If you’re a mom, caregiver, or just the person who seems to keep everything moving, you’ve probably heard the advice to “put yourself first.”
The problem is, that doesn’t always feel realistic.
In this episode, I’m talking about what happens when your own needs slowly become the easiest ones to postpone. Not because you don’t care about yourself, but because there is almost always something more urgent right in front of you.
I share a few examples from my own life, including labs that caught me off guard, a dentist appointment I kept pushing off, and a bra that hadn’t fit in months. I also share stories from clients who realized they were feeding their kids every day while regularly forgetting to feed themselves.
The goal isn’t necessarily to put yourself above everyone else.
It’s to start including yourself in the care you’re already giving everyone around you.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why “put yourself first” can feel unrealistic for moms and caregivers
- How your own needs can slowly become the easiest ones to postpone
- Why knowing what to do doesn’t automatically mean you’ll do it
- What my own labs taught me about paying attention to my health
- The simple lunch habit that helped one of my clients start eating more consistently
- Why self-care doesn’t have to mean spa days or complicated routines
- How to start thinking about your own needs with the same urgency you give everyone else’s
Your next steps
Start by noticing one thing you’ve been putting off.
Maybe it’s making a doctor or dentist appointment, replacing something that no longer fits, eating lunch consistently, filling your water bottle, or finally handling something you keep telling yourself you’ll get to later.
Then ask yourself:
Where can I include myself in something I’m already doing?
If your kids are eating, eat too. If you’re filling their water bottles, fill yours. If you’re scheduling their appointments, check whether you’re overdue for one of your own.
And if you’re not sure where to start, join the free Routine Reset Challenge. It’s a five-day challenge with short videos designed to help you figure out the simple habits that make sense for your life right now.
You can also send me a message on Instagram at @MalloryYounglove and tell me what you’ve been pushing off.
The goal isn’t to become perfect at self-care.
It’s to remember that you’re one of the people you’re responsible for taking care of too.