Prioritizing your mental health on a budget

 Happy April, friends! I've missed you!

Hopefully with a twice a month posting schedule, I'll be able to deliver quality content that doesn't leave me feeling rushed. 

Although I'm definitely writing this the morning this is supposed to be published. So. Let's see if I can develop some self discipline before my next posting date!

This week on my Instagram and private Facebook group, I've been talking about how to afford doula care. And then in my VIP group, we had a discussion on affording self care as a parent. I tend to produce content based on my personal experiences and current state of mind, so you can guess where my focus has been!

I don't know about you, but our cost of living has significantly increased. Everything is getting more expensive. Groceries, gas, our electric bill- almost everything has gone up. On top of that, we had to buy a car last year and then immediately sunk several thousand dollars into it for repairs.  And then on top of THAT, my children are getting older- they're health and development is requiring more attention, as well as more money. 

To be honest, I spent most of March absolutely terrified and uncertain of how I was going to make it all work. I felt stuck in a loop. And then I started thinking about how everyone else must be feeling the same way.

When basic daily living seems like it's too expensive to afford, things like mental health, self care and holistic living feel like luxuries, and I tend to put them in the category of "not important, can't happen".

The problem with that thinking is that it leads us to bigger, badder, more expensive problems down the road. A woman who can't afford a doula present at her birth may experience more trauma in her birth experience, leading to perinatal mood disorders or difficulty bonding. The father who thinks that his postpartum depression isn't a big deal may spiral, causing him to retreat from his family, lose his job and rob him of the joy he could have in his fatherhood. The more we choose cheaper, disposable plastic over glass and silicone products, the more our earth suffers, which will eventually cost us all of our home. 

Birth matters. Postpartum matters. Your mental health matters. Green living matters. And all of these things should be accessible and affordable to all people.

I know there are policies and movements going on in our world to make all of those things available to everyone, but what do we do in the meantime? Should we continue to suffer? 

I don't think so! 

Let me share with you a few budget friendly, easy to do things we've been doing:

1. Getting out in the sun. As spring comes around, I've been intentional about getting me and my kids out to get vitamin D. We all feel so much better when we do! And it's FREE. 

2. Prioritizing my rest. Whether that's saying no to unnecessary commitments or going to bed when my kids do, or utilizing the days we have at home, I've been trying to slow my life down. And then slow it down more. And slow it down more. I know so many of us are busy, working our tails off to make ends meet- so I do my best to make it happen where I can. 

3. Prioritizing my alone time. When my husband comes home from work, I've been making myself take a walk or a nap. It's hard, because I feel guilty asking him to watch the kids after working all day. But I've come to realize that I'm working too, and allowing myself to get burned out is very harmful to my family.

4. Utilize government supplement programs. I might make people mad with this one- but that's ok. I use WIC and the relief it gives my family is just incredible. Those programs are there for us to use. Our tax dollars pay for them- if you need TANF, food stamps, WIC, daycare help or anything else, there are there for you to use! 

5. In home date nights. If my relationship struggles, it's hard for me feel good in any area of my life. Bute going out to eat and to the movies is expensive! So my husband and I have been trying to connect after the kids are in bed, or while family watches them. We play Scrabble, bake together, watch our favorite shows on Netflix, take free workout classes...it's been fun figuring out free or cheap ways to deepen our relationship. 

6. Compost bins. I shared this project in my private Facebook group the other day! Composting is an easy and affordable way to reduce our carbon footprint. We took an old trash can, cleaned it out, drilled holes in the side and voila! We had a homemade compost bin. If you want to see how to make one and actually learn what to put in it, this is the video I referenced: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyYyy4nKzDg&t=207s

7. Seeking free out free counseling. Whether it's through a religious organization, someone going through a nurse coaching program or something else, getting counseling or therapy is one of the most beneficial things for your mental health! There's lots of options out there. 

Hopefully, this short list can give you some ideas on how to care for yourself and your family as we navigate life in this crazy, chaotic world. 

I'll see you all on April 29! 

Throwback to when my kids were teeny tiny!