How Can I Practice Better Self Care as a Parent?

What to Know

Self-care IS NOT:

• Selfish
• Self-indulgent
• Ignoring the needs of others
• Relegated to massages and hanging out with the girls

Self-care IS:

• Daily and intentionally choosing to make yourself and your needs a priority
• Becoming fiercely protective of your own happiness and well-being
• Learning to say “no” to those things that don’t feed your soul
• Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries
• Letting go of toxic relationships
• Searching for purpose and meaning even while enduring painful circumstances
• Practicing kindness and self-compassion
• Authenticity
• Vulnerability

What to Do

Real self-care encompasses wholeness and wellness on every level – physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, financially, and intellectually.

I like to think of self-care in levels.

Level 1 of self-care is the essentials, the minimum requirements for basic self-care. What that looks like is:

• Restful and restorative sleep
• Time blocked for relaxation and leisure (i.e. a break)
• Physical and emotional safety

These are the necessities.

Level 2 encompasses nurturing your body, mind, and soul. This means:

• Physical activity totaling at least 150 minutes per week as recommended by the American Heart Association
• Eating nutritious foods – I call this eating the rainbow such that you should incorporate fruits and vegetables representing the colors of the rainbow at every meal
• Maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends, and others
• Eliminating toxic relationships
• Developing healthy coping skills to manage stress
• Spiritual practices like prayer and meditation

Level 3 is for growth, transformation, and evolution which consists of:

• Reading books that stretch you cognitively and foster a love of learning
• Actively pursuing your purpose and chasing your dreams
• Charitable acts through philanthropy and volunteerism
• Investing in yourself through coaching, obtaining degrees and certifications, and entrepreneurial pursuits

Let’s Chat!

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For more on this topic, check out the following articles:

• How Can I Ditch the Mommy Guilt?
• 10 Tips for Cultivating a Healthy Parenting Mindset
• Could this be Postpartum Depression?
• When it’s More than Picky Eating: 4 Warning Signs