During the interview I did last week for ABC Capricornia I talked about keeping up the self care that enables you to keep mentally well. While that was in regards to people with a mental illness, I think that these tips can be helpful for all parents.
Take time out.
Time out isn’t just helpful for kids, even parents need it sometimes! Even if it’s an hour while you get a massage, do something for yourself. It helps to recharge your batteries and come back to parenting with a more clear head.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
This is probably one of the most important tips for parenting. Asking for help when you feel overwhelmed can make you feel like you have failed as a parent, but I think that you are strong for acknowledging that you need help. I’m not saying that you need to scream it from the rooftops (unless that’s your thing, then totally for it!) but just let someone know.
Make plans to regularly leave the house
I hadn’t realised just how important this one is until recently. Mr 5 and I had gotten into a slump of not leaving the house because I was just too damn tired to do it. Since we have gotten his sleep under control (now I just need to work on mine!) I am making an effort to leave the house more often. Even if it’s just a trip to get some milk, leave the house.
Even if you aren’t leaving the house, get dressed.
Whenever I stay in my pyjamas I seem to feel worse for it. It’s harder to get motivated to do anything when you are still in your pyjamas. On bad days, I find even the simple act of getting dressed helps me feel a bit better about myself.
Step away from the social media.
I don’t mean give it up completely (unless that works for you) but do take some time to take a step back every now and then. I find when I get too investing in what is going on online, I neglect every thing else in my life and I start to live my life through the online world. While social media can provide a much needed place of support, it’s important to set boundaries.
Do something you love, just for you.
It’s so easy to get caught up in all things child related that you begin to lose who you are as a person, not just someone’s mum or dad. It can be absolutely anything, as long as it makes you feel good. Blogging is that thing for me, even though I do talk about Mr 5 on here, it’s still something I can do apart from him.
Linking up with Robomum who is hosting The Lounge this week!
The leaving the house is a huge one, even if it’s to go to the park or shops. Just the air and change of scenery is a huge help…great post.
Very useful tips. They seem so easy but sometimes you get caught up in things and some of these slip. It is always nice to have little reminders like these.
Awesome tips hun – for me leaving the house is a must because working from home I could actually happily stay cocooned from the world for days. Kids sports as much as I moan about them, are the perfect way to enforce I get out every now and then xx
Great tips! Agree with you on every single point X
Yes to all of these!
I will pop over and check out the interview when i am on the computer!
Fantastic tips, I agree with every single one 🙂 My kids are now 10 and 12 and I still find that I need to take time out regularly and get out & get dressed, as well as doing something I love.
I always had trouble with the first one. Taking time out.
My children had very inventive little brains and were very young. I was afraid to be out of hearing of them so even the Lock yourself in the bathroom and have a relaxing bath wasn’t safe.
When I was pg with No:3 I lay down on the bed, but was listening to the boys mutter to themselves and move around the locked courtyard at the townhouse block. High walls, pretty safe really.
At that time I had stockpiled a few bottles of soft drink for the holidays to come, some garden stuff, and some dish washing liquid from when it was on special.
When I got up, they were so excited to show me……they had mixed the potting mix, with the softdrink and the dishwashing liquid. The pale blond paves, now a muddy brown bubbly mess.
And then when I hosed it off, bubbles about a metre high came up all the grates around the townhouse block.
As a single mother people often said – Oh you’re on your own…..No, with 3 children you are NEVER on your own. 🙂
Great tips Tegan, couldn’t agree more.