Navigating remote work as a mom can be quite tiresome. According to Pew Research Center, 36% of mothers who work from home say they juggle childcare responsibilities alongside their professional duties. This, in turn, has resulted in many women feeling burnt out and unable to catch up on their much-needed rest and relaxation. As such, it's clear that there is a need for moms to practice self-care. Although it’s easier said than done, especially when you feel you lack the time to do so, self-care is essential as it helps boost your mental and physical health.If you’re worried about not knowing where to start, don’t be. Here are four self-care strategies that you should adopt as a mom working from home:

1. Staying active

Staying active is a good way to break the monotony of working from home. But it is also equally beneficial for your emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Of course, do note that getting regular exercise doesn’t mean you need to maintain a rigorous one-hour workout every day.For one, you can simply follow a quick yoga tutorial on YouTube to relieve stress. As a 2020 Business Insider article on the mental benefits of yoga reports, the activity can reduce stress by boosting levels of feel-good hormones like oxytocin in your brain. Besides yoga, walking can likewise help elevate your mood. Consider taking a short walk with your kids after lunch or during the evening. This allows you to take a break from work, keep your blood flowing, and breathe in some fresh air.

2. Investing in ergonomic accessories

Our post ‘How to Master Working from Home with a Toddler’ points out how important it is to create a comfortable work environment as it helps maximize your productivity. Apart from that, though, ensuring your comfort is one way to bolster your self-care efforts. One way you can do so is by investing in ergonomic accessories. As shared by a guide on Pain Free Working, ergonomically designed furniture like a standing desk converter allows you to transition from sitting to standing; you simply need to pull the lever or push the button located at the side of the table. These desks enable your body to move around freely and can decrease the risk of straining your muscles. If you want to take better care of your posture, then you can also consider using back or footrests as well to prevent soreness in your back, neck, and leg area. Ergonomic keyboards can be beneficial in preventing carpal-tunnel pain. Ultimately, the above ergonomic accessories can offer you much-needed comfort while navigating through your day-to-day duties as a work-from-home mom.

3. Downloading self-care apps

Nowadays, it’s hard for moms to follow through with their desire to practice self-care. A 2022 Kuli Kuli report on motherhood shows that one in four working moms complained they’re neglecting common self-care activities like getting enough sleep or exercise, eating healthily, maintaining social relationships, and meditating.Thankfully, there are apps that can guide and motivate you into incorporating self-care techniques in your daily routine. If you have trouble sleeping, for example, then the app White Noise Lite offers ambient sounds you can play in the evening to help you relax. Headspace, on the other hand, provides you with guided meditation exercises that you can seamlessly follow in between working and taking care of your kid. Best of all, these apps offer many meditation options that don't take too long either.

4. Utilizing essential oils

As a work-from-home mom, struggling with work-related issues alongside tending to your child’s needs is common. However, the referenced Kuli Kuli report explains that this experience can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, you can circumvent these emotions by utilizing essential oils.A Journal of Nursing Research study states that essential oils, which are extracted from different plants, are used to improve physical and psychological symptoms. So at the end of a very busy day, consider using the likes of bergamot essential oil, which can enhance sleep quality and promote muscle relaxation. You can likewise transfer your essential oils in a roller bottle. This way, you can easily apply them to your skin in the middle of your packed schedule. As a work-from-home mom, you are deserving of the care needed to improve your mental and physical well-being. Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas on how to make that possible.

Article written by Rosette Johns

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