Many parents struggle with their schedules, and they think that they no longer have a moment to meet their personal needs. One finding is that modern mothers still take 78% of the housework. Here’s another: Three quarters of 2,000 mothers who were part of a study felt that they lived their lives entirely for other people.
Overwork will eventually lead to burnout. Therefore, it’s essential for parents to prioritize self-care. If you treat self-care as a priority and not a luxury, you’ll always feel like the best version of yourself. Not just that, self-care enables you to recover faster during times of stress and overwhelm.
Here are strategies to carve out time for self-care when you think you have none:
1. Make it an appointment.
In order to make that self-care session happen, you need to actually book it. For example, making an appointment at the spa eliminates the possibility of changing your decision. It increases your commitment to let it happen. People around you will learn to respect that time as well.
2. Coordinate schedules with your significant other.
While you are out to meet with a long-time friend or exercise, someone has to watch over the kids. This is where coordinating schedules becomes important. I would recommend using a shared calendar app that will help you plan your schedule accordingly.
3. Strive for balance, not perfection.
Being way too hard on yourself can do you (and your family) more harm than good. Of course, you want the clothes to get washed, the meals to get made, and the house to be cleaned before a specific time. But guess what? It won’t always happen. Stop obsessing and worrying way too much. Sometimes less is more.
4. Do short meditations throughout the day.
Even when you’re surrounded by chaos, you can train your mind to quiet down. Infuse conscious moments of calm throughout the day by taking 5-minute meditations. No matter where you are and what you do, pause, and focus on your breath. Say quietly, “In, out, in, out,” while inhaling and exhaling. You don’t even have to close your eyes or sit cross-legged.
5. Call a friend or loved one.
Ask someone you trust – a friend of family member – if it would be okay to talk it out with them. Life as a parent becomes a lot easier if you let the things that concern you go out. Buried emotions can turn into anger or low level depression, which, of course, is destructive.
Final Thoughts
It’s time to put self-care on your to-do list! After all, you’re only human and you can only do so much. I understand that it’s easy to lose yourself in your day-to-day routines, but do remember that looking after yourself improves all aspects of your life.
