Care for You, Care for Your Children, Care for Others
Josh Moore
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It’s normal for things to be a little bit chaotic when we’re raising young children. The normal hustle and bustle of getting meals on the table, rushing for the school bus, homework and science projects, ball games, and the million other moments that make up the life of today’s modern family.
But when a little bit chaotic turns to stress and anxiety, it’s time to take a break and give yourself some needed self-care. And you’re not the only one who needs that. Kids need to learn self-care as well. Here’s some tips for how from NightBuddies.
Caring for Others First
Sometimes, caring for others can be a true form of self-care. Helping others in order to help yourself is not a selfish goal. Doing good for others gives us a boost of endorphins, our pleasure hormones. It also gives us a sense of purpose and adds meaning to our lives.
Self Care for You
Take care of yourself physically. Being exhausted from not enough sleep, lacking energy due to not getting enough exercise, or feeling lethargic and ill from an improper diet are all self-sabotaging. Make a commitment to start taking better care of your body.
Be kind to yourself at work. There is no such thing as perfection and you’ll only stress yourself out trying to achieve the unachievable. Turn negative thoughts into positive ones, such as, “This is too hard,” can become, “I have what it takes to do this.”
Take a walk every day. Scout out an indoor facility for days the weather isn’t cooperating, but when possible, take outdoor walks every day. Either enjoy the quiet or try listening to music not on your usual playlist to engage other parts of your brain, like opera or show tunes.
Finding time to care for your mental health can be difficult with a busy schedule. Fortunately, telemedicine makes selecting the best online therapy for you both convenient and easy. Online appointments can be held from the comfort and privacy of home, helping you be the best version of yourself.
Self Care for Your Children
If your child has a lot of their time scheduled for school, homework, music lessons, or organized sports, find a way to lessen the amount of time they’re committed to activities, allowing them time to relax, play games, or just do nothing.
Help them learn mindfulness. You can teach them deep breathing by using a pinwheel, which makes it game-like but also let them know they should be mindful of the moment. Add some yoga poses too, which also adds to a state of relaxation.
Kids need to be silly, it’s good for them. What may seem like ridiculous behavior is actually necessary for them to release what feels like overwhelming emotions to them. Or encourage silliness yourself. It’s a great way to share a moment of self-care.
And just like you, your kids need to understand the importance of caring for their bodies. Teach them the importance of exercise, nutrition, and proper sleep, then model that behavior for them.
Helping children be able to care for themselves means making sure the products they have at home are safe. Reading online reviews for home products can provide you with peace of mind that the purchases you make are safe for you and your family.
Making time for self-care is not selfish, not a waste of time, or unproductive. In fact, it can be one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and our families.