Self-Care for Moms

This post is sponsored by Ghirardelli and Publix. The opinions and text are all mine.

The holidays are my favorite time of year. I love decking our house out with twinkly lights and garlands, lighting a festive candle, and cozying up by the fire. But I also find that I’m more stressed around the holidays – trying to finish never-ending to-do lists, finding the *perfect* gift for everyone on my list, and remembering to move our elf on the shelf, Sparkles. Add in holiday gatherings (and hosting holiday gatherings!) and it’s a joyful but stressful time covered in wrapping paper and tinsel.

 There are so many sayings and proverbs out there, like you have to put on your own oxygen mask before you can help others and you can’t pour from an empty cup. I know these things, but putting them into action? That’s a completely different story.

As moms, I feel like we put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything for everyone. Be the best mom, best wife, best coworker. It’s an unreasonable expectation, and yet we bear this weight on our shoulders every. single. day. It’s an overwhelming and impossible weight to bear.

 When I’m feeling completely overwhelmed, I finally remember how important it is to take care of myself. It’s like I hit that wall where I know I am about to fall completely to pieces and remember that it’s ok to take care of myself, to even put myself first. When I feel like my cup is empty, I recognize that it’s time to fill it back up so that I can show up for myself, my girls, my husband, as my best self. Here are a few things I do to give myself some self-care:

1. Create something that brings me joy.

Crafting is something that makes me so happy. When I need a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle of life, I grab my favorite cozy slippers, comfy blanket and my favorite craft supplies and get to work. Add in a side of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate and some Electronic Holiday Radio on Pandora and the stress of the day just melts away.

I don’t always create a masterpiece or even something I like, BUT just the act of taking some time out for myself to do something that makes me happy makes a big difference!

2. Get out my planner

I know, this one might seem a little strange to you. But, I absolutely love making lists. And I’ve found when life seems the most stressful, I find relief in making to-do lists. I always put things on my list that are easy to get done, like “get out of bed” and “get dressed.” Once I cross off these easy items, I feel more confident in my ability to get more things accomplished.

3. Indulge in something I love

The fastest way to pick me up is to indulge in something I love. This can be a glass of wine, tofu red curry from my favorite Thai restaurant, or a square (or two) of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate. I am able to explore rich, bold and intensely delicious dark chocolate with Ghirardelli Intense Dark.

4.  Cozy up with a good book

If I’m being honest, 99% of the books I read are for ages 5 and under. So, when I’m feeling stressed it feels really good to put myself first and read something that I want to read!  

A good book + a Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate bar makes for one happy mama.

There you have it, the four things I do to fill my cup when it’s empty. But, these are just the things that work for me. You have to take time to figure out what will work for you. The journey is also part of the beauty of self-care.How do you take care of yourself? Whatever you do, consider adding Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate to your self-care routine. You can find it at a Publix near you!