Say yes to self care! Wellbeing tips for parents and caregivers

Whilst our little ones will always be a priority to us, in order to be better, focused and more patient parents and caregivers, we must also take regular time for ourselves. We might see self-care and wellbeing fpr parents as the odd spa day or an occasional bubble bath, but it’s much more than that. When we neglect our own needs, we become overwhelmed and exhausted meaning that we can’t be the best parents that we want to be. We can use self-care to not only improve our physical and mental well-being and help us live our best lives; but also to set an example to our children that looking after yourself is important too. 

Try to embrace some of these self-care tips to improve your well-being, feel happier day to day and maximise your parenting potential!

Schedule some ‘me time’ – Take time for yourself to do something that you want to do, whether that be reading a book or watching an episode of your favourite Netflix show, doing this allows you to rest and recharge. 

Here’s some of our favourite and low cost ‘me time’ activities:

• 10-minute meditation session
• YouTube Yoga class
• Watching a film with a bag of popcorn
• Listen to an audiobook whilst cooking 

Get enough sleep – Getting enough sleep should be a big priority for everyone and according to the NHS, adults need 7 to 9 hours sleep per day for our mind to rest and repair. Our physical and mental health and wellbeing will be negatively impacted if we do not get if enough sleep so establishing a good sleeping routine is key for self-care. If you have a baby and have a partner, take it in turns and schedule shifts to take care of the baby, that way you can try maximise the sleep you both get. 

Stay active – Short walks, long walks or any kind of exercise can help improve stress and boost your mood. With the addition of little bits of exercise each day you can help increase your physical fitness and reduce your everyday stress. The weekend is a perfect time to go on a walk together as a family, there are plenty of forests around the UK for you to visit, click here for a list of forests across the UK from Forestry England. 

Connect with other parents – Keeping in contact with other parents just like you will allow you to create a community of people and give a sense of belonging rather than feeling like you’re alone. Whether it be through parent forums, online social groups or even the other parents/guardians at your child’s school, there will be people just like you who need that sense of community. 

Seek help if needed – Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help, there are plenty of support systems around you to help where needed and if you're lucky enough to be able to fall back on family and friends from time to time then do so. Even being able to speak with people can give you the opportunity to gain valuable support and guidance when you’re struggling. Mind, the mental health charity, offers various help resources that can be accessed here. 

Please remember...

You deserve as much self-care as you give your children. We can be the best parents we want to be when we’re recharged, rested and