Emotional Self Care Ideas For The Overwhelmed Police Wife

Everything you do is better when you’re emotionally taken care of… but how can you truly meet those needs? Look no further than these emotional self care ideas that will make you the happiest police wife possible.

You know, it seems like it should be SO obvious how much better things run at home when we’re emotionally fulfilled.

I mean, I know there’s a huge difference between when my son spills a full cup of milk in the morning vs. the evening – and that’s just the day-to-day stuff.

When you’re running on fumes day after day, you’re hurtling toward complete mom burnout.

Trust me, I get it.

And as a police wife, you may find yourself having even LESS time than the average mom and wife for self-care, but needing it that much more.

No, it’s not really fair, but it’s the situation you’re in.

That being said, it’s not something you have to settle for. It just means you have to be a little more intentional about making sure your cup is filled. You need to care for yourself.

Especially when you consider the dire effects of chronic stress on your body, it’s not something to kid around with. You need something to help you chill out sometimes!

But I’m not talking about a manicure or a bubble bath – though those things are super nice, don’t get me wrong. I’m talking about deeply emotional self care – the kind that hits deep into the root of what’s eating at you and help actually fix things!

Emotional Self Care Ideas That Will Make You The Best Police Wife Ever

Get outside.

Everyone is happier outside, kids included. Even if the “break” you get is sitting in a chair while kids run around you, milk it!

Get yourself a drink to enjoy while you do so. Hey, maybe even pop on some headphones and listen to an audiobook or some non-kid-friendly music that YOU want to listen to.

Ask for help.

Sometimes I get really prideful about this and don’t want to admit to others I don’t have my life all together – which means I wait until it’s threat level midnight (points if you get the reference) before actually asking for help, and then I basically want to drive off into the sunset so I don’t have to hear “Mom!” again for at least a few hours.

DON’T be afraid to ask for help! Nobody is judging you. This mom stuff is hard, and you’re not meant to do it alone.

Find someone who can either take the kids for a few hours, or plan a playdate where you can talk, vent, and let the kids play. You’ll probably be surprised by how many troubles you have in trouble with other moms, even ones who seem to have it all together!

Give yourself a pass.

Here’s your reminder for the day: you can’t do it all. And nobody is expecting you to! Yay!

But – I realize you tend to be harder on yourself than anyone else, right? Me too.

So giving yourself a pass to NOT be perfect is the simplest break you can get. Free yourself from the expectation to be picture-perfect Pinterest Mom and just be the best Mom you can be. If that means your kids eat macaroni and cheese for all three meals today, no sweat. If they’re fed and they’re alive, then boom – nailed it.

Replace that with screen time or whatever else you spend too much time feeling guilty about, and repeat.

Make a plan.

Sometimes the most soothing emotional self care I can provide to myself is making a plan to improve my situation.

Whether that’s making a rough plan for the next week of activities to do with the kids so I’m not overwhelmed wondering what to do, or making a plan of what to clean and when to make sure I get it all done in a reasonable amount of time, or tracking our debts and making a plan to pay them off, putting pencil to paper and organizing one thing in my life can help me feel a lot less overwhelmed in the rest of the things.

No, it’s not as luxurious as a bubble bath or forest bathing, but oooooh it’s rejuvenating to feel like I’ve got a semblance of control over my life… especially in a life filled with uncertainty.

Do the next right thing.

Have you seen the new Frozen movie? If you have kids, it’s a good likelihood. Though even if you don’t, I think it’s a darn good movie and you should see it!

But one of my favorite songs from it is The Next Right Thing, sung by Anna. I had it stuck in my head a lot over the past few months trying to decide things and it’s excellent advice.

Because I may not be able to do all the things, but I can make the next choice. I can make sure it’s in the right direction, and the best decision I can make in my present circumstances.

Develop boundaries.

That friend who always needs your help and makes you feel guilty when you can’t? Your mother-in-law who drops in unannounced and screws up all your plans? Or whoever else interferes with your life mercilessly? It’s time to set some ground rules with them.

Will it be 100% pleasant? No, but that’s okay. It’s good for you in the long run.

Related book recommendation: Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. If this is something you seriously struggle with, it’s a must-read to know how to develop and enforce appropriate boundaries in your life.

Choose to be positive.

Another book recommendation here: The Power of Positive Thinking.

If you’re anything like me, the immediate response is an eye roll – but hear me out. It’s changed my life.

My knee-jerk reaction to things is negative. I mean, I have a painfully positive outlook on other people at times, but when it comes to myself and my own life, I tend toward self-doubt and general doom and gloom.

This book isn’t about silly affirmations (IMO) like I’ve seen at times, but about truly living out your faith and being the joy-filled person God wants you to be – no matter what your circumstances!

Seriously, check it out!

This is certainly not an exhaustive list of emotional self care ideas, but hopefully it’s enough to give you some hope. I understand what it’s like to feel completely overwhelmed. I get it!

Just know this too shall pass, and you are strong enough to do this.

And you’ll be even stronger once this storm does pass.

You got this, lady!

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Emotional Self Care Ideas For The Overwhelmed Police Wife