Why is Self-care Important for Mom Entrepreneurs
It’s a shame to say, but moms in our time are often expected to do everything for everyone else first, putting themselves last. And when you’re a mom entrepreneur, trying to raise your children and run your business, it can be easy to feel selfish for wanting to take time for yourself. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
Eleanor Brownn said it best,
“Self-care isn’t selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
Listen, it’s time for a little tough love….
On your journey of motherhood and entrepreneurship, you are required to give to your family, your business, and your customers. If you don’t take care of yourself and you keep trying to push through, you'll eventually hit burnout. You won’t have the physical or mental/emotional energy to take care of those who need you most.
It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself so you can be your best for those who are counting on you.
Here's an example I like to use....
You start out on a trip with a full tank of gas in your car. Eventually, though, you’ll come to a point where your gas light comes on telling you that it's time to refuel. Now, imagine you’re in a hurry and you don’t want to stop for gas because of the extra time it will take. You tell yourself, "It'll be ok, I'll make it." and you keep on going. Before you know it though, you're stuck on the side of the road with no way to get to your destination because you've run out of fuel. On the other hand, when that light comes on signaling you to get fuel, if you just take that extra few minutes to refill your tank, you'll be able to make it all the way to your destination.
Just like a car can’t run without fuel, our bodies can’t keep going without fuel either. Resting and practicing self-care are what we need to refuel physically, mentally, and emotionally. Taking that extra few minutes for rest and self-care consistently will prevent burnout and will help you to keep going for those who need you most.
What is Self-care?
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” ~Katie Reed
So what exactly is self-care? Self-care can be a bit hard to define because its meaning has evolved over time, especially since 2020. For this article though, I feel a more recent definition is most appropriate.
In a 2021 analysis from the International Journal of Nursing Sciences self-care was defined as...
“the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance in order to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8488814/
It's also important to remember that health and well-being is referring to your whole being. Everything within us is connected. Physical ailments can cause mental/emotional symptoms, and mental/emotional, even spiritual issues going on can cause physical symptoms. It's all connected, so self-care must be holistic (whole)
So, what does that mean for you as a mom and entrepreneur?
If you want to show up as your best self in both life and business, you're going to have to know yourself better than you ever have before and start taking care of yourself FIRST.
- You must become more self-aware. Self-awareness will allow you to better interpret what your body is trying to tell you about what it needs and when it needs it.
- You must learn to rely on your instincts and trust yourself. You know better than anyone else what's best for your own well-being.
- You must take control of your health and wellness. And not just your physical health, but your mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well.
How to Get Started
Self-care MUST start with self-awareness.
Before you start trying to implement any of the self-care routines you see online, you must first look inward. While getting ideas from others is not a bad thing, the problem is we often get lost in what everyone else is doing. If you start trying a bunch of different routines before you do the internal work, you won't have a point of reference for whether or not a practice is working for you. This can lead to implementing a practice that isn't right for you personally, and doesn't fill you up.
You can get started by asking yourself some questions...
"What do I need and want physically / mentally / emotionally, for where I am right now in my life?"
"How do I feel right now, and how do I want to feel?"
"What is something that used to bring me joy that I haven't done in a while?"
This will help you notice the areas you want to improve, and you can make a plan for HOW you will make those changes.
Self-awareness is a lifelong process because we are always changing and growing. But, once you are in the habit of checking in with yourself and regularly evaluating what you need, you will come to trust your instincts more and you will feel more empowered and in control of your well-being.
Summary
Remember, self-care is not selfish. No matter where you are on your journey of motherhood and entrepreneurship, self-care and rest are absolutely necessary.
Get started by tuning into your body. No one can know better than you what you need physically or mentally/emotionally.
If you are struggling in this area, I want to help!
I’ve created a self-care guide that will help you assess where you are now, determine what you want your self-care goals to be, and help you to achieve them.
You can download the guide now by signing up below.
References
Lally, Phillippa & Jaarsveld, Cornelia & Potts, Henry & Wardle, Jane. (2010). How are habits formed: Modeling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology. 40. 10.1002/ejsp.674.