We all know the importance of making sure kids are well looked after. Exercise and the right
nutrition to keep their bodies healthy, and fun, stimulating activities for good mental health. However, as parents, we need to look after ourselves too. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup- you need to stay healthy so you can be there for your kids for years to come. Good physical and mental health means you have the energy to really enjoy life with them and do your very best as a parent. Here are some of the ways you could be looking after yourself.
Eat healthily and exercise
One of the best things all of us can do to maintain good health is to eat well and exercise. As a busy parent, it’s so easy to tell yourself that you simply don’t have time, but a healthy lifestyle really doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. Go through Pinterest and build a repertoire of healthy, tasty family meals that you can make each evening and all enjoy together. Come up with some fun activities that you can do with your kids- bike rides, walks in the woods, games at the park, even water fights, and bouncy castles in the summer will get you all running around. As busy mom chances are you’re on your feet for most of the day, so invest in good footwear which will look after your feet, legs and back. You could always add orthotic insoles such as biopods.com to footwear that doesn’t have adequate support.
Pamper yourself
Taking care of your mental health is so important, and one of the best ways you can do this is by having some time out to relax every now and again. If your partner or a loved one offers to watch the kids for an hour or so, use this time to kick back and relax. Run a hot bath or a steam shower and let your muscles unwind while clearing your head. Lie on your bed and practice meditation, or put a face mask and some body lotion on to look after your skin. Feeling good about yourself will result in a better mood, and it’s a relaxing activity that can lower blood pressure and give you chance to chill out and take a break.
Take time out for hobbies
It might have been some time since you left school, college, or university but that’s not to say you shouldn’t keep learning. Learning new things and developing skills is great for mental health, it keeps your mind sharp and gives you something to focus on in your free time. This could be anything from an exercise activity like swimming or a dance class, it could be something social such as a book club or it could be developing a useful skill such as a cooking class. There’s plenty you can do from home without even needing to go out crafts, baking, gardening, and more are all great hobbies. You might not have all that much free time as a busy parent, but when you do it’s nice to do something for yourself that you enjoy.
