What does it look like to stay connected to yourself as a mother, especially in the newborn phase? In this episode, I'm sharing the three non-negotiable categories I'm prioritising as a third-time mum to avoid losing myself in motherhood. I believe it's the most loving, well-intentioned mothers who are most at risk of sacrificing everything for their children, and why that's not the example we want to set for our sons or our daughters. Whether you have a village of support or you're doing it mostly solo, I break every strategy into three levels: Ideal, Good, and Bare Minimum; so there's genuinely something here for every season of motherhood. We cover: Why losing yourself in motherhood is a slippery slope that starts with tiny, well-intentioned decisions Category 1: Daily Reflection - journaling, gratitudes, affirmations, goal review, and how to do it in 3 minutes or 20 Category 2: Self-Care - building a spa-like routine at home, why hygiene is non-negotiable, and how I manage it with a newborn Category 3: Movement - from gym sessions to walking with the pram to vacuuming counting as cardio How keeping promises to yourself is the foundation of self-worth and confidence Why how you treat yourself sets the precedent for how your partner treats you 💫Elevate & Embody Success With Me: ➡ ️ Ready to elevate in every area of your life? Join me inside the EQ Academy; a transformative space where you'll trade old patterns of control and overthinking for emotional regulation that fuels your leadership, strengthens your relationships, and expands your life! 🎓 EQ Academy: https://marciacolosi.com/the-eq-academy/ Hey Queen!! 👑 I'm so grateful that you're here! Let's stay connected 📷 IG: https://www.instagram.com/marciacolosi 📲 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciacolosi 🎙️ Pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kjhWbxAhVmJFZX6lXHXkl 🎙️ Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-marcia-colosi-show/id1482923377 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marciacolosi Timestamps 0:44 – Why well-intentioned mothers are most at risk of losing themselves 1:24 – The slippery slope: how it happens one tiny decision at a time 2:26 – Introducing 3 non-negotiables & the 3-level framework (Ideal / Good / Bare Minimum) 2:54 – The 3 levels explained: from full village support to solo motherhood 3:37 – Category 1: Daily Reflection — what the ideal looks like (cacao, candle, journaling, goals) 4:30 – Good & bare minimum daily reflection 6:09 – Why alone time matters — and what it looks like now vs. before baby 7:34 – Why a mother's brain is wired to attend to her child above everything 7:51 – Category 2: Self-Care — how my routine became more robust after kids 8:33 – The ideal shower routine: hair masks, exfoliation, blowouts & curls 10:23 – Why I used to think self-care was a waste of time (and what changed) 11:04 – Good & bare minimum self-care 12:31 – Why I shower twice a day — non-negotiable, no excuses 13:03 – Oral hygiene, electric toothbrushes & why cleanliness is next to godliness 14:16 – Category 3: Movement — ideal gym sessions vs. real postpartum life 15:05 – Good: walking with baby (bare minimum: cleaning counts as cardio!) 16:22 – Why movement at any level still counts 16:23 – The deeper "why" behind these 3 categories 17:21 – What to do when you can't get your non-negotiables — journaling with baby on the boob 19:13 – Bringing baby into the bathroom so you can still shower 20:16 – Losing yourself = telling yourself you don't value yourself 20:30 – How self-worth sets the precedent for how your partner treats you 21:40 – Women having choice: children, confidence, connection — all at once 22:05 – Final encouragement: don't give up your non-negotiables for anyone SEO-Optimised Tags motherhood, postpartum self-care, new mom tips, how to not lose yourself in motherhood, self-care for moms, postpartum routine, daily routine for moms, new mom morning routine, self-worth for mothers, mom confidence, emotional intelligence, life coaching for women, women's mindset, motherhood and identity, non-negotiables, postpartum wellness, mom life, female entrepreneur, work from home mom, third time mom, newborn stage tips, movement for moms, daily reflection, journaling for moms, mindset for moms, personal development for women, women empowerment, relationship advice for mothers, self-care routine, stay at home mom