The following article is a promotional piece sponsored by Teva Pharmaceutical.
AJOVY® (fremanezumab-vfrm) injection is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Do not use AJOVY if you are allergic to AJOVY or any of the ingredients in AJOVY. Common side effects of AJOVY include injection site reactions. For Important Safety Information about AJOVY, please click here.
Take a quick glance at any parent's calendar and you're almost guaranteed to see things like work deadlines, playdate reminders, or a handful of pediatrician appointments. But among the meetings that stack up throughout the day, there's one I can promise you won't see penciled in: me time.
Not only is scheduling time for yourself a luxury, it can also feel like an unrealistic ask for anyone who's responsible for another human life. Especially if your day involves juggling the responsibilities of a job or child care or both, it's safe to say that all 24 of your hours are already accounted for.
Knowing that self-care is a delicate balance for moms, Romper chatted with millennial moms about the real ways you're all trying to prioritize your wellbeing and your families. The common thread between each of these women? They're all relying on normal, everyday moments to practice a bit of self-care — because the last thing you need is to schedule yet another task into your calendar. Read on to learn some copy-worthy ways that four moms are prioritizing their own needs.
They're Making The Most Of Their Mornings...
If any single experience teaches you the true definition of chaos, it's morning time as a parent. Between getting everyone awake, fed, and ready for their days, it's no wonder that so many parents tend to rely on a morning routine, and for Kate, a mom of two boys, she's turned her own routine into an opportunity for mindfulness.
"As my kids have started 'sleeping in,' (aka past 5 or 6 a.m.), I'll usually sneak downstairs to make some coffee and enjoy it on the deck before the day's madness begins," she says. "Even if it's just 15 or 20 minutes to collect my thoughts and gear up for the day, it helps!"
...& Seeking Balance Post-Bedtime
Not a morning person? Neither am I, so my moments of self-care tend to happen later in the day after I've wrapped up my work day. The same goes for Kathleen, also a mom of two young boys, who finds that her evenings tend to offer a more accessible opportunity for activities she enjoys — but only if she's strategic about it. "Nighttime is very sacred to me. I finally get quiet time after my kids are in bed, but it's also the time of day that I can be most productive with chores," she says.
To balance her to-do list with her need for me time, Kathleen will set a 30-minute timer on her phone. During that time, she'll prep bottles, scrub pots and pans, and complete any other chores she can manage. "Once time is up, I let myself enjoy my book without feeling anxiety over not getting anything done." Talk about an idea worth stealing.
They're Advocating For Themselves
No matter if it's a best friend, a partner, or even a beloved TV character who influences your parenting style, I'm willing to bet that they could offer you a fresh perspective on how to make yourself a priority. "When I think about leisure time, or things I want to get done, I try to channel my husband," says Cara. "He doesn’t think about how it’s going to happen, he assumes that he is a priority and that we’ll make it work." Cara follows his lead by finding the authority to tell her husband she's taking time to do something she enjoys.
Maybe for you, finding that same authority could result in taking a friend up on their offer to watch your kids, or making it a priority to feel your best. Especially for moms coping with chronic conditions like chronic migraine or episodic migraine, "feeling your best" can be a struggle in itself. You can begin advocating for yourself by simply starting an honest conversation with your doctor.
If you find that factors like migraine attacks, for example, are standing between you and your well-deserved self-care, try talking to your doctor about AJOVY® (fremanezumab-vfrm) injection. It's a quarterly (three injections on one day every three months) or monthly (one injection per month) treatment option that may help reduce migraine days. AJOVY may cause allergic reactions, including itching, rash, and hives that can happen within hours and up to 1 month after receiving AJOVY. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your face, mouth, tongue, throat, or if you have trouble breathing. Talk to your doctor about stopping AJOVY if you have an allergic reaction.
They're Distancing Themselves From Mom Guilt
Ahh, mom guilt. We know it well. But don't you think you have enough going on without having to worry about that nagging, anxious feeling bringing you down? For Lauren, the trick to coping with mom guilt isn't necessarily to get rid of it, but rather to spend some time not acknowledging the feeling at all. Her best me-time tip? Don't do anything.
"I know it sounds crazy, but when my son naps I try to take that time for myself. I do not watch TV, I don't look at my phone. I don't check the monitor every few minutes," she says, noting that while there are plenty of things she could be doing, she's often better off taking the time to let her mind and body rest. "The laundry, cooking, cleaning, and everything else can wait!" Some true words to live by, if I do say so myself.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use AJOVY if you are allergic to AJOVY or any of the ingredients in AJOVY.
AJOVY may cause allergic reactions, including itching, rash, and hives that can happen within hours and up to 1 month after receiving AJOVY. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your face, mouth, tongue, throat, or if you have trouble breathing. Talk to your doctor about stopping AJOVY if you have an allergic reaction.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, and if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Common side effects of AJOVY include injection site reactions.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of AJOVY. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
APPROVED USE
AJOVY is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.
Please see Patient Information Leaflet within the full Prescribing Information on AJOVY.com.
FRE-43033
October 2020
