By: Gwendolyn Osborne

Life—it comes with all of its unexpected twists and turns, doesn’t it?

Throw in motherhood, and now mothers are expected to handle all the responsibilities that come with that as well!

A single mother once as a teen mum, and now as a divorced mum of 3 (yes, I’m British), I am navigating the co-parenting life and keeping up with my creative, talented, and energetic kids (ages 9, 14, and 26). I know, there’s an adult on this list, but she will always be my kid! Believe me, parenting doesn’t get easier as they get older, just different. I know the daily challenges of trying to do it all and trying to be there for everyone. However, I know I can manage all the chaos life throws at me by finding ways of practicing self-care to help replenish my energy naturally.

We have all probably heard and read about ways of practicing self-care before; I have a realistic and guilt-free approach that helps me take care of my energy, keeps me physically active, maintains my mental wellbeing, and allows me to beautify-ingly (I made that up!) glow from the inside out. Let me share the four vital components that help me practice self-care, refueling the much-needed energy I need for a very busy day.

Firstly, whether we have a newborn or a teenager, carving out some quiet time for ourselves is imperative for our mental well-being and a vital component of self-care. Grab your phone and download a meditation app, such as Headspace or—my favorite—Calm. Find 5 minutes in your day where all you’re expected to do is breathe, listen to the sounds or words from the app and meditate. If walking is meditation to you then pop in those earbuds and do some movement with a meditation app. Getting the blood pumping is always a great refresher for the brain.

My second component of incorporating self-care is by adding movement to my everyday life. How we choose to move our bodies, stay active, and work out, is an important personal choice! Maybe we’re into dance, running, or yoga. Or, our definition of ”movement” could be tackling life’s everyday responsibilities and errands (which can be like running a marathon).

To have an abundance of energy to keep up with our demanding lives, we need to energize our cardiovascular system to build a healthy endurance, creating a flow of oxygen that boosts energy throughout the body. A consistent flow of movement provides the natural burst of energy needed to deal with “adulting.”

Try different movement activities and exercises that focus on one part of the body for 15-20 minutes a day, or a few times a week. Sometimes, people get completely overwhelmed and easily give up on movement because they think they need to have a full-body and completely sweaty workout. Movement doesn’t have to be defined in that way—it’s simply about getting the blood flowing to help create more energy.

It’s time to reframe our thoughts on what being active means—even a stretch against a wall is considered a movement in my books! I suggest stretching the back against a wall at least once a day because it also helps with posture. If we can include our child in the workout, then bravo! We’re incorporating movement into our life that is also fun for them. It’s good to show our kids that movement is important to us. It’s important to teach our kids how a day should be structured, and what should be incorporated into our schedules.

The third vital component for self-care for a very busy life is nourishment. Nourishing our bodies with proper and natural foods is a beautiful offering of self-care. Proper foods help replenish and refuel our energy naturally, so deciding what to refuel our bodies with will naturally be key. When choosing snacks, grab a protein bar with natural ingredients instead of Oreos. (Don’t get me wrong, I love Oreos—and they’re vegan—which gives me a great excuse sometimes.)

Caring for our overall diet with at least 3 meals rich in nutrients will keep our skin, hair, and teeth at their healthiest. As a result of my Jamaican mother, I've always been geared towards the more natural, chemical-free, non-toxic, vegan products. As we pay attention to what is in the ingredients we consume, we can take the opportunity to start paying attention to the ingredients of not only the products we eat but the products we use.

This brings us to the fourth and final component of practicing self-care: a proper skincare routine.

Now, I am and have always been one for a one-and-done, “bing-bang-boom” routine. There are so many nights when I feel done for the day and I cannot be bothered with a 5-step routine of cleanser, toner, exfoliation, and moisturizer. For that exhaustion, I’ve got a secret hack—I skip the toner and use an effective facial oil that helps moisturize the skin and balance the skin cells.

Finding clever beauty hacks is an excellent way to practice realistic self-care. Having glowing skin can make anyone feel good, and gives a little boost of self-confidence and energy.

To recap, meditation gives our brain the space it needs to breathe, relax and recharge. Body movement re-energizes the cardiovascular system for more energy. Nourishing food refuels and replenishes your body. Lastly, a natural skincare routine rich in nutrients helps us radiate and glow from the inside out! I hope I’ve shared a few good tips to help incorporate realistic and guilt-free self-care practices to help out with “mom life”. It’s not essential to incorporate all four components (some days it could just be one or two—that’s still a win!) □

About the Writer

Gwendolyn is an accomplished actor, singer, public speaker, entrepreneur, and certified meditation and nutrition coach. Gwendolyn’s drive to pursue excellence in her life has always been inspired by her three talented and creative children, ranging from 9 to 26 years old, which was her main inspiration for her skincare line, Lomolique. When she’s not acting or speaking on stage, Gwendolyn interviews women from all different backgrounds and careers on her podcast, Tea with Gwen. Her mission in life is to empower women to connect with their authentic power, beauty, and truth.

Article Credits

Gwendolyn’s Instagram: @itsgwendolyn

Gwendolyn’s Website: gwen-osborne.com