What exactly is independence, really? Are you a strong, independent woman if you have a family, job, and wealth? The truth is, independence is not necessarily about what you have, but how you feel. In order to effectively gain control over your independence, you have to focus on the mental and emotional aspects of it too. Here are some helpful ways to do so!
Spend Time on Yourself
As mothers, we are constantly giving all of our time and attention to others. We work to make our loved ones happy, but what about our own happiness? Are you not only content, but also happy with your life? In order to gain a sense of independence, you’ll need to practice self-reflection to re-learn about who you are at this point in your life.
Taking a step back may feel weird at first, but it will give you the opportunity to focus solely on yourself. Go for a walk alone, try a new fitness class, or travel somewhere new all on your own. Feeding your soul will do wonders for your overall health and well-being.
Prioritize Your Health
When you keep track of everyone else’s schedules, as well as your own, it’s no surprise you may forget to care for your own health. Have you been feeling groggy or getting sick more often? If so, it’s important to reflect on where you can improve aspects of your health so that you look and feel good! Luckily, there are a few easy tips to help you do this.
First and foremost, get moving. Being active has immense benefits for your physical and mental health. It’s also important to incorporate nutrient-rich foods into your diet to maximize your intake of healthy vitamins and minerals. Lastly, it’s helpful to schedule all of your doctors’ appointments at the beginning of each year so that you don’t have to give it a second thought. During the busiest of times, you can utilize telemedicine services instead if you need medication for the flu or want a dermatologist to send skin-care products right to your door Prioritizing your health will take a little effort at first, but it’ll get easier over time.
Understand Your Finances
Without a proper budgeting system, it can be difficult to understand where all of your money is going. This can not only cause financial stress, but mental stress as well. To understand your finances fully, it’s important to start by assessing what you’d like to do with your money. Do you want to save up for a trip, while also adding to your retirement savings? How much are your monthly expenses? Once you determine this, you’ll better understand how you’d like to allocate your funds.
You can even use an app, such as Wally, for a visual of your spending habits. This allows you to keep track of where your money goes and when. Another great tool is the Acorns app, which allows you to invest with your spare change. Say your cup of coffee costs $3.35. The app will round up and take the remaining 65 cents for you to invest where you’d like. Understanding your finances doesn’t have to be as daunting as it once was!
Set Clear Goals for Yourself
Visualizing what you want in life gives you the freedom to choose your own path. One of the most difficult things to do is to let go of other’s expectations of what we should be doing and who we should be. However, living this way will just keep you from being happy and accomplishing all the things you set out to do.
Start by writing down a list of what you’d like to accomplish in the short term vs. the long term. From there, you can determine what you can start doing now to tackle those short term goals and set yourself on the right path to achieve those long term ones. You may find inspiration in everyday activities, such as reading a book or by digging into your own mental processes.
Learn Ways to Give Yourself Emotional Support
During times of feeling down or immense stress, it’s good to lean on others for support and advice. Talking to others is a great way to vent and gain a new perspective on your situation. However, an issue arises when you solely rely on others for emotional support and you don’t have any support from yourself.
Once you learn how to give yourself the emotional support you need, you will start to feel more in control of your thoughts and feelings. To do this, it’s first important to accept your emotions. You can then find a safe space, either physically or mentally, to reflect on how you’re feeling and why. There, you can write out your feelings, read for encouragement, meditate, and so on.
