Eat often every 2 to 3 hours. Take a break and give your partner a break. Take care of yourself, not your friends or family. Even a quick 5-minute meditation can help you feel rejuvenated.
If you're new to meditation, guided meditation may be a good option. There are many apps, websites, and audio files that can guide you through the steps of meditation. Whether classical music relaxes you or you prefer to dance to songs from the 80s, listening to music can be a great way to take care of yourself. You don't need to spend special time listening to music.
Turn it on while you feed your little one or listen to your favorite song as you get ready for the day. It's something simple that can go a long way to improving your mood and helping you feel ready to face whatever life throws at you. Not only did I feel better because of the exercise, but I also felt better because it took care of myself every morning. Taking care of your spiritual, physical, psychological, and social needs will help you feel better so that you can be the best parent you can be.
It's important to spend some time on self-care, even when you feel like you don't have a second to dedicate to yourself. So, take good care of yourself and know that every moment of self-care could be the best thing you can do for your child all day long. Keep in mind that the times when you think you don't have time to take care of yourself are probably the times when you most need to practice self-care. Now, taking care of yourself isn't going to magically make parenting easier, but it will make it easier to cope with the ups and downs.
If you schedule a future social activity for yourself, you'll have something to look forward to (which can be a good self-care strategy in and of itself). A good way to take care of yourself is to turn your room into a haven you want to enter. And as your child transitions from a baby to a toddler and beyond, it may be difficult for him to refocus on caring for himself.
