Making Time for Yourself

Make Time for Yourself

WRITTEN BY CRIMSON GALLAGHER | PHOTOS BY MARY LORRAINE

At long last, the beautiful day has arrived. You’ve just welcomed your new baby into your life. You’ve anticipated this day for at least nine months and finally your little one is here. But now what?

New parents must navigate wide and uncharted waters, facing a host of unfamiliar realities both physically and emotionally. Suddenly every decision requires you to take into account that little bundle of joy, and time for yourself is massively reduced. A new baby brings so much joy and requires so much attention that it’s easy to focus an entire day on the little one, but it’s important to remember that meeting your own needs and fulfilling your own personal happiness is critical.

I recently welcomed my first baby and, as I held him in my arms for the first time, I instantly felt my whole world change. I realized I could spend every little bit of energy I had on my son, and yet I wanted to make sure I held space for myself as well. You’ve heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” right? Setting aside time for yourself allows you to show up as the mom, wife, employee and friend that you want to be.

Parenting will always be a dance of push and pull. No matter the stage you’re in, there will be days when you feel you are not doing enough. Parent guilt is a real thing. You lose yourself and find yourself at the same time. It’s almost humorous how there are days you can’t wait for a break or for the baby to sleep and then somehow you feel this internal battle any time you are away from your child. It’s truly an indescribable love and while you wouldn’t change it for the world, it is important to find a balance of self-care.

I find that yoga and fitness allow me to refocus, reorganize and rejuvenate. Power yoga is a great option for self-care as it combines physical fitness, yoga postures and mindfulness in a quick one-hour format. You’ll quickly discover that dedicating time to your physical and mental well-being allows you to better show up for yourself and your family. Yoga provides a gentle reminder that all is temporary, so sit and enjoy the present. Even just one hour gives you time to quiet your mental chatter, find joy in the moment and deepen where you are before moving on to the next task. It’s a reminder that we have to allow ourselves to inhale before we can exhale.

Although there is no better feeling than when your little one looks up at you and flashes that adorable smile, the feeling of peace and relaxation during savasana as you close your yoga practice can definitely be a close second.

It requires a lot of courage to take steps in a new direction and work on yourself. I see your strength. I admire you as you figure out this new way of life, all while gazing through eyes that could use more sleep. And so, whether it’s yoga, movie night or even taking a quiet five minutes alone, I encourage you to find some time for yourself. Pour into your cup and nurture your personal growth.

Crimson Gallagher is a Yoga Alliance 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She’s a fitness and outdoor enthusiast, new mom and instructor at Bozeman Power Yoga, Zephyr Cycling and HELSE Lagree Fitness.