As responsible parents, we take looking after our children seriously, usually putting their needs and concerns before ours. When they are sick, we stay home from work to look after them, stay up with them all night if it is necessary, and seek out the proper care for them in as timely a manner as possible. Homework; extra-curricular activities; parent-teacher meetings; school committees; social events. No matter the circumstance, we as parents are involved. And we haven’t even mentioned organizing birthday parties, graduation parties, holiday parties, vacations, and other special occasions, or, helping our children navigate life’s ups and downs. On top of all of this, we also have to deal with adult issues and keeping our households running smoothly.

Being a parent is a gift and one of the most rewarding experiences we will have in our lifetimes. It also requires energy, resilience, and strength. When we are tired, rundown, or even sick those qualities become diminished and we cannot perform our parental duties properly. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of our families.
With all the demands on our time, we may be reluctant to take time out to look after ourselves. We may even feel guilty about it. It is important, however, for our physical and mental health to practice self-care so we can be the best parents possible. Here are some self-care recommendations:

Exercise Regularly 
Before the busy day begins, a morning walk or run, yoga, treadmill time, or early workout at the gym strengthens our bodies and clears our minds so we are ready to face our day with energy and clarity. This takes planning.  A reciprocal agreement with a spouse can result in one parent looking after the kids and getting them ready for school while the other exercises. This way, each parent gets their own time or morning for physical activity.
 

Eat Properly 
Sharing our children’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or grabbing a coffee at the local drive through for breakfast or lunch, doesn’t constitute proper nutrition. Just as our bodies need exercise for strength, they need the right fuel to keep them going. Morning smoothies made with yogurt and fresh fruit are quick and easy ways to start the day off right. Keeping sliced veggies in sealed containers in the fridge ensure there are always healthy snacks at the ready. When paired with hummus and whole-grain breads, lunch is ready. A family meal of lean meat and vegetables can be prepared with everyone helping, and offers a chance for quality time together.
 

Make Time for Parent Time
Dinner out, movie night, or a weekend away with our spouse is vital to the health of a marriage and to our own mental health. Once again, this takes planning. Of course, if one or more sets of in-laws lives nearby, that often means built-in baby sitters. If not, finding a trustworthy babysitter, by asking friends for recommendations or hiring someone we know and trust, gives us the ability to engage in important parent time.
 

Make Time for Friend Time
Having another adult to talk to, who isn’t a spouse, is enjoyable and cathartic and good for our mental health. While the children are at school, during the work lunch hour, or while extra-curricular activities are going on, it’s OK for us to take time to break bread, have a coffee, chat, commiserate, and laugh with a friend. It will do us good.

None of these are exotic recommendations. Rather, one might say, they are commonsense activities that we should already be doing. However, many of us are not. In the daily scheme of things, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in our children’s welfare, that we forget about doing even the most rudimentary things for ourselves. Rest assured, looking after ourselves is not a guilty pleasure. It is a must, and with it comes more of an appreciation of our lives and all the gifts we have been given.