Everyday self-care strategies for mothers and fathers

When you take care of yourself, it also helps to take better care of your family.

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If the alarm clock doesn't go off, if your child doesn't want to get dressed for school, or if there is an endless line to buy groceries, an ordinary morning can become chaotic. This is compounded by concerns about household and work tasks. It all seems like a ticking time bomb that can generate a high level of stress.

And in the midst of this, not taking care of yourself can be the worst sign.

Self-care can be as simple as doing any activity that contributes to your physical and mental health and makes you feel good. Although it is often seen as yet another chore that complicates what you already have to do, taking care of yourself can be incorporated into your day-to-day life. You can start by taking a few deep breaths, asking for help when you need it, connecting with others or simply deciding that you can take some time to do an activity that you enjoy.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish: it is a way to be better prepared to support your children with more calmness, patience and affection, even on the most difficult days.

Sharing tasks at home is key to avoid overloading yourself. In addition, we recommend following these stress management strategies that you can incorporate into your daily routine:

5 minutes.
Set aside some time for yourself. Giving yourself a moment is like taking a pause that will help you recharge and continue with all those things that seemed impossible to accomplish.

A space at home.
Find a place where you can do simple activities to connect with what you like and what makes you feel good.

Connect with someone.
Identify a trusted person with whom you can talk about how you feel and ask for advice.

Routines.
Establish activities that you can do on a regular basis. Incorporating them as part of your daily life helps you stick with them over time: exercise, read a book, listen to music. Whatever makes you feel good.

Take care of yourself.
Take good care of yourself and your family by making sure you get enough sleep and eat well.

Play!
Playing is a perfect way to relieve tension, integrate as a family and also helps to renew energy. Do you want some ideas for games at home? Click here.

These activities may seem obvious, but many times they slip away from often slip out of all the things you have to do in a day. And in the end, they have a big impact on you, your children and the whole family.

IMPORTANT: These strategies should be actively planned. Schedule them and share the plans with your family to increase your support for each other's care.

Find more resources and tips here

When a child grows up in an environment that prioritizes loving and sensitive parenting that supports and protects, he or she lives a fulfilling childhood and has a better development.

Here, we share with you a series of resources that you can use to find more ideas to take care of yourself and your family.