10 Self-Care Strategies to Practice as a Parents

When we often get caught up in the midst of life, involving work, children, family, friends, cleaning, cooking, and the many other tasks that take up our day-to-day, self-care is often left last on our priority list. As a parent, your attention shifts to focus on your children, making time for yourself that much more challenging. However, taking care of your spiritual, physical, psychological and social needs will help you feel your best so that you can show up as the best parent, partner, family member, friend and co-worker that you want to be. In honour of international self-care day and valuing the importance of a healthy work-life balance, we’ve rounded up ten self-care strategies for any parent or individual to try. 

1. Carve out time for yourself 

While it may be easier said than done, finding a small bit of solitude each day can help you unwind. As the announcements on the airplanes say, “put on your own oxygen mask first, before you can help the person next to you.” If you care for yourself, then we care better for others, and scheduling time for self-care is one of the best ways to make it happen. Whether that means you spend five extra minutes in the car before heading into your home or waiting until your child has their afternoon nap so you can have a little “me” time, give yourself permission to charge your batteries with a little alone time. 

2. Set priorities

As a parent, while you may do your best, you can’t do everything. Spend some time focusing on what your priorities are. Of course, they usually will involve children and family members first but beyond that, try not to commit to tasks that don’t feel productive or leave you feeling drained. Give yourself permission to let go of things that aren’t serving you, and work with your partner/and or family and friends for support. 

3. Get outside 

Studies have found that exploring in nature can improve our mental well-being. With only a couple of months left of blue skies and warm weather, getting outside and embracing the beauty of our natural world is a simple and easy way to boost your mood while practicing self-care. A quick evening walk with the littles or a casual hiking trail on the weekend is all you need to enjoy the outdoors while spending time either alone or with family and friends. 

4. Write in a journal 

Our minds are constantly busy with thoughts, and with so many things on the go, especially with wee ones, writing out your thoughts on paper can help ground you. Take five minutes in the evening to write or type what's on your mind, or better yet, list off three things you are grateful for and reflect back on them at the end of the week. Remember that there is joy in the little things, and practicing gratitude is a form of self-care.

5. Increase your heart rate 

Exercise can be just as good for your mind as it is for your body. Though it may not feel like you have time to hit the gym or attend a workout class, a brisk walk is all you need to help you feel more energized for the rest of the day. Whether you walk to drop your wee ones off at school or take 20 minutes on your lunch break, creating space in your calendar to move your body is an excellent self-care strategy.

6. Take a break from electronics

With smartphones, computers and TV’s taking up residence and bandwidth in our brains and our homes, removing ourselves from technology can help decrease the pressure of being “on”. Take a break from scrolling through social media and surfing the web by refocusing your energy on human connections and the present moment. Consider finding time to do a digital detox as it will help you reset your habits, boost your mood and bring new awareness to your surroundings.

7. Savour something 

If you feel like you are always go-go-go, there may be a good chance that you don’t savour moments as your mind is always thinking, “what’s next”. Allow yourself time to just be, in the moment, without thinking about what needs to get done. Commit to yourself to savour the small moments that show up each day, like the first sip of your morning coffee or reading a bedtime story to your wee one(s). Life is a collection of moments; we challenge you to take time to remember them.

8. Listen to music

Whether you enjoy classic country or 70s tunes, listening to music can be a great way to destress and practice self-care. The best part is, music can be listened to throughout many moments of the day. From getting ready in the morning to driving to work and cleaning up dinner, music has a way of getting us out of our heads and into our bodies. Get your little ones involved and make it fun; turn up the volume and have a dance party in the kitchen while you and/or your family groove to the music!

9. Engage your senses 

When life is busy, it’s hard to be fully present with ourselves and our surroundings. Engaging your senses is a great way to relax and find your inner peace. Focus on your senses with the habits you do daily, such as brushing your teeth, driving to and from work, eating a meal, and even once you lay down in bed. At least one of our senses is being used; tune in and take note of what comes up.

10. Schedule time to build and maintain relationships 

Creating connection is an integral part of self-care. As humans, we need connection, and with this past year having a lack of social interactions, I’m sure we have all witnessed the impact that it may have had. Finding time to build and maintain relationships with your partner, friends and/or family can be challenging, primarily if the activities don’t involve children. Plan ahead, stay connected with other adults by organizing an activity later in the month and then find support to watch over your little one while you embark on some well-deserved adult time. This will give you something to look forward to, another component of taking care of yourself.

While there are surely even more ways to practice self-care, we hope that these ten strategic tips will give you a start to practicing and improving your self-care. We also recognize that not all of these suggestions will work for everyone, that’s why it’s important to find which strategies work best for you, your routine and your lifestyle. We encourage you to find some time this weekend to embrace international self-care day and shift your focus back on you because you deserve it!