Dealing with the demands of childcare, creating time for your partner and keeping up with you career is no joke. It’s likely that at some point in your parenting journey you’re going to feel completely frazzled. Some chose to push through the exhaustion, but there’s merit in taking some time to care for yourself to prevent a complete burn out.
We put together some tips to help our exhausted readers unwind:
- Pump the music: Let’s face it, modern parents often have limited time for self-care. An easy way to boost your energy levels is to put on your favourite, uplifting song and crank up the volume. Sing along or dance like no one’s watching. You’re guaranteed to feel better afterwards.
- Take a bath: We’re not talking about just any bath. Light some candles, pour a glass of wine and play relaxing music. You can’t go wrong with bath oils or bath salts either. Let your troubles melt away as you soak in the water.
- Get sleep: Not so easy when your bundle of joy wakes five times a night. But sleep is essential to our wellbeing. If you’re on maternity leave, take naps when your baby naps. If not, ask your partner, a trusted relative or friend to watch your children will you catch a few extra ZZZs on a weekend. Establish a sleep routine if you can – with set sleep and wake up times – to ensure you get enough sleep.
- Move it: Go for a walk, dance in your kitchen or take the kids for a swim. Exercise boosts those endorphins, lifting your mood and making you feel energised.
- Schedule me-time: We know that many of you feel like you’re not quite sure who are anymore since you’ve had kids. Diarise some regular me-time to do something you enjoy. Perhaps it’s reading a book or visiting a friend. Doing something for yourself every so often will make you feel more human and give you a much-needed pick-me-up.