How to Practice Self-Care During Busy Times

Parents can find it hard to practice self-care, especially when things are busy. And a lot of us have been conditioned by society to believe the needs of our families must always come before our own. Which can lead us to feel guilty about prioritizing time for ourselves. But no matter how busy you are, it is important to remember self-care is critical in order for you to be the best version of your self. Both for your mental well being and for your family's well being. In short, self-care is an important part of child care.
So to help you out, here are 5 tips on how you can practice self-care, even during busy times.
1. Readjust your expectations
2. Schedule It In
What we feel as parents often gets transferred to our children without either of us knowing it. When we as parents feel stressed, our children will be stressed as well. This can lead us to an unhealthy stress response cycle where kids and parents are feeding each other’s stress until there is a big explosion. Which usually ends in tears and us not feeling very good about our parenting.
So as hard as it can be and as guilty as you might feel, it is important to practice self-care during busy times. And I know what you are thinking, you don’t have time for that. But, think of it this way. Parents set the tone for their families. So if you want to have a smoother day, you need to set the tone of being calm and relaxed. And the only way to do that is to actually become calm and relaxed.
Which brings us back to self-care needing to be a priority. Schedule it in as though it is an important meeting, because it is. Start asking for more help and taking more time for yourself. Help yourself get into the habit. Tanks can’t run on empty so make sure you are meeting stressful times with a full tank.
3. Practice self-compassion
4. Get some exercise
5. Practice mindfulness
Final Thoughts
We all need a little TLC on a regular basis to keep us being able to be our best selves. If you are feeling overwhelmed, I get it. Try starting with just one of these tips until you can begin to build a practice of self care. The more you practice the easier it will become.