MOT yourself! Self-care - Mum On A Mission For A Better Life

We all make sure our car goes for an MOT every year to ensure that it is working properly. We do not want it to fall apart on us. However, many of us fail to look after our own health in the same way. We are often the glue that holds our families together. We owe it to them to make sure that we are well and in the best condition that we can be. After all, if we don’t look after ourselves how can we look after the rest of the family.

A little bit of time and self-care can make all the difference. I have devised a checklist for you that covers everything you need to give yourself an MOT and make sure that you are in the best condition that you can be.

Your MOT self-care checklist!

GP

Book a doctor’s appointment for a general check-up. It’s a good idea to get checked for illnesses such as anemia, diabetes, and thyroid disorders if you have been feeling more tired than normal. Get your blood pressure checked and talk to your doctor about any other concerns you may have including your mental health.

Diet and exercise.

I am not a fan of BMI and diets. However I am a fan of trying to be more healthy. There are many people who are really thin but actually very unhealthy so weight does not need to play such a big factor. What matters is how you feel about your weight and your body.

Even if you just swap out one unhealthy snack each day for a piece of fruit it will make a positive difference over time. So, look at your diet and see if there needs to be any small changes that you can put into place to look and feel more healthier. Be careful not to try too much too soon though!

Be honest with yourself about how much you exercise in a normal week. If you find that you are not moving very much then try to find some ways to move for an extra ten minutes each day. I like to put on some music and dance around the living room! This will not only help with your general health, but it will also make you smile and lift your mood.

Drink more water.

It is recommended that you drink around eight glasses of water a day. If drinking water is something that you struggle with then start off by just drinking one glass a day alongside your normal drinks. Then you can gradually work your way up to eight glasses over time. Add some sugar free squash if you need some flavour as it is better to do this and drink lots of squash than to not drink very much each day as you do not like the taste of water.

Sleep

The average healthy adult needs between seven and eight hours a night. It is really important that you get enough sleep so try setting yourself a regular bedtime each night and also try to get up at the same time each morning. This will be hard to start with but after a few weeks, your internal body clock with adjust to this and you will start to see the benefits.

Eliminate the bad.

This can be any of a number of things. There are addictions such as smoking, alcohol, gambling, and drugs to name a few. If you are affected by any of these things then the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Once you are prepared to deal with your situation you can then start taking steps to eliminate the problem form your life.

There are many support groups available so contact your GP as a starting point and then they can point you in the right direction. Alternatively, search online and see what is available in your area.

Then there are toxic relationships, which can be your partner, a family member, or even so-called ‘friends’. When it comes to bad relationships in your life, you really need to assess the situation very carefully. You do not want to make any rash decisions unless you or your children are in danger. Take a look at my A-Z of a healthy and happy relationship for advice if you are worried.

Perhaps the most tricky of bad influences to eliminate are our own thoughts. We all have a voice in our head that tells us things about ourselves and for some of us these thoughts are always negative and put us down. This really is not a healthy way to be living our lives. The world can be a hard enough place without us adding to our own stress levels by constantly finding fault with ourselves. Take a look at changing negative thought patterns if this is something that resonates with you.

Relaxation

Self-care and time for yourself is not selfish. self-care is necessary. It is important that you take some time every week to have some fun, do something that you enjoy, and relax. It can be hard to find the time as very often it feels that there are not enough hours in the day but it is not selfish to focus on yourself now and again.

If you feel that you do not have any hobbies then start by taking the time to try different things. Have some fun exploring the things that you most enjoy. At the very least have a long relaxing bath while the children are in bed and read a good book!

Beauty

Try to always get dressed every day even if you are not going anywhere. Not only will it make you feel better about yourself, it will also help you to be more productive during your day. Beauty does not need to be a full face of make-up. Try to find a good skincare routine and do what you find most comfortable. Appearance is by no means everything, but it does lift your mood to see yourself looking your best. Having said this, there is nothing wrong with the occasional pyjama day as well!

Teeth, eyes and hair

It is also important to make regular appointments for the dentist, opticians, and hairdressers. If you have a phobia of visiting the dentist, it is still important that you take your children every six months for a checkup so that they can develop good dental hygiene as they grow up.

Getting your eyes tested regularly is also important. Children need these tests to make sure that they can see properly as it could impact on their education if they can not. If you are told that you need to wear glasses make sure that you do! We need to set a good example to our children. If they were told that they need to wear glasses for reading we would be the first to moan if we caught them reading without wearing them!

Making regular appointments at the hairdressers is also a good idea and it is recommended that you have a haircut every six to eight weeks in order to keep your hair healthy. If money is tight or you are not a fan of going to the hairdressers, you could always opt for a mobile hairdresser or even attempt it yourself.

Smear test

Finally, make sure that you are up to date with your cervical smear tests as these save lives! It may not be the nicest test to have done, but it is very important. Current guidelines suggest that you should have a cervical smear test done every 3-5 years dependent on age. If you are overdue, make an appointment today!

4 Comments

Mummy of Two says:
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Some great tips there. It is all too easy to forget about looking after yourself when you are busy looking after everything else!
Denise Johnson says:
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Yes that's right and sometimes we forget that if we let ourselves go, who will be there to look after everyone else :-)
Michelle Murray says:
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This is so true. We spend so much time looking after others we do forget to look after ourselves. I need my sleep so I do try and get as much as I can. If I don't I just stop working :) I'm useless. Great post and thanks for linking up via www.mummy2monkeys.co.uk #GoldenOldies
Denise Johnson says:
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Thanks Michelle :-) I'm the same - I just love my sleep lol!