As a mom, do you ever find it hard to make time for yourself? Feel like you are abandoning your kiddos, like they need you and only you? Or do you avoid burdening others with the job of caring for them for a few hours or days? I completely understand! This was me for almost 10 years of motherhood!
However, when I started dealing with anxiety and depression, hiking and being in nature was a huge part of my healing. Below I’ll share three things that made taking time away worth all the work of setting up alone time, giving me the chance to recharge, move the stress out of my body and build supportive community.
1. I can’t wait to miss you.
Honestly, if one more person asks for help with their shoes, a drink, or wiping, I’m going to lose it! Before I learned how healthy it was to take time for myself, I was always depleted. One day I heard a friend on her way out the door for a weekend alone say to her children, “I can’t wait to miss you.” Ha! It was brilliant.
Time away from each other is so healthy. I love finding a few hours on the weekends and a few days once or twice a year to go away and hike with friends. This gives me such valuable time to recharge and be ready to hop back into parenting with fresh energy.
Pro Tip: Don’t check in while you are off the clock. I know the person caring for your child is capable (otherwise, you wouldn’t have left your kids!). So take a deep breath and be present on your hike.
2. Move it out of your body.
Living in modern society is stressful. Add motherhood on top of that and it’s too much for our bodies to handle! But the good news is you can complete the stress cycle and move it out of your body by raising your heart rate for 20-30 minutes. So while it may seem selfish to take a few hours to yourself on the trails, it’s actually repairing your body and is vital for your health!
3. You are not alone.
As a mother, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed with raising good little humans. It can be all consuming, and we can lose ourselves in this important task. We sometimes even forget that we need love and support just like our kids.
Finding a community of supportive women to encourage you is such a gift for your mental health! Whether they are encouraging you to come out and hike or to take on a challenge and backpack into the woods, it is so nice not to be alone. Also, conversations that happen on the trials are pure gold. We are better together!
A hiking group that encourages self care, community, and moving your body in nature can be such a beautiful way to care for yourself and recharge.
Take a deep breath. You are amazing and worth the time and effort needed to care for yourself.
