For many people, it can be easy to get so caught up in the daily routine of parenthood that they fail to take the time to care for themselves. If this describes you, it’s likely that you are feeling symptoms of burnout and are in need of a break. No matter how much you love spending time with your kids, there’s no denying that you need time to yourself in order to function your best. If you feel that you don’t have the time for self care amidst all your familial responsibilities, you aren’t alone – here are 3 simple ways to take care of yourself as a busy parent.
1. Make Time For Fun
While self care for many people might mean spending time alone to catch up on rest, it can also mean spending time with friends and loved ones that you might not see otherwise. Many parents neglect their friendships or taking time to have fun with people who aren’t living in their household or associated with their children’s lives (ie fellow parents from your child’s school), so take an evening to intentionally spend time with old friends you haven’t seen in a while. This will help to switch up the monotony of your daily routine while allowing you to unwind and have some fun with loved ones.
2. Stay Active
One way to care for yourself even in the midst of a busy week is by fitting time into your schedule to move your body and stay active. If you don’t have time to hit the gym, try walking to work or doing some light exercise while your child is at dance class or soccer practice. Exercising and keeping your body moving is not only good for your physical health, but is shown to have positive effects on your mental and emotional health as well.
3. Treat Yourself
Many parents find that they spend so much money on their children and so little on themselves. If you’re usually the selfless type, splurge on a special purchase or item that you’ve been eyeing at the store for a while. Whether you treat yourself to some ink from Certified Tattoo Studios, tickets to see your favorite artist in concert, or the purse you’ve been wanting someone to gift you for the last 2 birthdays, you deserve to splurge on something that will make you happy every now and then.