Motherhood is a journey filled with highs and lows. The role of a mother changes as her child
transitions through different stages of life; from the basics of feeding to raising responsible
adults- a mother’s job is endless. As we fulfill this role, how many of us actually take care of
ourselves? What does taking “me time” mean for you?
Our society expects mothers to have it all together and become selfless. Studies show an increase
in women experiencing physical and mental health issues due to lack of self-care. It’s not an
unusual thing for mothers to neglect their health or well being in the process fulfilling many
roles. Are you guilty of that? I know I am. Often, mothers have difficulty finding time for
activities they enjoy doing or if they do, they feel guilty for choosing down time for themselves.
As cliché as it might sound, understand that you are a human being first before you became a
mom. You are a woman with ambitions, goals, hopes, relationships, careers… Perhaps the role
of a mom will be the most important role you’ll ever play but it’s not all that defines you. You
have others relationships or goals in your life that might have taken a back seat since becoming a
mom but, creating time for those relationships and doing things you enjoy are extremely
important to be the best version of yourself.
It’s time to prioritize yourself and recharge your batteries; everything you have to do will still be
there when you get back so don’t let your negative thoughts ruin your “me time”. When you
invest time in yourself, you will feel rejuvenated and have more energy to accomplish your goals.

By: Santa Dastidar, LCSW