Inside: 5 Self-Care Tips for Parents. Collaborative post.
Many women feel they have to be perfect at everything. Have a polished home and a three-course lunch, and be successful at work.
When they become mothers, they keep doing it only with the addition of childcare.
There are so many responsibilities around children and home that there is simply no room for self-care time. When a child falls asleep, it’s not an opportunity for them to devote themselves but a chance to get on with the housework.
However, the never-ending round of responsibilities takes its toll over time. The perfect mother becomes tired, irritable and nervous. Frustration sets in.
That’s why self-care is essential for parents.
So, how do you find time for self-care as a busy parent?
No need to do anything complicated. Just follow our five steps of realistic self-care for parents – you’ll feel reborn.
Create your morning ritual.
First thing first. Don’t just think about the baby; try to make yourself feel good.
Create a peaceful morning routine that you stick to every morning, whether at 7 am when your child is still asleep or at 11 am before lunch. Set aside a few minutes for the activities you want to do for yourself each morning.
Just as you brush your teeth every morning, incorporate other activities to make you feel more like a human. This could be an ice shower (amazing for boosting your immune system) and natural skincare. It could be putting makeup on and styling your hair or a short morning yoga session.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Once your baby is old enough, you don’t have to spend every minute of the day with him. You can use the babysitting power of grandparents or get baby monitor app.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help even when you don’t necessarily need babysitting but want a moment to yourself or with your partner.
A smarter solution
Meet the Annie Baby Monitor, your go-to tool for effortless baby monitoring. It comes with the latest features, ensuring you can keep an eye on your little one from anywhere. The Annie Baby Monitor app turns your phone or tablet into a reliable, portable baby monitor, allowing you to track your baby’s real-time sleep patterns, movements, and sounds.
With crystal-clear video and audio, you’ll always know when your baby needs you. It’s like having a digital sleep coach in the palm of your hand, giving you peace of mind wherever you are.
Go for exercise/swimming for babies.
There are plenty of classes for parents with babies to develop movement skills. Swimming for babies has gained considerable popularity among parents. You and your baby can take part in swimming lessons from the age of 6 months.
Swimming lessons bring several benefits to your life. Firstly, you will develop your baby’s motor skills pleasantly, he will learn to swim at an early age, and you will not have to worry about your baby in the future if he falls into a deep pool.
But at the same time, you will also get some exercise in the swimming lessons. And if you love the water, it will be an unforgettable experience for all of you and, later on, perhaps, a shared hobby.
Meet other mums.
Suppose you have lots of friends on maternity leave around you to spend time with and share feelings with—perfect! However, you may also find yourself in a situation where you are the first of your group of friends to expect a baby or vice versa—your friends have grown-up babies.
You need to share your feelings about the baby with someone who fully understands you. So don’t hesitate to make new friends.
You can use some of our previous tips to make new contacts (swimming for babies or exercise for mums with babies) or take advantage of the modern age and meet online. You can join various interest groups on Facebook and in internet discussions.
Don’t forget your hobbies.
Whether your hobby is the mentioned sport or anything else, don’t put it entirely aside after giving birth. Set aside some time during the week to play a musical instrument, bake or play a computer game. Whatever was fun and fulfilling before the baby will surely be fun with the baby, too, and will be a great way to unwind while you’re on maternity leave.
If your hobby can’t be done from home, get a babysitter or the child’s father involved and take a bike ride or a trip to the mall alone to shop for clothes.
Whatever makes you happier and more content will ultimately make your child happier.