School is back, activities are in full swing, work is busy, and somehow our family calendar seems to fill up faster every week.

There are school events, appointments, activities, errands, work, emails, meals to plan, things to remember and approximately 47 things that somehow need to happen before bedtime.

And somewhere in the middle of taking care of everyone else, I realized something:

I had forgotten to put ME on the calendar.

So recently, I decided to change that.

Let's be honest: parenting can be exhausting.

I love being a mom. I love watching my kid grow, cheering him on, showing up for the activities and being part of all the little moments that make up our everyday life.

But I also think we can love our families completely and still admit that sometimes we need a minute.

A minute to breathe.

A minute to do something just because we want to.

A minute where nobody needs us to find a missing shoe, sign a permission slip, answer an email or figure out what's for dinner.

💗 What Does Self-Care Actually Look Like?

I think we sometimes make self-care way more complicated than it needs to be.

Self-care doesn't have to mean a weekend away at a fancy spa or an entire day devoted to relaxation. Sometimes it's much smaller than that.

For me, recently, self-care looked a little different.

I decided to try Botox for the first time with Sheila Dobbins, DNP, FNP, a Doctorally Prepared Family Nurse Practitioner serving the Modesto area.

I've been thinking about Botox for years. I'm in my 40s now, and while I don't have heavy or deep wrinkles, I've become more interested in taking care of my skin and being proactive about my skincare.

And honestly? I was curious!

I wanted to try something new, and I wanted to do something that made me feel good.

Meet Sheila Dobbins, DNP, FNP

One of the things I appreciated about my experience with Sheila was that she took the time to talk with me, answer my questions and make sure I understood the treatment before moving forward.

Sheila Singh Dobbins, DNP, FNP, offers a variety of aesthetic, wellness and health-focused services for clients in the Modesto area.

Another thing that caught my attention is the flexibility. Sheila offers services in the comfort of your home or business, or you can visit her at her home for your appointment.

For busy parents, that kind of flexibility can make it a little easier to actually schedule time for yourself instead of saying, "I'll do it someday."

💚 Sometimes Trying Something New Is Self-Care

One of the things I've realized as I've gotten older is that self-care can also mean giving yourself permission to try something new.

Maybe that's Botox. Maybe it's a new haircut. Maybe it's finally taking that class you've been eyeing, trying a new workout, booking a massage, going somewhere you've never been, or simply getting coffee by yourself and sitting there for 30 minutes without anyone asking you for anything.

There isn't one right way to do it.

Self-care is personal.

What makes one person feel refreshed might feel completely unnecessary to someone else. And that's okay.

💗 Mamas, Don't Forget About YOU

We're so used to taking care of everyone else.

We're making appointments, packing lunches, coordinating schedules, working, cleaning, cooking, answering questions, remembering birthdays and somehow knowing where everyone's stuff is at all times.

But somewhere in all of that, it's easy to put ourselves at the very bottom of the list.

I've definitely been guilty of it.

And maybe that's why this little reminder hit me so hard:

So if you've been waiting for a sign to do something for yourself, maybe this is it.

Take the walk.

Book the appointment.

Try the new thing.

Meet your friend for coffee.

Take the nap.

Get the haircut.

Or just sit in your car for five glorious minutes in complete silence.

Whatever self-care looks like for you, make room for it.

Even if it's just for an hour. You deserve it.