Looking after our mental health is so important, especially as a parent.
As a parent, we don’t get much time to ourselves and we are constantly thinking about the needs of our children and others around us.
Having children takes up a lot of mental energy, and we are always worrying about how to keep them happy, healthy and safe.
Because of all of this, it is critical that we make sure we are making time for ourselves and our mental health.
If we let ourselves go down, we won’t reach our potential as parents and we won’t make the most out of the precious time that we do have with our children. It’s good parenting, therefore, to make sure we are looking after ourselves as well as our children.
Here are some tips on how you manage and maintain your mental health when you are a parent.
Avoid Social Media Comparisons
Don’t compare yourself to other moms, rule number 1.
It’s very easy to look perfect online, and it’s very easy to boast that you are the world’s number 1 mom online.
People very often bend the truth on social media, and they make things look better than they are.
If you compare yourself to what you see on social media, you are automatically setting yourself up to fail, because you are setting yourself and your family up to meet expectations that don’t even really exist.
Use social media sparingly and try instead to focus on the present.
Be the mother that you need to be for your children, rather than the mother other people think you should be.
Not caring what other people think is the easiest way to set yourself free from a whole bunch of stress and anxiety.
Eat Well and Eat Regularly
We very often spend the whole day looking after our children and their physical health and then forget to tend to our own needs.
Remember to put your air mask on first before you help anyone else.
You can’t look after children properly and do work and have hobbies and be a partner and be a human being if you don’t eat properly.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of just eating snacks and fast food because you are so busy, but this won’t help your energy or mood levels in the long run.
Eat well and eat at regular intervals.
Talk Openly About Your Mental Health
As time goes on, we are thankfully seeing the stigma around mental health decreasing.
Do your best to talk to those around you about what you’re feeling and experiencing.
Getting everything out in the open will really help to free up space in your mind and keep you less overwhelmed.
Talk to other moms if you can, because they will know exactly what you are going through, and that always really helps.
Respect Bedtime
Just as you want your children to respect their bedtime, you need to do so too.
Without enough sleep, you can’t think properly and you can’t regulate your own moods.
I know it’s hard as a mom, but a great rule is to sleep whenever your child sleeps.
If your child isn’t sleeping, try and ask your family or friends to help you at least one night a week so that you can get a proper night’s sleep.
Without it, you will be so much more stressed and overwhelmed.
You have to look after yourself to look after others, it’s important to remember that.