Moms lead really busy lives. We give time to our families, friends and loved ones. We are really important people! In the midst of serving those around us so well, we can struggle to care for ourselves. We want to be healthy and well. However, it can be difficult to even know how to be a healthy mom.

What Does It Mean to Be Healthy?

When you think about the word health what comes to mind? Your physical body? Things working as they should? Being healthy? Often times, we think of health as relating to just our physical bodies.

We want to be a healthy mom, so we ask ourselves questions like:

• Am I exercising? 
• Did I drink enough water today? 
• Do I need to schedule a dental appointment?

This mindset leaves out other aspects relating to our whole selves that are just as important as the state of our physical bodies: the health of our mind and soul.

Considering these other aspects of our overall health is a holistic approach that is important for moms. We are often balancing many different roles, and it’s important for us to stay healthy. 

Through some difficult circumstances, I discovered the importance of approaching my health in a holistic way and challenge you to do the same.

What is Holistic Health?

These are my simple definitions of what it means take a holistic health approach to care for ourselves mind, body and soul:

• Caring for the mind is engaging our brains in activities that are challenging and stimulating in new ways. 
• Caring for the body is treating the tangible body we inhabit in the best possible way to ensure physical strength and health. 
• Caring for the soul is engaging in activities that nurture our innermost being and foster a sense of joy and peace.

So holistic health is all about considering the individual parts that make up the whole and caring for each of those parts.

A healthy mind, influences a healthy body, which influences a healthy soul, which influences a healthy mind, and the circle goes around and around. All the parts are connected and health in each area matters.

Taking a holistic approach to our health is important to consider so that we optimize our overall health, and become the healthy mom we desire to be.

A Personal Story

Let me use a personal example to help explain what a holistic approach might look like.

I have struggled for years to regularly obtain a good night’s sleep on a consistent basis. I don’t recall ever having been a great sleeper, even as a kid. My best sleeping years were when I lived alone in my early 20’s. I had no interruptions and could control for situations that now consistently hinder me: loud noises, children waking me up, and my spouse snoring; all regular occurrences these days!

Then I got married. 

And I happened to marry someone who falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

What?!?

Now I added internal frustration to my list of things causing me to be unable to fall asleep. I would lay there taking my old, sweet time to fall asleep. Then, I would hear the change in my husband’s breathing, and realize he had already gone off to dreamland. For some reason, it was aggravating.

It made the problem worse.

How could sleep come so easily for him, when I had to have specific conditions, along with the sun and moon aligned properly, to allow me to fall asleep?

Fast forward into the years of pregnancy and child-bearing: getting up to go to the bathroom at night, finding a comfortable sleeping position, and discovering that pregnant women shouldn’t lay flat on their backs. I love falling asleep on my back! 

Then the months of nursing which required me to get up numerous times at night. Spread this out over several babies, and I believe it was a recipe for falling into poor sleep patterns. 

Being a Healthy Mom Today

I am still on a journey to help improve my sleep and many other areas of my health. I am trying to consider all the aspects that may be playing a role into why my sleep is not what it should be.

In the past, I might have just visited my family physician to discuss the problem and accept whatever remedy he prescribed. Today, however, I am trying to approach this issue from the perspective of mind, body and spirit.

Here are some of the questions I’ve asked myself as part of this process:

• What physically might be malfunctioning? 
• Am I producing enough melatonin? 
• What did I eat for dinner? 
• Am I staring at screens before bed and being affected by blue light? 
• Am I flooded with anxious thoughts now that I’m finally being still? 

This approach is certainly not an easy one. It is typically a journey that requires self-reflection, some expertise from others, and your own research.

I hope this gives you a good example of how dysfunctions within ourselves are often not just caused by one problem. 

It is important to consider our health from a multi-perspective, or holistic approach. When we do, it can help bring healing and health to ourselves.

Holistic Health and the Homeschool Mom

To be a healthy mom, it is vitally important for moms to care for themselves, homeschooler or not. Let’s face it: homeschooling can take a toll on a mom. 

Ever find yourself with these thoughts?

• How can I find time to fit any exercise routine when we aren’t even finishing all our school tasks each day?  
• How do I make better food choices when the groceries are low, I’m stressed out and tired, and I feel like binging on chocolate?  
• Who has time to start the day with prayer, when the kids want breakfast, I didn’t sleep well last night, and all I feel like doing is staying in bed?  

I totally get it.

A typical homeschool day can suck the life out of even the best-prepared mama. I can shout a fervent “amen” to all of the above. It’s hard to make time for our own health and wellness.

BUT, taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for you AND for the kids who need you so desperately. 

If You Don’t Take Care of Yourself No One Else Will

This isn’t the first time you’ve heard that, right? I sometimes cringe when people say this, but I’m learning to embrace it more and more as truth and not just cliche:

If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will.

Sometimes we want someone to take care of us; to notice our stress and discomfort and our need for some alone time. We long for someone to step in and give us an award for our awesome service. 

Then, maybe send us on a two night all expenses paid vacation by ourselves so we can rest and rejuvenate, and come back to our families as Happiest Mom of the Year.

Unfortunately, that’s probably not going to happen.

If we want to survive our homeschooling journey, be a healthy mom, and actually thrive in the midst of it all, we have to value ourselves enough to see our self-care as a necessity, not a luxury.

Conclusion

Moving towards growth in our own health and wellness is important for any homeschool mom. We need to respect our needs instead of deny them. We can start by considering our self-care in a holistic way. I hope that you know you are worth investing time and energy into yourself. Truly, it’s a necessity for every homeschool mom.

You deserve to be a healthy mom.

Not only will you benefit greatly from this pursuit, but it will benefit your home and family as well.

Disclaimer: The information and resources mentioned here are intended for informational purposes only and to share my own personal experiences. It shouldn’t be seen as any kind of advice, or used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. I am not a medical professional. Always consult with a medical professional for specific medical advice.