A Simple Way To Upgrade Your Self-Care Routine

Up until recently, I didn’t have a self-care routine and my beauty routine is still in the works. I used to tell myself that I didn’t have time, that it was too expensive, and that it wasn’t a need, let alone a priority.

Within the last two years, I’ve been learning about makeup, getting mani-pedis, and other indulgences that I never ever enjoyed before my 35th birthday.

What shifted?

My maternal ideal of being self-sacrificing went out the window, and with it, my feeling guilty for taking time for myself, and my sabotaging my own self-confidence.

As moms, we are always taking care of others, and it’s often easy to get caught up in the mundane and forget to take care of ourselves, even when we mean to get to it “last minute.” Or even worse, we don’t forget it, we just disregard it because we don’t feel worthy of it.

A study revealed that the average mom gets 17 minutes to herself a day. Because of mom guilt or lack of worthiness, those 17 minutes may not be spent in self-care, which causes moms to be frazzled, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

Moms need to take care of three main areas: body, mind, and spirit. I used to neglect them all, but my body was always last on my list, because I considered most self-care and beauty routines a luxury.

Do you ever feel like this?

Of course there could be as many ways to take care of ourselves as there are moms in the world, so think about what you would like to do and are not doing that could make a difference in your mental, spiritual, and physical wellbeing.

Because I’m challenging my paradigm and growing in my resolution to put myself on the list – without guilt – I make it a point to upgrade my self-care routine. As I do so, I feel more confident and I am a better me… and a better mom.

I recently partnered with Dove and DiMe Media to try the Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant, and found it to be an easy way to upgrade your self-care and beauty routine. Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant offers 48 hours of odor and wetness protection, which is a dream for a busy mom on the go. It also leaves your underarms feeling soft and smooth, which can be a major win on a hard day, and the luxury factor (in a good way) is that it comes in 15 yummy fragrances.

Most moms think of self-care as bubble baths or deluxe mani-pedis, but investing in an antiperspirant that offers a supremely moisturizing formula could give us an instant confidence boost.

Think about it, deodorant is one of those items we all use, every day. But we often settle:

Shouldn’t you be spending that money on your kids? Just get a deodorant that works! ~ says the little voice in your head…

But let me be the other voice in your head, saying:

you are worth a self-care routine

you are worth investing in

you are worth an upgrade

The little things you do to take care of yourself impact your family in positive ways you can’t even imagine, so even when you think you’re being selfish, think again: you’re caring for others when you’re caring for yourself.

If you’re often feeling like you’re treading water and trying to stay afloat, your self-care routine will keep you from drowning. Switch your mindset like I did (still am) and make self-care a habit and a priority.

When a mom neglects her self-care, everything suffers: her mood, her health, her marriage, her motherhood skills…everything. As we dismiss the most basic ways to care for ourselves, we sabotage our ability to function and we drain out the energy it takes to be a sane mom.

If like me, you’ve always neglected yourself, you may not know right off the bat what your ideal self-care routine is. I’ve learned through trial and error what feels right, but it takes willingness and courage to be vulnerable. Don’t be scared… it’s worth it, and upgrading the essentials is a great, simple way to start. An #EssentialUpgrade!

When you upgrade your self-care and beauty routine, as a mom, you can:

1. have more energy
2. feel less frazzled and more focused
3. be more present with your kids
4. act more loving and less snappy
5. be more patient and less demanding
6. get more done in less time
7. be able to better handle life’s inevitable challenges

To live a balanced life, we must take time for ourselves and invest in our own wellbeing. Only then we will be able to be our best at this job we call motherhood.

Are you ready for an upgrade?

I know I am.

To learn more about Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant you can visit Dove on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

[ela]