The Essential Guide To Self Care And Parenting For Busy Bees
As a parent, it can often feel like your life is consumed by taking care of others and that you have no time or energy to take care of yourself. But knowing how to balance self-care and parenting is essential if you’re looking for a way to recharge your batteries to be the best version of yourself.
Taking time out for yourself doesn’t need to be complicated OR selfish – with some simple strategies and practical tips, you can easily incorporate self-care into your daily routine. This article covers creating a daily routine that works for you, managing stress levels effectively, and making the most of your available time.
Let’s get started!
The Importance Of Self-Care For Busy Parents
We all know parenting life is BUSY, so making time for yourself can be difficult. But taking care of yourself as a mom is essential for your overall health and well-being. But what does this mean?
Self-care is any activity or practice you intentionally do to care for your mental, emotional, and physical health.
This could include anything from calming activities like taking a long bath, meditating, pampering, splurging on something, or reading a good book to energizing activities like getting out in nature or exercising.
Self-care for new moms is different from self-care for foster parents. So, whatever type of self-care you choose, it’s important to remember that parenting does not have to rule your life. Caring for yourself is essential to being the BEST parent you can be, as it rejuvenates you to feel more ready to tackle whatever challenges come your way.
To do this, creating a daily self-care routine is important to manage your responsibilities and keep a balance.
Create A Self-Care Daily Routine That Works For You
With so many obligations vying for your attention, finding the time to take care of yourself can be difficult. A solid routine helps structure your day, allowing you to prioritize what matters most and what doesn’t. Consider this “daily routine” an action plan to ensure you care for yourself.
To begin, think about the ideal day you want to have. How would this look from start to finish?
Consider what activities bring you joy, help you relax, and energize you.
It can be anything from a morning cup of coffee, yoga, a walk in nature, reading a book before bed, or even just taking a few minutes to meditate. Go ahead, and write down up to five activities now.
- Self-Care Activity:______________________________________________________________________________
- Self-Care Activity:______________________________________________________________________________
- Self-Care Activity:______________________________________________________________________________
- Self-Care Activity:______________________________________________________________________________
- Self-Care Activity:______________________________________________________________________________
Once you’ve determined what activities to include in your daily routine, the next step is to carve out time for those specific activities.
Designate specific times for each self-care activity to rejuvenate yourself.
Make sure these activities are realistic and achievable. Consider starting off with one self-care activity a day. Then, try squeezing in more activities from there a few times a day, like one in the morning, one at noon, and one at night.
Again, this could be anything to help you unplug and feel refreshed! Or just something mindless that you enjoy, like a favorite show or coloring. Ahem, adult coloring books are SO relaxing to do if this floats your boat!
Give yourself permission to be flexible with the schedule.
Life can get busy, so remember that it is perfectly OK to adjust your routine if something unexpected comes up. The important part is that you are trying to prioritize yourself and carve out time for activities that nourish your mind and body.
As a parent, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and frazzled by everyday stress. From poopy diapers to household stuff, working full-time, to running your kiddo to after-school activities… how easily stress creeps in, especially when we’re on a time crunch. There aren’t enough hours in a day sometimes, so managing stress levels effectively is key.
3 Effective Ways To Manage Stress Levels
Self-care is essential for managing stress levels since it helps recharge our batteries and gives us the energy needed to be our best selves. With that said, here are three tips on how to do just that.
Schedule YOU time.
Take a few moments each day to check in with yourself, take a deep breath, and meditate. Just 5-10 minutes makes ALL the difference to help you manage stress levels and keep your calm in chaotic situations.
Stick to a routine.
As previously mentioned, scheduling time for yourself in your “daily routine” is essential because it forces you to take action and do it. I know for myself when I write things down, I actually do it.
I challenge you to try this out for one day. Write out your daily schedule for tomorrow to include the self-care activity or activities you want to accomplish, and I bet you will do it! 🙂
Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Now this can be hard for some, but when you do this…WOW, the world of difference it makes!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept assistance from others when feeling overwhelmed. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or neighbor, having someone to confide in or lean on can lower stress levels.
These three tips are a great starting point to manage your stress levels efficiently.
6 Tips For Incorporating Self-Care And Parenting Into Your Busy Routine AND Key Takeaways…
Parenting is a wonderful but challenging experience. In addition to taking care of your kiddo, it’s important to make time for self-care because YOU time is KEY. Incorporating self-care into your daily parenting life can give you the energy, and clarity of mind to better handle the stresses of parenthood. Let’s wrap it up with 6 tips to do just that.
Start your day off right by taking a few moments for yourself.
This could include journaling, meditating, or doing gentle stretches. Having a few minutes of “me time” in the morning can help you start the day refreshed and focused on what lies ahead.
Take regular breaks daily to give yourself time away from your parenting duties.
This could be as simple as having a cup of tea alone, listening to music, or reading a book.
Try to get enough sleep at night.
Poor sleep may make it harder to cope with the demands of family life.
If you are in “baby mode” try to catch up on sleep when your baby is napping or go to bed when your baby does. Remember, this phase is short-lived!
Prioritize physical activity.
Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and increase your energy levels.
Schedule regular activities with friends or family.
Social support can be beneficial for busy parents, so make sure you’re carving out time in your schedule to catch up with the people who matter most to you.
Finally, but most importantly, show yourself some love!
Take a hot bath, splurge on something you enjoy, or get out and take in the beauty of nature. These small acts of self-care can restore your energy and lift your spirits.
To Wrap It Up
Taking care of yourself is just as important as caring for your family.
By incorporating self-care into your daily routine, you can lower your stress levels and increase your energy levels to handle the demands of parenthood better.
Whether it’s scheduling regular activities with friends or family, getting enough sleep at night, exercising regularly, or simply making time for yourself each day – these small acts of self-care will make all the difference in helping you manage stress levels effectively while balancing a hectic lifestyle. So don’t forget to take some “me time” every now and then!
Until the next post, I’m sending you all the positive parenting vibes!
With Gratitude,
Linds
What other self-care and parenting tips do you have? Let me know in the comments below. Your input means a lot and helps other fellow parents who read this post!
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About The Author
Linds is the proud mom of two little miracles, Mono Mono twin girls, and one AMAZING older brother! She is the founder and content creator of Mono Mono Twins, Intensive Therapy for Kids, and Co-Founder of The LENN Foundation (a 510c3 that helps children with cerebral palsy receive grants for intensive therapies to thrive). ♥
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