A relaxing vacation is much needed every once in a while, and even more so for hardworking mothers.
The job of a Mother includes 24 hour workdays, runs 365 days a year, and is loaded with enough stressors and worries to overwhelm any sane person unless they have enough time to rest and recuperate. Psychologists have begun to shine some light on the benefits that both hardworking Moms and their families can receive when their Mamas get a little time for rest and relaxation.
Mom vacations, also known recently online as “Mom-cations” are short vacations where Moms travel together or by themselves without their partners or children. The Mom-cation allows each Mom to focus on herself and on taking care of her own emotional needs for rest and uninterrupted relaxation. They are wonderfully beneficial for mental health and allow our beloved Mothers to recharge their emotional batteries.
“Motherhood can be very stressful—whether it’s financial stresses, time stresses, just trying to get a whole lot done in a very short period of time,” explains psychology professor Dr. Nava Silton. “I think it’s really important for mothers to be rejuvenated and refreshed.”
Mother of two, Judy Khosh, knows what it’s like to be a busy Mom;
“It’s nonstop. We’re at this activity, that activity, this sport, this class,” she said. “It’s constant go, go, go.”
One of Judy’s friends invited her on a Mom-cation;
“We were talking and she said, ‘You know, I always go on these mom trips all the time, why don’t you come?’ I kind of laughed at her, like, ‘What do you mean a mom trip? I can’t leave my kids. I can’t leave my husband,'” Khosh said. “‘No, no, no—you have to come.'”
Mom-cations usually last between 2 to 7 days and afterwards Moms return to their families feeling happy and motivated.
“I came back, I was a better mom, a more patient mom, a better wife,” Khosh says. “You learn to appreciate what you have at home because you got to have that break from it all.”
The break from the regular routine of raising children and keeping everything in order gives Mothers time to replenish. The benefits extend to the entire family, and it’s healthy for children to see that their parents are making healthy decisions to fulfill and meet their own needs.
“It’s very important for kids to see that balance that ideally needs to be achieved in a family situation,” said Dr. Silton.
While long vacations are not always an option for all Mamas, they can begin by giving themselves one morning off each week which is free from worry, stress and where the only thing to do is relax, replenish and to be at peace in a peaceful environment. Some self-compassionate ideas for this time include taking a yoga class, reading a book, listening to relaxing music and walking in nature.
It’s important to make sure that at least one full day each month is spent on healthily recharging your own batteries. If you have another Mama friend who can join you on your Mom-cation, hold each other accountable in getting as much relaxation as possible. This includes turning off phones, not worrying or stressing, and not planning what you’ll do when you return. Simply relax in the moment, soak in some sunshine, and let your mind think about nothing at all.
Do you take Mom-cations? Are you going to start?
Let us know in the comments.
You are Loved.
See Also: New Study Says: The More You Hang Out With Your Mom, The Longer She’ll Live
