Ways To Fill Your Cup

2023 has really hit the ground running in our household. Work has been crazy for both my husband and myself, kids are busy with extra curriculars that they of course need to be shuttled to and from. Throw on top of that a total kitchen remodel that we are preparing for. I find myself at many moments feeling overwhelmed. Moments where I need to breathe and remember to think about myself and my needs being met so that I can, in turn, be there for all that my family needs too.

These overwhelming moments are unavoidable as a mom. They often hit at the most inopportune moments too. I often will be focusing on one thing and then all of a sudden, my brain is flooded with to-dos or forgot to-dos and there I am needing to remind myself to just breathe.

We cannot totally cure ourselves from experiencing those moments. It doesn’t matter how much you are killing it in life, it will still hit you. The more we just accept that feelings of defeat and being overwhelmed simply means we are humans; and moms; I find the better I can then react to it without letting it make me feel like some complete failure in that moment.

In the midst of what is already proving to be a busy year, I decided to think about ways I can re-fill my cup and re-center myself. Ways I can put my needs first, at times, knowing that ultimately that helps my family. Some are just me-time moments which might not be for everyone but I know that I need this in order to recharge. I challenge you to do this too. Think about things that work for you and your family. Be honest with yourself and make sure your family remembers that mom is also a person who has needs.

Here is a list to get you started but by no means does it catch all the ways, even small, we can be sure to be thinking about our cups not running on empty this year.

Join a church group
Get a pedicure and allow yourself to actually relax during it
Read a book or a magazine and tell your family no interruptions for a certain allotted time
Find a church that gives you community
Splurge on an overpriced latte
Get enough sleep (7-9 hours)
Take a walk in the fresh air
Listen to a podcast
Pray
Take a few minutes to just focus on your breathing
Plan a monthly moms night with your friends
Look into joining MOPS or other community groups as a way to build connections
Find something to make you laugh on those days that are particularly tough
Take a yoga class. Don’t worry about what others are doing, just focus on a good stretch and breathing
Start going to church regularly (if you have gotten out of the habit)
Lead a church group if you have felt called to do so but just need a little nudge
Assign chores to your family and make sure they know it’s important to you that they help out
If you do all the cooking, talk to your spouse about taking a couple of nights off your plate
Sleep in on a weekend morning or at least lay there and ask your family for no interruptions
If you have had a hobby in mind you have never quite gotten around to, make it a priority this year
If you are a morning person, wake up before your family to work out or just get quiet time before chaos begins
If your kids are school aged and you work, take a PTO day with zero guilt and make it a day all about you