Self-Care

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“You can’t serve from an empty vessel.”

~ Eleanor Brownn

This was one of the most profound things I ever learned as a doula. The idea that, to take care of my clients, I had to take care of myself, was a total revelation. It took me a long time to figure out exactly what that meant.

After all, before I was a doula, I was a mom. And all parents know what it is to put their children first. Their spouse. Their job.

At the end of the day, you are too exhausted to take time for yourself! You just want to fall into bed and catch a few hours of sleep before the baby wakes, or the alarm sounds.

And making it to yoga class, or a day at the spa? Forget it!

So what could I do, to take care of myself? How could I “fill my vessel” in  a short period of time? Here are 5 ways to love yourself, in 15 minutes or less.

1. Colour:

It’s a huge trend, it’s fun, and it’s proven to help you relax. Whether you use crayons, pencil crayons or markers doesn’t matter. You can print pages to colour for free, or you can buy a book. There are subjects and themes to suit everyone!

2. Drink your coffee hot:

Don’t have time for a coffee date with friends? Be your own coffee date. Get up a few minutes early, or wait to pour your cup until the kids are out the door. Instead of reheating your coffee (and forgetting it in the microwave!), drink it hot the first time around. You can even make it fancy and buy flavoured creamers or special coffee blends.

3. Meditate:

It can be hard to do this without guidance so pick a guided meditation. There are lots to choose from! The Honest Guys on YouTube have guided meditations on just about every topic! Many of them are just 10-15 minutes long. They also have fantastic mediations for insomnia, and what parent couldn’t use a little help drifting off to sleep?

4. Shower:

This one might seem a little obvious, but as postpartum doulas we often see new parents who have gone a few days without a shower. Bathing can be the ultimate self-care act. You have to literally care for your body. Make it a pleasant experience; pick shampoo and body wash that smells good and feels nice. Close the door so no little ones open the shower curtain and surprise you. Take that time to let the water wash away your stress as you take care of yourself.

5. Have sex:

This one might sound like work, but the act of letting someone love you can be wonderfully restorative. The endorphin rush will put a spring in your step, and reconnecting with your partner or yourself in such an intimate way will ease stress and tension. Just remember our tips for sex in the postpartum period.