How this new Mum finds balance with Urban

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what happens when you become a parent in a busy city? The demands of work, parenting and everyday life stack up quickly, leaving little space to pause. For commercial director Yousra, 33, self-care became not just a luxury but a way to stay grounded amidst it all.

Self-care through pregnancy and beyond

Before pregnancy, Yousra used Urban every now and then for an at-home massage or manicure. But when she became pregnant, it became a lifeline.

“I suffered from sciatica during pregnancy, and I was able to find an osteopath that helped me on the app," she explains. "Later on [in the pregnancy] when things got heavy, I was having massages every week. It was a huge help and relief during those last few days of pregnancy.”

Two years on from giving birth to her first son, Urban continues to play an important role in her self-care routine.

It's a way to take care of myself in the hectic new world that I live in.

“When you become a parent, it becomes much harder to find time for yourself," she says. "Urban has been one of the ways that I've been trying to keep some time to myself and take care of myself in the hectic new world that I live in. I use it regularly whether it's for a massage, a manicure, pedicure or for waxing as well."

Why self-care is non-negotiable

Growing up in Morocco, self-care was part of Yousra’s culture, and she carries that forward into her life today.

“I think self-care is really important to me, culturally first because I come from Morocco and we really have a spa culture there; I remember when I was little going with my Mum to the salon – spending hours there, sometimes – so it’s really something that I grew up with.”

But after becoming a mum, she realised how easy it was to lose herself in looking after her baby.

“I would say the first few months of motherhood, I kind of got lost in taking care of a new baby. I don’t know if it’s because when it’s the first baby as a parent you’re less competent, or if it’s actually harder, but you tend to get lost in that and forget about yourself.”

Self-care, for Yousra, is about more than just looking good – it’s about feeling her best, so she can show up for her family.

“Taking care of myself through massages, through beauty treatments, is a way of taking back time for me so I can feel better and be more present for my family and be in a better state of mind.”

Why booking at home makes all the difference

Juggling work and motherhood, Yousra has found that the flexibility of at-home treatments is key.

“I'm quite time-poor and if I have to factor in the time to go to a salon or a spa, I feel like that's kind of a little bit of a waste of time. I like that I can book someone to come to my home...a full two hours to myself."

“It's like a breath of fresh air. I feel energised, I feel like I've had time to take care of myself and that's something that's really important, especially in the fast-paced life that I'm living.”

For Yousra, it’s not just about the convenience of home treatments, but how easy Urban makes it to book them.

“I like that you have such a variety of services on the same app and that you're able to choose from so many different therapists. There's so much information that you can use when you're picking a therapist.”

Bringing self-care home

At first, Yousra was unsure about inviting therapists into her home.

“My first treatment actually wasn’t in this flat, it was somewhere smaller and I felt a bit nervous about having someone into a smaller space, but actually the therapists are really used to it and they always manage to find ways to make it work.”

Now, she sets up her space depending on the treatment.

“Depending on the treatment, I might decide to have it in my living room if it’s a beauty treatment like a nail appointment, or I might decide to have it upstairs in my bedroom if it’s a massage and I need more privacy.”

And when it comes to the realities of having a young child at home, she knows she has nothing to worry about.

“After having a child, I started getting a bit nervous about the mess because my house isn’t always tidy, but again everyone has always been really lovely and really understanding and I’ve never felt uncomfortable bringing someone into my own space.”

Finding time for you

For Yousra, Urban has been a game-changer in making self-care accessible, even with a packed schedule. If you're looking for a way to prioritise yourself in the middle of a busy life, it might just be the solution you need too.

Do you use Urban to fit self-care in alongside parenting and work? We'd love to feature your story! Get in touch here.