Mommy-guilt:  “There is ALWAYS something that needs to be done.” and “I should be spending time with my children.”

Society: “Women are superwomen. We can do it all.”  False.  At least partially.  We may be able to do it all but that doesn’t mean we should.

When I don't take time for myself, I hurt physically and emotionally. I feel burned out. I feel zapped of all my joy and enthusiasm, and like I'm just slogging through my days. I start to feel resentful of my family, my work, my responsibilities, and everything else in my life. And I know that doing even the simplest of things to take care of myself can change all of that.

It might not be ideal, but sometimes the only way you can talk yourself into doing something good for you is to remind yourself of what happens when you don't. If you're struggling with carving out space for yourself, take a step back and consider how you really feel about that. Are you okay with being last? How is constantly being in last place affecting the way you feel about everything else? Chances are once you realize how low you're ranking on your own priority list, you'll end up deciding that a half-hour to yourself is downright necessary.

It’s not only ok to put yourself first but it actually makes you a better mom.