Why Self-Care is Important for Parents

Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your kids.

Being busy in this world is a common thing. We are so busy that we barely get time for anything. This makes us dull and dissatisfied with ourselves and thus develop negativity around ourselves. We hardly get the “ME” time. This article outlines ” Why Self-Care is important for parents”.

Giving time to self is as important as spending time with family and kids. However, to keep a balance in our lives and to keep us going we need time for relaxation and recreation. Parents are the whole and sole of the family. Right from doing the outside work to household activities, they have to manage everything.

Everyone has the freedom to have their own time. Self-care is one of the requirements that all of us need in our busy schedule, be it a working professional or a parent everyone needs time to relax. It’s like a detoxifying the body.

In the same way, we need our own time to detoxify our minds and make them active again. Self-care is associated with pampering – things like long bubble baths, scented candles, and spa days – and if you’re a parent, finding this sort of time for self becomes virtually impossible.

It’s important that parents take care of themselves – for their own well-being and further because effort they put into self-care results in huge payoffs for kids.

When parents “fill their own cups,” they have more patience, energy, and passion to spread to their families.

Here are a few self-care tips that can help parents strengthen relationships, be compassionate toward themselves, and renew their energy:

• You can plan a day outing or a short trip with people with whom you can enjoy to the fullest. Sometimes spending time with friends and family helps us to feel more relaxed and helps us get back our peace of mind.
• For mothers or working ladies, spending a day in-salon and getting themselves pampered can work as a supertonic. Being a mother is one of the toughest jobs. While doing this job we tend to forget that taking care of ourselves is additionally important. Mothers also need some time to alone. Some manage to relax at home while for other salon or a spa is an option.
• A romantic date at home with your partner can also do wonders. Sometimes spending time with our loved ones is the only thing we want. As a parent, we hardly get time for each other. Planning a date or dinner together once in a while can be helpful.

• Exercise or meditation also helps to achieve peace of mind. If you get up early in the morning before you get ready for your busy day. Try out exercise or meditation.

• Plan a special one-on-one date with your child – e.g. hiking, painting pottery, or going to a minor-league baseball game. Playing games or doing activities with children can help in two ways:
  • It can help you to spend time with your children and with your gratification that you have spent time with your child you will feel relaxed.
• Many of us stop listening to music when we have kids but making a playlist to listen to when you’re cleaning the house or driving. It will not make you enjoy the drive but also relax you.

There are many books available online for the best tips on self-care. One such book is Self-Care for Parents: A 5-step method to having a happy balance in life.

We can only look after our families when we are at peace.

Peace is very important for everyone, even if it requires to get detached from the outer world for some time.

It is important to give time to all the other things in our lives but it’s also essential to take care of yourself. When you make self-care a vital part of your life, then the kindness you show to yourself infuses your own life and the life of your family with positivity. It will provide a model for your child and make to the path to reach your goals and those of your family so much smoother.