Parenting On the Go: Treat Yourself
When you’re a busy parent, taking care of yourself always falls behind taking care of your family. It’s a logical sacrifice, but you need to be careful to not spread yourself too thin. If you don’t occasionally take a little while to relax and treat yourself, the stress and pressure will eventually cause major health issues. Instead, try these little things to pamper yourself between parent duties.
FLOWERS
If you’re out grocery shopping and a bouquet catches your eye, splurge and buy it. Having fresh flowers in the house not only cheers you up but livens up the place, boosting the mood of everybody else.
WRITING
Grab a spare notebook and pen and start keeping a journal. Chronologing your day will help you make sense of it amid all the busyness. If you’re feeling particularly daring, try planning out your memoirs.
DANCE
Sweeping or dusting? Put on some music and dance along as you clean up. It’ll make a dreary chore more bearable, and the physical activity will give you energy and motivation. Plus, it might even convince your kids to come and help!
CROSSWORD PUZZLES
If you get a daily paper, try doing the included crossword puzzle. It’ll challenge your brain and can be easily set aside when you need to run. Alternatively, most bookstores and discount shops offer cheap collections of crosswords.
SPA DAY
Book yourself a day at a local spa well in advance and indulge in a little R&R. For those looking to save money, get a bath bomb or some bubble bath and take a nice soak after the kids have gone to bed. You can also buy a premade facial mask from many health and beauty stores.
FRIENDS
Been a while since you caught up with your pals? Book a lunch date at a new restaurant or someplace your kids would hate. Enjoy a nice meal and then go window shopping afterward. Even just enjoying a walk is better with some good company.
MAKE A “YOU” SPOT
Much like the time-out corner, a “you” spot is where you go to be quiet and undisturbed. Place your favorite pillows and blankets there and a candle in your favorite scent. Whenever you feel like you’re about to pull out your hair, retreat and relax.
NAPS
Settling the kids down for a midafternoon snooze? Join them! A quick nap will leave you energized and refreshed. Just be careful to not sleep for too long, as that can leave you fatigued for the rest of the day.
GET OUTSIDE
If the weather’s nice, take a walk outside with your kids or pets. The exercise is beneficial, and the fresh air will help your mood. When walking’s out of the question, sit on a porch or deck or at least open a window.
MEDITATE
Yoga is incredibly easy to do, but it’s not the only type of meditation out there. Do research and find the method that works for you. If you’re religious, you can incorporate prayer or scripture into your routine.
TRY A NEW HOBBY
Been meaning to learn knitting? Want to pick up the ukulele? Have a badminton kit sitting around you’ve never used? How about woodworking? Teach yourself or find a class to learn a new skill or hobby.
GRATITUDE LIST
Write a list of four things you’re grateful or thankful for each day. Focusing on the positive will help improve your overall mood. Alternatively, write down five good things that happened to you today; the result will be more or less the same.
What do you do to pamper yourself, busy parents? Let us know down in the comments!
