In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the importance of prioritising our health, especially if you’re a mum. Oftentimes, mums will put their health second before anyone else; they’ll put basic needs on the back burner, too. But it’s so important to understand that just because you focus on yourself doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or a bad mum. Sometimes, you need to put yourself first in order to keep doing a good job. It’s your health that’s actually the foundation of a well-balanced life, not love, not support, but health.
This is why it’s so important to just learn and recognise the signs that it’s time to put your health first is crucial for long-term vitality and happiness. Chances are, you might have been putting your health second for so long that you just forgot how it feels to put yourself first. So, here are some signs that it’s time to just stop putting your health on the backburner once and for all.
Constant Lack of Energy
What are your energy levels like? If you’re feeling consistently tired and lacking energy can be a sign of physical and mental exhaustion. If you find yourself dragging through the day, it’s time to assess your lifestyle and make adjustments to support better energy levels. Seriously, this isn’t just “due to old age”; it’s due to lack of vitamins, exhaustion, lack of sleep, lack of good mental health, and the list can go on and on.
The Stress Never Ends
What mum isn’t stressed? Really? Chronic stress and anxiety can take a toll on both mental and physical health. If you’re experiencing persistent stressors, it’s essential to prioritise self-care and implement stress-reduction techniques to safeguard your overall well-being. This doesn’t mean just drinking a glass of wine or buying yourself a cute outfit every once in a while. Sure, these can really help lift spirits, but they don’t get rid of stress.
While sure, sometimes stress does come from outside factors, some of it also comes from a bad diet, lack of sleep, lack of vitamins, and even a lack of being outside. It might even help to look into professionals such as those from Echelon Health to help you out with your health so you can see specifically what’s wrong with your physical health. Just remember, physical health and mental health are directly related.
You’re Ignoring Your Mental Health
This ties in with everything from above. Mental health is as important as physical health; seriously, it is! If you find yourself neglecting your emotional well-being, experiencing mood swings, or struggling with negative thoughts, it’s time to prioritise mental health through activities like therapy, mindfulness, or meditation. While these won’t magically make you feel better, they are going to help a lot.
Unhealthy Eating Habits
Mums are notorious for having bad eating habits, but it’s not entirely their fault. You’re busy with work, the kids, your spouse, and other relations, and at the same time, you need to run the household, too. You need to cook, you need to make sure your kid eats, and sometimes that just means skipping meals, only getting a couple of bites, or having to resort to fast and convenient food to eat because you’re so busy.