So where do we start? FIRST before we get into anything clothes related we have to be okay with our “now body”. Be nice to your body! Think what has my body done for me and what is it still doing? In my case, I used this body to have 3 beautiful children in which I get to use that same body to hug them every day! Let’s embrace the body we have today and dress it with the care and attention it deserves. We are not static we are moving and growing things so also remember that and be gentle with yourself if your working towards a “better body”. Even if you can get to a body nuetral place that’s better than body negative and maybe your working towards specific body goals. For me I’ll never be taller than 5’2” it was never in my cards. I’ve let that go because what other choice do I have?! One of my body goals is to become tone and stronger. As we get older we need more muscle to help our bones stay strong. I want to live a long and healthy life for my girls so gaining some muscle is important to me! I want to walk around with ease even when I’m 95! Who remembers Donna at the beach, she was GOALS!!!
Mental Health is a part of self care we don't really think about and is very important. We don’t really put mental health in the fashion category but I truly believe that everything starts when Your in a good headspace and have a positive attitude. We touched on this above about being happy with your “now body” but I want to add to that. For me personally there are a lot of other things that contribute to my overall mental health. The first one is working out (running mostly), and lots of waking. Walking is good for me mentally because I love listening to information on my walks (via podcasts, books on tape, etc) and also connecting with nature. I also get to bring the baby so I’m simultaneously spending time with her. These things put me in a good head space. I also notice that when I prioritize time to have a clean home and environment that also helps with my mental health. I also feel my best self when I can spend a lot of time with the older kids helping them through various things like homework, life problems, and just day to day spending time with them. I am always with the baby and I love spending time with her taking her to her classes and seeing her milestones. I’ve talked about prioritizing my time with the older girls in the past, they are very busy and that was my personal goal this school year. I also love the fact that Greg and I get to do various date nights and also I love that I can finally go to dinner with friends again (I didn’t go out for an entire year when Emmaline was born!). Lastly and very importantly I love working and being creative. Why am I telling you all this? I encourage you to make a list of things that make you happy and put you in a good head space.
My list looks like this
Being happy with my NOW BODY
Working out
Walks and listening to information and connecting with nature
Spending time with my girls
Having a clean home and space
Date Nights
Time with friends
Working and being creative
Because I know you will ask here are some of my favorite things from the categories above. These are things I have had or spent time being resourceful on curating for myself.
Working Out
Hoka Shoe (game changer)
Cute Set (love most colors) Top, Bottom
Multi-color socks
Other fun stripe socks
Walking Shoes New Balance 9060
Baby Jogger
Favorite Podcasts/Etc.
Dressed, the history of fashion
Citrus & Sun - Cute feel good, can listen with your kids (my girls former K teacher and their current tutor!)
A political one but I won't mention the name because we all have our own politics.
Pre-Loved Podcast Super appropriate for this series
Just B, Lover of all she does.
Head Space (meditation app)
BLINKIST (think cliff notes for books, i love this app)
Clean House
I am still working on this but I am the person that can not go to bed with a sink full of dishes. I try to tidy up throughout the day and do quick 10 min tidies. I am lucky to have an amazing cleaner who comes on fridays with her sister so I don't have to do the deep cleaning. Its still a constant battle and I am working on LESS CRAP so I can spend less time organizing and tiding.
Date Night + Nights With Friends
I try to do one to three date nights/nights out with friends a month. Its not a ton but its a balance that works for me!
Work + Being Creative
This is something that as the girls get older I have more and more time for. Although I find myself having less time with the busy baby. It has been a struggle to prioritize my work and creative time but I know the baby years are numbered. When Emmaline is in school part/full time in the near future I will have more time. For now, I just make time when she is napping, the kids go to bed, I just make it work.
I really hope you stick with the series and do all these exercises with me! For this exercise specifically make a list of things that make you happy and prioritize them the best you can! Also, try to get into the headspace of loving your "now body" maybe you make a list of the things that you love about it, and the a separate list of goals that you might have. The linked items are not meant to influence you into purchase/purchase/purchase but I am just showing that there are things I love that compliment my daily routines. These are ACTUAL things I love and tried and true tested by me.
!
XX
Katie May
