4.
Thank you for taking our self-care quiz. Your self-care type is:
Nurturing
Your MantraMothers need mothering tooYour 10 minute podcast prescriptionThe Therapy Edit: On feeling calmer in chaosYour book recommendationMind over Mother: Every mum’s guide to worry and anxiety in the first years. By Anna MathurYour answers have prompted us to share some small ways to help you feel nurtured as you nurture your baby. I know it can feel impossible to think about ways to look after and nurture yourself when the needs of your baby are so constant, but we have lots of suggestions to help you get more of what you need, so that you can thrive through this time along with your baby.Finding ways to nurture yourself, and allow others to support you through this time, is actually a huge act of love for your baby. So often we see mother love as purely about giving and meeting needs. So much so in fact, that your own needs can easily get overlooked and forgotten about. Consider how it would be if you approached your babies feelings and needs in the same way you approach your own. If that creates a jarring image, remember that you are of equal value to your loved baby. Your needs, feelings, hopes and dreams are important, and the more you’re able to acknowledge and respect them, the happier you will be. And as you thrive, your baby will thrive also.If anyone has told you to ‘rest when the baby rests’ you won’t be alone in the secret eye rolling that followed. Motherhood is a time when life steps up a gear, identity shifts, relationships change shape. There is so much to process when you’re tired and finding your feet, be it for the first, third or fifth time! Yet, your needs are incredibly important, and whilst it is certainly harder to rest, and to do those things that used to fill you up, it is possible. Often we have to start to challenge and change our approach to rest and self-care, addressing the guilt, anxiety and comparison that create the hurdles between identifying what you need, and actually finding a way to meet that need, even in a small way.Here are some ways to feel nurtured as you nurture your baby. Self-care for you might look like putting the to-do list aside for a moment. Some self-care tips for you:• Reprioritise your to-do list: The to-do list is quite simply endless. However, you are not. How can you nudge yourself back up the list? Especially when those opportunities to rest arise whilst the washing pile is towering in a corner. As you prioritise the things that will refuel you, you’ll tackle the things that need to be done more efficiently. • Mother yourself: How can you replace any inner-critic with an inner mother? Encourage yourself towards nurturing habits, taking yourself off to bed at a good time, prompting yourself to eat and drink with a kind maternal, inner voice.• Allow all feelings: Motherhood comes with so many conflicting emotions. Overwhelm and joy, resentment and gratitude, to name a few. Try not to judge the emotions that arise, they are not a reflection on how good a mother you are, but tend to be natural, human responses to the circumstances!• Seek support: If you have any concerns around your mental health, please seek speak to doctor, and if possible, a trusted friend or family member.We truly believe that whilst as mothers, our attention and energy is focussed on our babies and children, we need to be nurtured too. Founder and Psychotherapist, Anna Mathur, is incredibly passionate about equipping mums to reframe their attitude towards the things that often stand in the way of happiness and joy in motherhood. Think tips and tools to change the way you approach self-care, rest, guilt and anxiety.Here are two resources from The Anna Mathur Toolkit we think you’ll love:The Happy New Mums Guide £20: The Happy New Mums Guide is focussed entirely on you. We aren’t here to tell you how to manage routine, or which way to wean. We nurture, support and equip you in navigating the emotions that come with motherhood in the healthiest, most affirming and fulfilling way possible. Through warm and easy to listen to videos, audios and optional journal prompts, Psychotherapist, and mum of three, Anna Mathur, provides you with a wealth of advice and tools to help you thrive. As you find your guilt, shame, self-criticism, exhaustion and comparison ease, you make space for more happiness, more support and more confidence. And who, who amongst us, wouldn’t benefit from more of those things?Anna believes that whilst guilt, worry, anxiety, self-questioning, burnout (and more) are overwhelmingly common in motherhood, you do not have to accept them as your normal. Anna helpfully and compassionately touches on taboo topics of rage, resentment, trauma and intrusive thoughts.As Anna supports you in reshaping the way you feel about rest and self-care, you’ll begin to see how important, and possible it is to move your way up your own list of priorities, back to where you belong.Mothering The Mother Sofa Session £12: Are you feeling worn down by this past year? Do you feel like your identity and self-esteem have taken a hit? Are you questioning whether you'll ever find balance or feel energised again? Let Anna's words encourage and equip you. Grab a cosy spot on the sofa (or even in the bath!) and expect to be encouraged and equipped as Anna shares her professional and personal insight.
