Being a mom comes with a lot of challenges. It’s rewarding and amazing, but there are hard days for sure. One of the things we avoid doing is to focus on our mental health. We end up stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out more days than we can count. It’s a challenge. There are some essentials that can help moms with their mental health.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

Moms need to stop comparing themselves to other moms. It’s okay to hop online to look for a few tips to help you manage your household or deal with discipline issues and parenting. But don’t get stuck in the trap of comparing yourself to the other mom. Your self-talk should be filled with things that help your mental health and self-esteem. If you’ve just had a baby, instead of lamenting the fact that you aren’t instantly to your pre-baby weight, say things like, “My body is so powerful, look what I just did” or “Can you believe that my body went through all those hard changes in such a short amount of time? How incredible is that?”  

Lay Off The Wine

You’ve seen all the mom wine memes and while they are a little funny, there is a dark side to them that is not funny. It’s okay to enjoy a glass of wine on occasion. It’s okay to go out with friends and responsibly have a drink or two from time to time. But if you need a glass of wine just to cope with the stress of work and motherhood each day, you’re in dangerous territory. There is nothing funny about alcoholism, but there is help out there.

Ask For Help

Asking for help is one of the hardest things moms do. Somehow it feels like we are in this unspoken competition to do everything on our own and to do it the best. The truth it most moms have a breaking point. Moms need to learn when to ask for help. Not just with the little things, but with the big things. If your mental health is suffering it’s okay to seek out help from qualified professionals. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you brave. If all you need is someone to come help with clean-up and dishes, look for a mother’s helper. You’d be amazed at how a little help can go a long way.

Learn To Say No

Are you a yes mom? Do you say yes to every event and every ask that comes your way? Protect your energy and your schedule. Don’t say yes to everything. There is no need for your weekends to be filled with back-to-back-to-back birthday parties, events, practices, and games. Allow for space, breaks, and time to just be a family together. While there are seasons that ebb and flow, only you know when it’s too much. If someone wants to get together and you’d love to but you already have a lot on your plate, be prepared to tell people something like, “I’d love to, but this weekend isn’t good for that. What about next week on Thursday or Friday?”

Get a Hobby Just For You

You probably spend a lot of time carting kids to and from their activities. It’s important that you also have a hobby on the schedule just for you. Whether you like to go to the gym, read books, write stories, take photos of nature, go for hikes, or even play golf, do something because you love it. Sometimes motherhood can feel like everyone else gets the best of you, and you get the leftovers. Learning to paint or taking a cooking class can help you feel like you can also enjoy something in life too. Children are wonderful, but having a hobby gives you something to do for you.

Eat and Drink Nourishing Foods

Don’t forget to take care of your body. Healthy foods help you feel better, give you more energy, and can help you build a healthy body. Certain teas are beneficial to your health in different ways. Try something new and delicious. With these tips you can boost your mental health no matter what stage of life you are parenting.