Taking Care of Me

Over the last couple of years I have not put a high enough priority on looking after myself. Raising a toddler on your own is very demanding and it's easy to put your own needs last. It's very easy to make excuses but if I don't look after myself who will?

There are a number of ways that I have ignored my own needs but I'm looking foward to improving in this area. I have not taken care of my physical appearance or nutured my spirit.

I moved house about 15 months ago and have struggled to find a new hairdresser. I have finally found one that charges a reasonable price for a haircut. My hair grows quickly and goes from looking alright to needing a haircut overnight (or so it seems)! It has then ended up with me needing a haircut for weeks before I get around to it and me feeling awful until then. Now that I have finally found a good hairdresser things WILL be better. I got a cut this week and then booked in for my next appointment while I was there. As I now have an appointment it is scheduled and I can't say that I don't have the time or money (or both) this week. It will happen.

I also have not coloured my hair lately. My hair is a mousey brown colour and I used to get it coloured and then highlights put in. I now can no longer justify the expense or the time it takes. A 3.5 year old is occupied in the hairdressers for the time it takes to get a haircut but throw in a colour and you are just asking for disaster. Instead this week I purchased a colour kit to do at home. I did it on a day when the little fellow was at kinder and felt so much better.

I'm trying to institute a bit more of a beauty regime as well to look after my skin and body. It makes me feel better and can perk me up when I am feeling crap.

I'm also doing a lot more reading and crafting which are activities I really enjoy. (I'll do a whole other post on crafting!)

I also need to spend some time with God. I do pray often during the course of the day, however, I have not spent enough time just being or reading with God. This is another area in which I MUST improve.

These are all simple and reasonably cheap things I can do but should provide a huge benefit (I hope) on my self-esteem. Looking after myself is important for a number of reasons. First it makes me feel better about myself. In addition, me taking care of myself teaches my son that it is important to take care of yourself.