Talking about sex can feel awkward. Learn 5 ways to discuss consent, boundaries, STI testing, pregnancy, and more with your...
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Same Day Appointments Available
Same Day Appointments Available
Same Day Appointments Available
As Mother’s Day approaches, it is easy to get caught up in all the wonderful things that motherhood brings: the smiles, hugs, love, laughter, and joy of motherhood. And if you are lucky on Mother’s Day, you may even be blessed with flowers, gifts, and handmade cards. But let’s get real…
BEING A MOM IS HARD WORK – and sometimes the hardest part is remembering to take care of you.
Let’s take a minute and look at the roles that we, as moms, have! We are:
Being a mom is demanding, hard, and exhausting – but oh so fulfilling!
Let’s look at 3 ways you can take care of you this Mother’s Day season – physically, emotionally, and spiritually:
I’m sure it seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day, so focusing on physical health and exercise often gets pushed to the bottom of the “To Do” list.
Studies show that just 30 minutes of exercise 3- 5 times a week can have a huge impact on your health. Exercise helps build your immunity, boosts your energy levels, builds your bones, and helps you maintain a healthier weight and more positive body image.
Exercise can positively impact your mental and emotional health as well. Exercise is known to release endorphins and ‘feel good’ hormones that boost your mood. It also relieves stress and anxiety, leading to improved sleep.
Decreasing caffeine and staying hydrated are other ways to improve your physical health. Just 64 ounces of water daily can help improve your mood, make your skin healthier, aid digestion, and prevent constipation.
Although being a mom can bring a ton of joy and fulfillment to your life, it can also be isolating and difficult at times.
Stop playing the comparison game. You are YOU. You are uniquely made, with special gifts and talents. Don’t compare yourself to other moms and don’t compare your kids to other people’s kids. Comparing yourself to others can not only steal your joy but can lower your self-esteem. Be proud of yourself and all that YOU have accomplished.
It is also important to increase your real-life support system. Social media can be a great way to unwind, but it can lead to increased anxiety and depression. Surround yourself with a community (friends and family) who you can meet with who will rejoice with you during the good times and uplift and walk beside you during the hard times.
Consider journaling about your thoughts and emotions. Health practitioners say that journaling 30 minutes 3 times a week can have big implications for mental health! Journaling has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, boost physical health, and improve stress management.
You may even benefit from meeting with a therapist or counselor. Meeting with a mental health professional allows you a safe space to speak about and process your past and present. Through therapy, you may find that emotional healing and growth takes place. You may also find it helps you reduce stress and anxiety and develop positive coping mechanisms.
Spirituality is thought to play a big role in a person’s overall health. Some authors suggest that a personal search for something bigger can result in ‘positive emotions, such as peace, awe, contentment, gratitude and acceptance’.
But what is spirituality? Spirituality is often defined as a personal search for meaning, purpose, and connection with something bigger than themselves. Spirituality is often but not always linked to religion. One advantage of belonging to a spiritual/religious community is the ability to build a core base of likeminded individuals who you can walk through life with.
You can search online and find a church near you. Be sure to ask if they have women’s or mom’s groups that you can be part of, as this is a great way to build community and friendships.
You can also find some really great spiritual books and devotions made especially for moms. Take a look at this one:
Remember, being a mom is a wonderful and fulfilling job. You are going to experience some amazing moments of joy and pride. You are going to watch your children blossom into wonderful and well-adjusted adults. You are going to love hard, laugh a lot, and . . . you may even cry a little. You are going to pour all that you have into your children, but you have to remember to take care of YOU!
At Alcove Health we are here for YOU! We provide our clients with a safe space to talk about their pregnancy and sexual health concerns. We’re also happy to provide medical and counseling referrals along with church referrals for our local area. We also help local moms with baby items!
If you’re looking for an online community to connect with local moms, we have that too! Our Alcove Moms Facebook group is an encouraging group of over 500 moms! If you’d like to join, click here.
If you’d like to speak with a member of our team, please call us or request an appointment at the button below.
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