Hi, I’m Lornzie Gatabaki, I’ve been a mama to the most beautiful boy for almost 8 months now. It is truly the best job in the world. Especially for me, being nanny free by choice has made it an extra interesting journey as I’m with my baby 24/7. Finding time for self-care hasn’t been easy because unless it’s the weekend when he can be with his dad, all other times it’s just him and I.

Because of this, I’ve had to cut out pockets of peace while we’re together. Most times it’s when he’s asleep. I get to sneak in some work, or even an episode on a series I’m following on Netflix. When I’m having a hard time and need a good cry, I watch something tear jerking and it gets the stress out haha. Crying the stress out has really done wonders for me. TikTok is also something I’m able to do together but alone. While he's busy playing with his toys on the mat, I join him and after playing with him, I take some time alone and take a social media break.

I also take weekends to hang out with old friends or even new mom friends, usually with baby boy. Seeing him interacting with other people truly brings me joy. As recent as last weekend I did this but alone and it felt so weird. I definitely felt some mom guilt but as he gets older it’s getting easier to leave him with his dad to bond and for mama to have some me time alone. These are also the times I’m able to dash out for a hair/grooming appointment and boy do those feel great!

I am now finally back to my ultimate self-care routine, CrossFit!

Even as a nanny free mama with a busy life, you must still find time to take care of yourself and your mind, no matter how difficult it might be. Humans and most importantly, mothers, need self-care. It’s an essential component of stress relief and wellness. It may feel selfish, but it truly isn’t.