Self-Care in a Season of Change

Life has hit hard lately. There's been a ton of good, and some difficult, emotional stuff and it's kind of all piled together and I hardly know which end is up most days. In the past two weeks... -my husband found out about, interviewed for, accepted and started a brand new job -we put down a deposit on a new apartment -the above things literally happened in a span of 2 days -which means we're suddenly prepping to move to our new place -I've been continuing to maintain my blog and work freelance on the side -Little Man has become more active than ever -We've dealt with some difficult, hurtful situations with individuals and are still tying to process what's happened -husband has been commuting 2 hours each way every day, so we hardly see him -and I've been holding down the fort while trying to work on the side, prep for a move, keep some sense of normalcy and give little man the attention and care he needs and deserves Ahhhhhhh. Needless to say, even though the positive outweighs the negative, and we are very thankful for how everything has fallen into place, life has been hectic, and we've been more in survival mode than in our normal routine. Considering that, I have also really neglected self-care time, and I'm seeing that taking a toll this week. Self-care for me is just simple things that I try to make a part of my daily (or at least a few times a week) routine. Even just having a few things I do for just me makes a huge difference in how I feel mentally, emotionally and physically. I'm trying to get back into these little routines at least some, because I feel so much more clear, focused and ready to handle life when I've had a little time for myself. I thought I'd share with you some of my most simple, but favorite self-care routines.

1. Wake up a little before everyone else, get my coffee and sit down to read my devotional, Bible and spend a few minutes journaling.

It's so so hard to do this, because sleep is so essential right now, but I find that having this quiet, focused time to start the day, even if it's short, really helps me have a better mindset, and be more relaxed for whatever the day may hold. 

2. Do some yoga.

I'm by no means an expert yogi, but I really enjoy yoga because it's something anyone at any level can do. It is excellent physical and cardio exercise, and it stretches my body and relieves muscle tension. On top of that, it strengthens me, and allows me to relax and free my mind. It's so good. If you're nervous to try yoga, don't be! It's one form of exercise that can meet you wherever you are. And there are tons of helpful tutorials, apps, graphics and YouTube videos to lead you through it. 

3. Take a long bath. 

This one happens the least of all, but when I get the chance, I love taking a long, hot bath. I usually add some bubble bath, a bath bomb or a few drops of lavender essential oil to the tub, pour a glass of wine and just relax. If you haven't tried it, you need to! It's so perfect for the end of a stressful day. I always feel so much more calm and ready to allow myself to rest afterwards. It can be so difficult to make the time for self-care, but it's so important, especially as a mama. There are countless ways to take a few minutes to focus on taking care of yourself, and I'm always looking to try new ideas. What are some of your favorite self-care ideas?!? Feel free to drop me a line in my contact box, or DM me on Instagram with your thoughts!  

And here are a few very real photos of our life right now. It's disorganized, and slightly chaotic, but hey, this is us right now.