As a parent, it seems the default setting for self-care is having it at the very bottom of the never-ending to-do pile. But we know how that cycle goes:
- Do everything for everyone else →
- Become burned out and resentful →
- Yell and lose your cool →
- Feel bad for those around you and yourself.
Parents must prioritize self-care to break this cycle.
This cycle is easy to perpetuate, and it will continue to not feel good.
Until… you take one step for yourself. Just one step, one minute, one moment of appreciation for yourself. (Don’t worry, the world will continue to spin if you honor your mind, body, or spirit for a fraction of your busy day!)
Small Steps, Big Impact
Here at JSM, we advocate for easy, achievable first steps. If you set yourself up with a huge, grand plan of self-care (which you DO deserve), but fall short (because come on, you can’t add more hours to the day), then you end up feeling crappier than before and you are right back in the cycle you were in before.
So let’s find the smallest of first steps to remind your nervous system how to be still, your body how to let go of the tense shoulders, and your soul that you are a human being worthy of appreciation. Small steps in parents’ self-care can have a significant impact.
Quick Self-Care Ideas for Busy Parents
Pick one step that resonates with you. And then modify that step to be as achievable as possible. Here are some starter ideas:
- Set a timer for 5 minutes to drink your morning coffee/tea/water and inform the family that no one disturbs you until that timer goes off. This small act can be a part of parents’ self-care routine.
- Give yourself an extra couple of minutes during your AM shower/get-ready routine to sit and breathe. Not stress about your list, not try to be more productive, just sit and breathe.
- Call a friend that brings you joy and tell them how much you appreciate them in your life (it will make you feel good too!).
- Turn off the electronics 5 minutes earlier than usual at night and use that time to mentally review the day and highlight all the things you are thankful for (did your car start? did you have food to eat? did your furry friend smile at you today?).
The Key to Sustainable Self-Care
What is key here is that it is: small, doable, and repeatable. Ensuring these aspects are part of parents’ self-care makes it more sustainable.
You deserve a moment for yourself, you deserve to feel good in your day, you deserve to be a person outside of all the external expectations and tethers.
- Start small →
- feel a bit better →
- let the good feelings fuel the ripple →
- Rinse and repeat