Sometimes I feel frantic during the day, with Wyatt constantly on the go (making messes everywhere), and with all of our activities and responsibilities around the house, time flies. It’s hard to remember what’s important in life, sometimes self-care takes a backseat, a basic and seemingly simple part of life that shouldn’t be overlooked. When I was a “new mom” there would be days I didn’t brush my teeth or wash my face, I know it’s gross, but it’s the truth. Wyatt’s needs always came first, and sometimes I would just be too darn tired!
Transitioning from a normal job with normal hours where I had to be somewhere dressed and looking presentable…to a job where I “stay at home” and my boss (16-month-old Wyatt) doesn’t care what I look like, took some getting used to in the routine department. No longer do I hop in the shower after my alarm goes off, brush my teeth, blow dry, eat breakfast and drink a coffee. Now I wake up to a baby, feed him, brush his teeth and tend to his needs to start my day.
Over the past 16 months since Wyatt was born, my routine has had to change to fit his schedule. At the beginning, there was no difference between pajamas and regular clothes, my frequency of teeth brushing definitely took a hit and coffee was often cold if it was even drank at all. For any SAHM (stay at home mom), I think it’s important to have a daily self-care routine even if it’s different than what you’re used to or it changes every few weeks. Remember, you can’t take care of your child unless you also take care of yourself. I always think about how on airplanes they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before your child, which seems selfish, but actually makes sense because if you do down the child is helpless anyways. Take the time to make time for yourself, and fit it in where it makes sense, make it simple for yourself.
Having pure and gentle products I can trust makes self-care a little easier. We have Ivory products in our shower, I love this heritage family brand which has been trusted for 138 years as ‘The Original Gentle Family Brand.’ My family has used Ivory since before I was born, my mom remembers using it at her grandma’s house when they’d visit her, it’s a brand that reminds me of a simpler time and to remember what matters most.
Here’s a snapshot of my self-care routine as it fits into my schedule being a stay at home mom.
Before Baby Wakes
This is a time I use strictly for sleeping. I am NOT a morning person so the more ZZZ’s I can get in the morning hours, the better. However, some SAHMs I know who are more efficient in the morning (and have a baby who sleeps) do like to set an alarm and get a workout in or a shower before their baby wakes up. I don’t think this will ever be the case for me, but consider me jealous of anyone who makes this work.
Morning
Coffee, Breakfast, Brush Teeth
Currently, when Wyatt wakes up he gets milk and I make coffee, then I make both of us breakfast. This was harder when Wyatt was an infant and was just nursing, breakfast and lunch were often skipped because babies are very needy! Hopefully whenever baby #2 happens, I’ll be more cognizant of my own self-care. After breakfast, we both brush our teeth together. Also Wyatt is obsessed with brushing his “eeee” and doesn’t really let us forget to brush them.
While Baby Naps
Workout, Shower, Hair, Makeup + Get Dressed
Wyatt’s nap schedules have varied a lot over the past 16 months, but currently he goes down for a 2-3 hour nap at around 11am. This is when I can get an in-home workout done (I’m currently NOT doing a good job keeping a workout routine). Other ways I get my exercise in as a SAHM are stroller workout classes, and when Wyatt was younger we’d do long walks in the stroller especially when he wasn’t a great sleeper, he’d nap in the stroller. Some gyms offer babysitting for babies, so check in your area to see if there are any that do if you were a gym person pre-baby.
Next I shower. Anytime Wyatt napped over the past 16 months was always the best time for me to shower (especially when we were sleep training and he’d cry it out, the shower would drown it out.) Sometimes a quick shower was all I’d get before he woke up, or I’d skip a shower because a nap for myself in those early months was more important. The shower is my “me” time that I try to relax and NOT feel frantic during. Checking my mental state is also an important part of my self-care routine, and I find I can clear my head in the shower the best. I use Ivory Free & Gentle Body Wash with Pear & Sandalwood. It’s free of dyes and parabens, contains the #1 Dermatologist-Recommended moisturizing ingredient (my skin can break out depending on the season), and the pear and sandalwood scent is amaze. I feel at ease knowing Ivory is a pure, trusted formula for 138 years and the vintage-inspired packaging reminds me of a more simple time, and refocus on what’s important.
When Tim showers, he prefers a bar of soap and uses the Ivory Original 3-bar. It has a new look, but is the same pure soap free of dyes and heavy perfumes (he wants to smell fresh, but still manly!)
After I feel sufficiently relaxed and clean, I blow dry my hair, do my makeup and get dressed for the rest of the day.
Afternoon
Lunch, Exercise & Fresh Air
With Wyatt’s current nap schedule (usually one long nap starting between 10-11am), I try to plan most of our classes and playdates for the afternoon after his nap. We use the morning to play at home and then I can get ready when he’s napping. When he wakes up, we eat lunch together, and then I make sure we get out of the house and get some FRESH AIR, and any other exercise.
Nighttime
Dinner, Wash Face
After we eat dinner together as a family, Wyatt takes a bath. Now that I’m a parent, I search for simple, gentle cleansers designed to be sensitive on skin and serious on clean. As all moms do, I have a lot going on and anything that will help simplify my life is important so I can spend more time on the things that matter. We love using the Ivory Original Body Wash on Wyatt. They have a new gentle formula, it’s free of dyes and heavy perfumes, and it doesn’t dry his skin out, even in the winter.
While he has bath time and I’m already in the bathroom, I wash my face and take off my makeup. I find that if I wait until I actually go to bed instead of taking off my makeup during this time, the chances that I actually do it go way down. (I know it’s bad, but I HATE doing it.) And of course I moisturize.
When Baby is in Bed
“Me Time,” Brush Teeth, Sleep!
I use this time to relax, blog, or do any other self-care routines like painting my nails or doing a hair or face mask. After I’ve most likely had too many snacks, I brush my teeth, my hair goes up in a pony and I head to bed!
This is just my routine, and it’s not always the same and hasn’t been since the time Wyatt was born, but as a stay at home mom, it’s important that I remember my own self-care. Even though I don’t need to put on professional clothes, it still helps me feel like I’m living the day by changing out of my pajamas and actually getting ready (not to say I wear a full face of makeup every day, let’s be real). And for anyone (especially new moms) struggling with their own self-care, just try to fit things in where they make sense!
Thank you to Ivory for sponsoring this post. They are a trusted family brand that makes products that are pure and simple, and we all need a little more simplicity in our lives these days!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ivory. The opinions and text are all mine.
What do you think?