Self-care has become a coined term within the last few years. However, do we understand what it means?
Parents are busy with expectations, to-do lists and work. It becomes difficult to prioritize self-care. Neglecting your own wellbeing can affect your physical and mental health – and also, negatively impact you parenting style. Taking care of ourselves is key if we want to have a more abundant life.
Below are some tips to focus in on your own self-care.
Be mindful of your thinking.
Feelings of guilt, unworthiness and incompetency can affect how we show up in the world and in parenting styles. Negative thinking can make us feel like we don’t deserve to take time for ourselves. Try paying attention to thoughts that hinder your productivity like – “I can’t do this!” Instead, replace the negative thought with a positive one. For example, try “I am doing my best. I can do this.” Ultimately, be patient with yourself.
Ask for help. To take better care of ourselves, we must identify the resources that are available to help us. You could lean on family, friends, child care. If support is available, use it to accomplish your goal.
Be realistic. As a parent, prioritizing your wellbeing can be a difficult task. If our plans for self-care are causing more stress, try coming up with a plan that’s more feasible. We can find ways to implement self-care that match our lifestyles.
Focus on basic needs first. Meeting our basic needs is the foundations self-care. We can consider our eating, sleeping and overall physical health. When our fundamental needs are not met, anything outside of that can seem impossible.
Find meaning and joy. As a parent, it’s easy to get lost in the daily hustle and bustle. We should remind ourselves of the value of a routine. When we are intentional about highlighting the joy in the midst of the chaos, it can help us feel more grounded and present in the moment.
Learn Through Play Daily Activities: November
Help children learn through play by using one of the following age-specific monthly calendars that feature daily activities.
