by Prue Henschke | Aug 25, 2019 | Two minutes with interview series
When was the last time you had “me-time” and how did you spend that time?
I actually try really hard to have “me-time” at least once a day and go to the gym! That is the best form of stress relief, energy elevator and just good old fashioned healthy living for me. If I’m home with my son I take him with me and he goes and plays at the daycare there, or on days I’m working, I make time in the morning and plan to get ready there ! Some days, like today, I’m extra lucky and I got a pedicure as well 🤗
What are some of your favourite ways to practice self care?
It’s easy to feel guilty doing anything for yourself when you have a child but it is SO important ! I still get my nails done, I go to the gym daily, my husband will give our son his bath so I can have a few minutes uninterrupted to get the house organized which surprisingly feels really amazing ! Somedays I may decide to nap when my son is because that’s totally necessary and perfectly ok to admit you’re just plain tired !
What advice would you give to mamas struggling to create “me-time”? How do you make time in your schedule for yourself?
It definitely takes time to find the right balance. When my son was just born I would maybe go to the gym once a week if I was lucky, which was hard for me, but as he got older I would just tell myself it was good for the both of us and that helped me make myself a priority. You can’t be the best mom if you’re running on empty or feeling exhausted, you need to take care of you and it’s also important to give yourself grace. Somedays doing nothing is self care and that’s totally OK!
by Prue Henschke | Aug 18, 2019 | Two minutes with interview series
When was the last time you had “me-time” and how did you spend that time?
The last time I had “me time” was a quick trip to the salon for some waxing yesterday. Not the most relaxing activity, but I was alone and they gave me hot coffee, so it counts!
What are some of your favourite ways to practice self care?
I love to get out of the house on my own for coffee or a massage. I also like to take a hot bath and read a book once my son is in bed - it’s so relaxing. I go to book club once a month, and just meeting up with friends to catch up can be so refreshing.
What advice would you give to mamas struggling to create “me-time”? How do you make time in your schedule for yourself?
I really have to schedule time for self care, and I try to do little things in throughout the day. For me, something as small as putting on lip balm or hand cream is a quick pick me up, and I prioritize drinking enough water and having a coffee or tea every day. I go for walks with my son whenever we have time.
For “me time” and things like workouts and massages, I really have to schedule them. I do shift work and my husband works until 5:30 Monday to Friday and does freelance work in the evenings. We also share a car, so timing is tricky and we often feel like we just don’t have enough hours in a day.
I usually have to exercise after our son goes to bed, and I often skip it because I’m tired, but I’m trying to make it more of a priority because it’s so important. I schedule a deep tissue massage once a month, usually after night shifts when my son will be at the sitter’s anyway.
I went back to work when my son was a year old, and when I was still on mat leave, I had a friend watch him for a few hours once a week while I went for coffee by myself, or just spent some quiet time alone at home. Those little breaks did wonders for my mental health. As mothers, we sometimes spend so much time looking after everyone else that just having a little “time off” to look after ourselves can make a big difference!
by Prue Henschke | Aug 11, 2019 | Two minutes with interview series
When was the last time you had “me-time” and how did you spend that time?
As of today I’m a little over 7 weeks post-partum and have not had any true “me-time.” My post-partum journey has been a whirlwind and all of the unexpected happened. I wound up spending a week in the hospital due to major blood clot issues so it kind of threw me off. Over July Fourth weekend I’m travelling back to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and staying with my parents for a month. I don’t have too many plans but I def have some scheduled “me-time” and hope to relax with a new book by the pool!
What are some of your favourite ways to practice self care?
Although routines don’t work so well with a newborn, like how sometimes I don’t brush my teeth or have a coffee until well after noon I really try to keep to a skincare routine morning and night (whether morning means 6:00 AM or 1:00 PM). I also due to the health issues I had after pregnancy have to retrain my lungs so I recently purchased a jogging stroller that is carseat compatible so I can begin to exercise regularly and not have to worry about anyone watching the baby. Lastly, speaking of doing something for myself, I signed up for a 5K and am really trying to make time to train for it which also helps me get back to being healthy and have strong lungs!
What advice would you give to mamas struggling to create “me-time”? How do you make time in your schedule for yourself?
Ask for help! No-one warned me how crazy and exhausted you are from having a newborn. Everyone just talks about how cute their kids are but to be honest I was miserable and utterly exhausted. I suggest asking people close to you to help you, my mom was a godsend and next time around I want to hire a night nurse because I now know I will be a much better mother and person with proper sleep and recovery (I had an emergency c-section).
As for making time for myself - my husband works crazy hours so we both try to coordinate our calendars so that we can each fit in something we both want to do a few times a week. Whether its me cooking a meal I saw on Instagram or him going to the gym.
by Prue Henschke | Aug 4, 2019 | Two minutes with interview series
When was the last time you had “me-time” and how did you spend that time?
As a mom, anytime I’m alone without my daughter even if it’s for an hour, is “me-time” for me and the last time was actually this past week when she went with her dad. I spent this time burning candles, relaxing in bed and reading a book. It was pretty relaxing and I honestly get to enjoy this about once or twice a week.
What are some of your favourite ways to practice self care?
Some of my favorite ways to practice self care are to apply a face mask, relax outdoors in my hammock, read a book, and just recently, I started to journal.
What advice would you give to mamas struggling to create “me-time”? How do you make time in your schedule for yourself?
Honestly, I would say to take that time, no matter what there’s is always some time for “me-time” it’s so easy for us to forget to unwind and focus on ourselves for a bit but we need to, even if it’s for 5 minutes. Take that walk, drink that tea, do whatever you need to do to just relax and focus on yourself. To avoid overworking myself, when my daughter naps, I try to take at least 15 minutes for myself before I start to clean up or working on my business.
