It sounds simple, but it's not.
As a mom, it can be difficult to make time for myself. Often times, I have to schedule out my "me" time in advance. It can't just be at the drop of a hat most of the time. Sometimes, even with planning ahead, it doesn't work out at the last minute. When that happens, I just have to move on from it and look forward to the next "me" time.
Moms tend to beat themselves up for wanting time away from the kids. They feel guilty for the time away, they worry that things won't get done the right way and so on. Once I started taking time for myself after having kids, my mental space became a lot clearer. My self speak was a lot nicer too.
I remember one of the first times I took the time to get away after having my second baby. He was about nine months old, and it was Mother's Day weekend. Two of my girlfriends and I went to eat lunch and sat on the rooftop. We lost track of time. It was so nice. I came back to my family in the yard playing in the grass and the dogs. I was in such a better mood, and my heart was full. It's still one of my favorite Mother's Days. Since then, I have made it a point to schedule girl dates with my friends throughout the year.
When I started Whole Health with Lana, I wanted to focus on food, fitness and family. The family portion doesn't always have to be blood related. Family can be your neighbor, your workout group or even your co-worker. With that frame of mind, I started scheduling "Mom and Me" play dates and other kid-friendly activities. Then, it hit me. The moms want their "me" time. So, we shifted to socials. No kids. Over the past two years, we have done a wine tasting, a spa day, a sip/paint in Athens, a "galentine's" dinner, an escape room, a sip/paint garden party in my yard and a sip/craft in my dining room.
It's just nice to have a couple of hours to ourselves without the kids running around and making a mess. It's just two hours. That's all we need. We need a good glass of wine with some snacks and a simple activity, which is completely optional. We always leave our socials feeling refreshed and relaxed.
My entire goal for Whole Health with Lana is to show everyone that it isn't just your food or just your fitness or just your family. It is all three that make up your whole health. If you fixate on just one area, the others will falter. So finding a balance is key, and whatever works for you is best for you to stick with in the end. Not everyone wants to get up at 5am to run and eat the same meals every day. Most of the time, that isn't practical for a lot of parents. Quite often, I get asked when do I work out, and my answer is always the same. It's when I teach. I don't actually have time to schedule out my own workouts for my own goals. Yes, I could, but in the past it has driven me mad. I get too overwhelmed and end up overtraining. I would rather keep my sanity, maintain my whole health and focus on being a mom while allowing myself room to have socials with my ladies!
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