self-care Archives - CURLY AND CANDID

Right now, we are in unprecedented times. If you’re reading this post-2020 we are in lockdown now. Salons and barbers are closes, fashion and make-up no longer seems a priority. Now many people are, thankfully, taking the time to start appreciating inner beauty rather than just focusing on what is going on on the outside. Finding your inner beauty might seem like a simple thing to do, but in practice, it can be quite hard. You look amazing on the outside, and you have impeccable fashion taste, but how do you feel on the inside? You might have to do a lot of soul searching, and thinking about your past behaviour and where that could take you in the future, to truly answer this question.

Some changes have to be made to ensure the real you can blossom and shine, and allow you to really release the inner beauty you were born with and have cultivated your whole life. Let’s consider a few things you could think about to help yourself feel more esteemable, and like you’ve got a lot more to offer.

Appreciating Inner Beauty: Think About Who You Love

The people around you each and every day are the people you mostly choose to be there – what do they have in common? Because the traits we surround ourselves with speaks to who we are inside, or who we would like to be, and that could be very inspiring once you start to notice this.

Maybe they’re all different in their own little way, but that too can be a common trait in someone’s loved ones; maybe you like something quirky or off the beaten track. But how does that relate to your inner beauty? It means you find goodness in small or different things, and that can mean you’re a person who values people, and not what they do or where they come from. You’re passionate, and appreciate what’s in front of you. As someone who is very keen on mindfulness practices, this point strikes a chord with me.

Think About How You Spend Your Days

What does your average day look like? And what do you think of a day like this? Because what we do can dictate a lot of how we think and behave, and it’s time to notice that. It’s a big part of inner beauty, and you might need to work on the effects of your current schedule.

Even if you’re someone who considers a facelift as an option right now, because the mirror is looking back differently these days, the person we are inside only changes and evolves when we let it. When we take in what we see each and every day, and allow ourselves to learn from it and think about the impacts of these words and behaviours, do we help ourselves to grow into bigger and better versions of ourselves.

Think About What Inspires You

And finally, going back to the point above, think about what fills you with energy when you look at it. What gets you pumped and ready to go, and makes you think of yourself in a better way? Because when you find something that inspires you, you need to surround yourself with it, to ensure your inner beauty has a chance to shine out.

We all have inner beauty, and it’s time to prioritise it. Lean into yourself, and let it out. Journalling can be a really go way to unpack the answers to these questions. This is something I’m doing a lot of at the moment,

It goes without saying that parents are expected to their absolute best for their children and often put their needs first. When was the last time you took the time to do something just for you? Parent self-care is important and helps you with the rollercoaster that is parenting.

Let’s have a look at more details as to why self-care is important and some of the things you can do to look after yourself:

Why is Self-Care Important?

Taking care of yourself when you’re a parent is of paramount importance because you have a huge responsibility with bringing up your children. The different stages that are involved with parenting bring different stresses and it’s all learning curve. This means looking after yourself is important.

It’s no secret that being a parent can be hard at times. Children are on their own path and each child is different. That’s one of the beautiful things about children. A lot of parents say that parenting is completely different from how they imagined it would be. Each stage of parenting brings different challenges, learning and stresses, so looking after yourself is key.

Top Tips for Parent Self-Care

Here a few ideas on how you can provide yourself with some parent self-care:

Nurture yourself – You should try and schedule some time for yourself into your family diary. Even if it’s half an hour a week to read a book, a child-free coffee with some old friends or going for a morning/evening run a few times a week, it will help you to feel replenished and full of energy that your children are going to benefit from.
Make time for each other – Now that you have children it can be far too easy to forget about spending time together as ‘just you’. It’s more important than ever to take the time to still be a couple. Yes, you have duties as parents and these are going to be your top priority, however, spending time together even if it’s just one date night a month will help to keep your relationship strong and happy.
Pamper – Most parents will know and be very familiar with the fact that after having children your self-care routine can change dramatically. Someone who once used to go to the hairdressers on a strict routine and got up each morning to do their makeup may now find that they are makeup-free, have their hair in a scrunchie and haven’t been to the hairdressers in longer than they care to admit. Not only is having a pamper a nice treat for yourself, but it can help you to feel more positive, revitalised and full of confident energy.
Your health- This is again something that parents tend to push to one side once they have children. If their kids become poorly or something just isn’t right they will jump into action and get them the help and treatment that they need, however, when it comes to them it’s a very different story. Your health IS important as a parent though, at the end of the day your children need you to be in tip-top condition. Using things such as a Simple Online Doctor can help take the pressure away and save you time if you ever do need medical assistance.
Nutrition- This is yet another area that parents excel at when it comes to their children and then slip when it comes to themselves. Parents are brilliant at ensuring their kids eat a well-balanced diet and have regular meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner with added healthy snacks and plenty of water but when it comes to them, they will more often than not skip meals, eat quick-grab foods and have fast food late at night. A great way to tackle this is to plan to sit down meals at certain times with the kids. The kids will love it and you’ll be getting the right food that you need to give you the energy to parent.
Get outside – If you have young children getting out and about a few times a week can be beneficial for both them and you, it will help to stop you from going stir crazy at home. Plus you get some fresh air. Have a look at some groups you can attend together, things like baby sensory classes and jungle gyms are brilliant and you can often meet other parents and life long friends.
Encourage chores – Even if it’s as simple as putting their shoes in the cupboard your children will start to understand that everyone in the house should be pitching in. This way you can work as a family team and leave more free time.

This is just a short guide for why parent self-care is important, do you have any methods of self-care that you do as a parent that you could share in the comments below?

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Appreciating Inner Beauty