum of two. She supports unfulfilled Mums who are fed up of being stuck in a rut and have lost their grasp on who they are and what they want out of life since becoming a parent.
Through holistic 1:1 coaching she helps her clients create headspace to untangle their busy minds, reignite their spark and unearth their buried ambitions, so they can step out of the fog with confidence and clarity, and create a life where work and parenthood make sense.
Tamsin feels especially passionate about her mission because she went through the same transformation in her life that she now facilitates for her clients. After having children, her longstanding career became incompatible with life as a mum. Through working with a life coach she decided to retrain as a coach herself, and has successfully created a life where she now feels both professional fulfilment and personal freedom.
Alongside her coaching practice Tamsin also runs a free Facebook Community called The Parenthood Retreat, supporting and empowering Mums to step away from the whirlwind of parenthood, pause the Mum Juggle and focus on their own needs, wellbeing, passions and ambitions.
See more of Tamsin over at:
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