Between meal-prepping school lunches, chauffeuring kids to extra-curriculars and managing a full-time job, life can be pretty stressful for parents. Practice self-care to eliminate stress and feel better with these quick and easy ways to carve out some time for yourself.
- Join a class. If your plans for me-time always end up falling by the wayside to things on your to-do list, signing up for a scheduled activity is a good way to make sure you prioritize your break. Whether it’s a yoga class or a book club with friends, having a designated time and place will help you follow through.
- Engage your senses. A form of mindfulness meditation, being truly present in small ways for just a few moments can leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Try going for a quick walk around the block and focusing on nature sounds – like birds chirping or leaves rustling – or try making yourself a cup of coffee or tea and truly savouring the scents and flavours.
- Listen to music. Enjoying your favourite music can transform your headspace and has been shown to have positive impacts on mood, well-being and even memory. Perfect for on-the-go parents, SiriusXM is now a streaming option that makes it easy to tune into any style of music and carve out a break wherever you are. If music isn’t your thing, you can unwind with a wide variety of talk, entertainment and comedy programming.
- Schedule a date. Set up an appointment on your calendar to do something special that you enjoy. Whether it’s a dinner date with your partner, a one-on-one fun activity with your child, a coffee with a friend or a movie by yourself, make sure it’s something you wouldn’t normally do that gets you out of the daily grind.
Source: Newscanada