When I first became a mom, I thought having a quick me-time was selfish. I mean, you’re responsible for a tiny human being, and every second counts. 

You have to be with them all the time and the only rest you can take is when they’re sleeping, too.

But I was wrong.

Little by little, I feel physical and mental exhaustion taking over me, and as a result, I can’t perform my mommy duties.

The thing is, no matter how strong we think we are, we still need to take time for ourselves. After all, we’re still humans.

That being said, self care for parents is essential. It’s important, and it’s one way to recharge ourselves so we can give our best not only to our kids but also to the family and community.

Creating A Self-Care Plan

Here’s the truth: you have to put yourself first because this will let you take care of your family even better.
I mean, imagine yourself not having enough sleep… for 18 years. 

How do you see yourself and your family?

Are you happy or resentful?

Nonetheless, it won’t be easy. Yes, self care as parents is essential but finding time for yourself won’t be simple.
Remember, even when you don’t have a kid yet, taking care of yourself is still a daunting task.

Maybe your career is keeping you busy or you have responsibilities at home or in the community that you can’t disregard.

Whatever those are, you know that you can’t be happy, traveling, having all the money you need, and at peace all at the same time.

You have various priorities no matter what stage you are in your life right now. What you can do, however, is pick only the top 3 things that matter the most. 

That way, you won’t feel too overwhelmed or exhausted because you only choose the priorities that serve you best.

What Self-Care Works For You?

Self-care is for everyone; however, it works differently per person. The best option you have is the one that serves you at the moment.

There are questions you can use to help you find the best one that would work for you, such as:

• What does your typical day look like?
• How much time do you have for yourself?
• What self-care activities made you feel recharged before you had kids?
• What activities help you recharge mentally and physically?
• What other activities do you want to try?

If you want more ideas on self-care activities, you can click this link.

Additional Self-Care Tips For Parents

Other than the time, you also have to consider your budget. You don’t necessarily have to spend when doing an activity; in fact, most of it is free.

The key is knowing what would make it easier. 

For instance, you can consider a 5 to 10-minute activity of self care for busy parents if you’re always busy. Here are more tips on how to do it:

• If you’re planning to do a self-care routine that might take time, see if it can be broken down or pared back.
• Find a “dead time” in your day to do simple activities, such as walking, listening to a podcast. or having a quiet time with your favorite tea.
• Use your free time to relax your mind. Scrolling social media can be attractive but admit it, it can make you stressed at times.

Remember, committing to proper self-care is not something to feel guilty about. If anything, it’s the key to having a good relationship with yourself and your loved ones.