Being a parent can often feel like a juggling act. We want to be the best educators, caregivers, leaders and nurturers we can. All the while we balance a love life, a social life and a work life and somewhere in there we are meant to find that thing called balance. But in the balance, we often neglect ourselves and taking the time to regenerate and rejuvenate our bodies and minds.
When we neglect our self-care, we cannot function at the optimal level that we strive to and so, in turn, we are not doing what is best for anyone. But self-care does not have to be a weekend away at the spa. There are plenty of small changes you can make to your daily life that can promote positive self-care and help you relax and refresh so that you can be the best version of yourself.
- Turn off your phone on “down time.” It’s so tempting to spend your kids nap time zoned out on Instagram or aimlessly scrolling through the internet but do yourself a huge favor and turn off that phone. Spending your down time actually enjoying down time can help you feel rested and calmer for the rest of your day. If you have a hobby, try spending some time on it. If you love to cook, this is a great time to meal prep for dinner or bake a delicious batch of cookies. And don’t be afraid to close your eyes too. Studies show that a quick 20-minute power nap can help give you a boost of energy.
- Find time to meditate. A meditation practice is the single most calming and mindful thing you can do. Period. Don’t know where to begin? Download one of the many mediation apps (we love Calm and Headspace) and get started with quick and easy guided meditations. Bonus: those deep breaths will help you get through toddler tantrums.
- Treat yourself to some pampering. You don’t need a spa to get pampered. Splurge on a lovely soap or indulge in a new face mask for before bed. Use an in-shower hair treatment or just spend those extra 10 minutes in the shower without feeling guilty. Whatever makes you feel beautiful and a little more refreshed is well worth it.
- Sleep to feel rested. This last one sounds obvious but a staggering number of parents are seriously under slept. We don’t expect our kids to function well without catching the right amount of zzz’s and yet we expect to do it all on little sleep. Try downloading an app that tracks your sleep to learn more about your sleep habits and tips to promote a better and more restful night.
