"Me" time... - Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog

“Me” time, and how I actually make time for it… Well, obviously as a new mom, my life has shifted drastically just like all of yours have. I used to be an incredibly active person. Physical fitness has always been very important to me and it still is, but nowadays I have to try and squeeze it in to tiny windows of time. The best part about this new shift, is I’m totally OK with it because we have Lennox. That being said, I’ve gone from running or hiking daily to 1 to2 times a week, and taking yoga 5 to 6 times a week to once or twice every two weeks if I’m lucky. I remember when I got pregnant I was really worried about losing my yoga practice. It’s funny looking back on what was so important to me then. 🙈 Now I’d rather stay home in the evenings and spend time with my family, help give Lennox a bath and put him to bed. Yes, I miss going to yoga all the time, but nothing compares to hanging out with my baby boy, my little best friend.

How do I make time for me when I’m a full-time mom, wife, working actress, new blogger😉 ? Well, it’s not easy! As I’m sure it’s not easy for you, either. I don’t have some brilliant advice, nor do I ever claim to! HA! But, I do know how important it is for me to have “me” time. Just like I know it’s important for you to have “you” time. I do cherish my yoga classes and that hour and a half where I can focus on my body, my breathing and my own health- it helps me stay centered. I put so much focus into nourishing Lennox with organic and healthy foods, playtime, getting outside so he can get fresh air and explore the world, along with making sure he plays with friends and socializes. But, if I’m not healthy in my mind, body and spirit, I won’t be of much use to my son. I won’t be able to be fully present to his needs and wants if I’m an anxious mess all the time. I know this from experience. When Lennox was first born, there was a dramatic shift in our lives (obviously) and it was very hard for me emotionally and physically… I had challenging postpartum depression that was crippling me. Now that I’m out of that space, and can look back, I realize taking care of myself helps me take care of my son. I know this could come off as selfish, BUT, we have to remember that we are important too. We need to keep our bodies healthy and strong so we can be here for our children. We need to eat healthy foods, try our best to exercise and stretch our bodies. It’s proven that serotonin is released when you exercise, and it’s key to mood regulation. I found a wonderful article that goes into depth and explains that, “serotonin, which is produced by long-term cardio exercise, decreases depression.”

So cheers to healthy, happy lives! Take just a little bit of time for yourself and remember to be kind to yourself too!

Xoxo

Amy