Why Self Care is Important as a Parent + Ways to Practice Self-Care

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By Nora Banks,

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The second you become a parent, your main focus becomes taking care of your new baby. As your child grows from an infant to a toddler and eventually a teenager, you may find it difficult to find time to take care of yourself. However, a lack of self-care can turn into a downward spiral. When you’re not caring for yourself, you can start to feel stressed out and overwhelmed. This can make it harder to be an empathetic and patient parent. While you may be too busy parenting to make self-care a priority, taking care of your physical, social, and psychological needs will ultimately help you feel your best, making you the best parent you can be.

Benefits of Practicing Self-Care

  • Lowers stress levels
  • Teaches our children to value their health and well-being
  • Helps us be better, calmer, healthier parents

Ways to Practice Self-Care

There are a variety of ways to practice self-care. It’s important to experiment with different ways to determine which strategies work best for you. Here are a few things you can do on your own to help you get started.

Digital detox

While scrolling through social media and surfing the web may seem like a good way to relax, this practice can sometimes cause more stress than it relieves. Digital devices can create a lot of pressure to be “on.” You may feel compelled to answer social media messages right before bed or even reply to a work email late at night. These habits can take a bigger toll on you than you realize. A digital detox can help you reset some of these habits and may even be beneficial for your children as well.

Here are a few tips for your digital detox:

  • Turn off or put away your device for at least one hour every night
  • Set aside one weekend each month to step away from your cell phone
  • Keep your phone out of your bedroom when it’s time for bed

 Join a book club

Joining a book club can serve several purposes and offer a variety of benefits including:

  • Allowing you to have regular social interactions
  • Motivating you to set aside time to read
  • Giving you something to look forward to each week

If you aren’t aware of any local book clubs, contact your local library. Chances are they host book clubs or know of a few in your community. You can also start your own book club. Gather a couple of friends and meet every week to discuss a chapter or two of a book. You can take turns picking out books and hosting the discussion. If you’re not into the social aspect of joining a book club, consider an online book club. Though these are bigger than your typical book club, they allow for a more relaxed atmosphere. An online reading group will motivate you to take time to yourself without the extra stress of feeling pressured to contribute as much.

 Spend some money on yourself

As a parent, it’s easy to spend money on your kids while neglecting yourself a bit. It’s always important to show your children that you value yourself too. Give yourself permission to spend a little time and money on you. Even if it’s just getting a haircut or buying yourself a new shirt. Consider setting aside a set amount each month to spend on yourself or just do something nice for yourself once in a while.

If you’re someone who feels guilty spending money on yourself, try shopping at a local thrift store or online consignment shop. Not only will you be able to get more bang for your buck, you’ll also feel good knowing that you’re extending the lifespan of clothing. Online thrift stores like thredUP offer a huge selection of affordable clothing including hard to find brands like Lularoe.

 Write in a gratitude journal

Writing in a gratitude journal only takes a few minutes of your time and doesn’t cost you any money. Each morning when you wake up or at night before you go to sleep, jot down three things you’re thankful for or three positive things that happened that day. Your list can include simple things like beautiful weather or bigger things like paying off a credit card. Either way, taking the time to remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for can help you feel good about life. Not to mention, studies show people who keep gratitude journals sleep longer and experience higher quality sleep, which is something every parent could likely use.

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About admin

Jaishri is a working mom and the founder of mommyswall. She is also a certified Yoga instructor and believes in Natural living. This Blog is a contribution of lovely moms and dads around the world.
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