Parenthood is a beautiful journey filled with love and growth, yet you find the need of self care while parenting as it can also be demanding and all-encompassing.
According to a study published in the “Journal of Family Psychology,” carving out personal time for self-care while parenting can lead to improved well-being and overall family satisfaction.
In this insightful guide, we will explore seven effective strategies to help parents find moments of respite and prioritize self-care amidst the joys and responsibilities of raising children. Discover how you can strike a balance between nurturing your own well-being and providing the best for your family.
Is It Normal To Feel Guilty Of Taking “Me-Time” While Parenting?
A parent once shared her experience of staying apart from her 4-year-old for the first time when she had to attend a two-day long conference in another town for work.
She definitely missed her child, but she also realised how much she was enjoying this time for herself.
Getting sound sleep, being able to read or take long showers, interacting with other professionals, being in a different environment- all of it made her feel calm and fresh.
This made her feel slightly guilty because she felt that she was supposed to not enjoy this time to herself and maybe she is a bad parent for doing this..
Parents tend to also feel guilty and selfish when they choose to focus on their own needs.
There’s no denying that as parents, we will want to prioritize our children and it genuinely may be tough for us to devote a lot of time to self-care.
However, it is equally true that making some time for ourselves is absolutely necessary if we want to:
- Reduce our stress and stay physically and mentally healthy
- Enhance our focus and energy levels
- Improve our interactions with our children
- Model healthy behaviour for our children
7 Ways To Make Time For Yourselves While Parenting:
Take tiny breaks whenever you can
It doesn’t matter if you can manage only 15 minutes or an hour, but ensure that you are spending some time by yourself in a day.
This could mean having a nice cup of tea in peace, taking a walk outside, reading, going for a quick run etc.
Collaborative Co-Parenting:
Image Credits: Pexels
Team up with your partner to create a support system. Alternate responsibilities, allowing each other time for personal pursuits.
This not only provides individual breaks but also strengthens your partnership as you work together to ensure everyone’s well-being.
Recommended Read: 7 Must Try Ways To Build Resilience In Children
Make parenting tasks fun
Make tasks fun or do self-care activities with your child if you feel that it won’t be possible at all to get time away just for yourself.
For example, when your child is reading or even colouring, sit down with them and read your own book or colour/paint. Or maybe while cooking or bathing the child, put on some nice music and dance to it/sing along.
Recommended Read: 10 Ways To Ensure Your Child’s Emotional Well-Being
Make conscious choices about how to spend your free time
If your child is napping or playing with friends, don’t always use that time only to finish chores.
That might be your only chance to either rest or pursue a hobby or do something fun for yourself.
Try to also minimize activities that involve screen time. Using social media or watching videos may not necessarily help you feel refreshed and other offline options could be more effective choices.
Schedule some time alone with your partner
Image Credits: Pixabay
As the parenting role takes more importance, couples often don’t get to spend enough time together away from the child.
Ensure that you consciously find time for this at least once a week. Do something fun/relaxing and avoid discussing parenting related or other responsibilities during this time. This is the time for you to reconnect as a couple!
Recommended Read: Are you a Helicopter Parent?
Practice mindfulness and self-compassion
Image Credits: Pexels
Spending even 2-5 minutes practising mindful breathing can help you find some calm amidst all the chaos. Move to a quiet corner, take in deep breaths, and focus only on your breathing for the time being.
Tell yourself that you are doing the best you can; we often are too harsh on ourselves and that further adds to the pressure and distress we feel.
You are already doing a lot and you need to pat yourself on the back each time you finish a chore, care for yourself, care for someone else!
Ask for help
None of us can do it all and it’s okay to get help and support from friends and family members when we need it.
Leave the child in the care of the other parent/other family members/a friend or neighbour who also has children, so that you get some breathing space for yourself.
Conclusion:
Parenthood and self-care need not be mutually exclusive. By implementing these seven strategies, you can prioritize your well-being and create a harmonious balance between parenting and self-care.
Remember, finding personal time while parenting is not only beneficial for you but also sets a positive example for your children, teaching them the importance of nurturing their own well-being.
References:
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-ways-your-children-benefit-from-your passions_n_6705902?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/joyful-parenting/201708/25-simple-self-care-tools-parents
- https://psychcentral.com/blog/tips-for-moms-to-make-time-for-themselves/
- https://www.sharecare.com/health/parenting/why-parents-need-time-themselves
- https://member.1to1help.net/?to=articles/Spending-Quality-Time/MjI2
- https://member.1to1help.net/?to=articles/Unstructured-Play-Time-and-its-Importance-for-Your-Child/NjE=
- https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/self-care-and-well-being/how-make-time-for-yourself-baby-8-tips
- https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/self-care-strategies-for-parents-no-time
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parenting/moments/me-time-is-an-integral-part-of-parenting-know-how-to-give-yourself-some-alone-time/articleshow/90515301.cms
If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help.