Self-care for young parents: some great ideas!

Taking a moment for yourself ensures that you can recharge your energy reserves not only in physical terms, but also at the mental level. Me-time helps you reduce stress levels and keeps you from becoming overwhelmed by the daily challenges. 

• Mental health

Assuming full responsibility for another person, your child, can be a rather heavy mental and emotion burden. Finding time to look after yourself every now and then will help reducing stress levels. Getting away from the daily pressure can also give you peace of mind.

• Energy and patience

Parents all across the world are aware that having children requires a lot of patience and tons of energy! So, take a moment for yourself and recharge your energy. This will ensure that you have more patience when you are looking after your children.

• Better parenting

Taking time to look after yourself will often make you a better parent. You will have more patience, will be able to solve problems more creatively and cope better with the challenges of parenting. 

• Improves relationships

Not only does self-care make you a better parent; it also has a positive impact on your relationships. When you are emotionally happy and healthy, you will find it easier to maintain a good relationship. 

But taking a moment of time for yourself is not always easy. How can you fit time to focus on your own needs into the schedule of your busy day? You can set aside a certain amount of time for yourself each morning, for example, while everyone else is still asleep, or in the evening when your kids are already tucked in. Does your child still nap during the day? Then use that moment for yourself. Not for doing some household chores or other tasks in and around the house, make this time really about yourself. Do you know other parents with young children? They may be willing to join you in organizing play dates for your children, where you as parents can take turns to look after each other’s children, so that the “off-duty” parents have an opportunity to do their own things while the children enjoy playing with each other. Another important consideration: arrange with your partner to take turns looking after your kids so that each of you have enough time for yourself. 

Are you curious how other parents are creating time for themselves and what they do as me-time? In our app you can communicate with other parents about topics like all leaps. self-care, sleep and many more.

We’ve put together a fun list to do as a young parent when you have a bit of me-time. Ideas for those longer spans of free time, but also when you only have a few, short moments to yourself!

• Take a relaxed bath or shower

What could be better than a bit of daydreaming in a hot bath? Add some bubbles and an enjoyable book and turn it into your own home spa experience. No bathtub? No problem! An extensive shower with a fragrant, refreshing shower foam accompanied by your favorite music can also do wonders.

• Meditation and breathing exercises

Need to unwind a bit? Try meditation or breathing exercises. Both techniques are great to help you clear your head.

• Being creative

Painting, drawing, or any other creative activity can be a terrific way to unwind. It doesn’t matter if you have talent or not: it’s about relaxation, not perfection. Unleash your creativity!

• Taking a constitutional

Going for a walk does wonders. Put on your shoes and go out into the great outdoors. Whether you take your kid along in a stroller or go solo, it’s a perfect way to clear your mind.

• Watch your favorite series or read a book

Is there a TV series you’ve always wanted to binge-watch? Or a book you never had time to read? This is your opportunity! Grab a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy your “me-time.” Can also be combined with a relaxed bath ;)

• Listen to music or a podcast

Music can by quite uplifting, and an interesting podcast can inspire or simply entertain you.

• Take a power nap

For many young parents, lack of sleep is par for the course. If you have a moment of time to yourself, for example during your baby’s afternoon nap, take a short rest yourself. After a brief nap of 20 to 30 minutes at most, you’ll feel refreshed without disrupting your usual sleep pattern.

• Plan a getaway just for yourself

Do you have more time for yourself at hand, for example a morning, afternoon or even an entire day? Then plan a nice getaway. Arrange, for example, to go out lunch, to the cinema, plan for a day at the sauna or make that long overdue appointment at the hairdresser that you never get around to. 

Self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s one of life’s necessities. Enjoy those moments for yourself, you will become a nicer and happier parent. Doing something you really enjoy is a great way to recharge your batteries.