There has been much focus on professional burnout, and we recently posted a blog on that topic. As it turns out, parents can also suffer from burnout. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Parenting can be challenging in the best of times. Add a pandemic to the mix and it can be downright hard, especially when parents have little or no support, are being asked to take on additional roles (i.e. teacher, childcare provider, parent, employee, caretaker) and have children with special needs. Even parents who have typically developing children are struggling. We have lived through a very difficult year and a half with COVID-19 presenting many challenges for families. The stress, grief, uncertainty, and fear that the pandemic created is still with us, worsening our mental health.
In a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, parents reported declines in both their mental and physical health in the last year and a half. Parents specifically mentioned unwanted changes in sleep, weight, and drug and alcohol use.
In 1994, The National Extension Parent Education Model promoted the importance of critical parenting practices, among them, self-care. We know that for parents to be able to take good care of their children, they also need to take care of themselves. When parents care for themselves, they are then able to provide security, support, and predictability for their entire family which is hugely important, especially now.
Caring for oneself means taking time to do things for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Some examples include exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a proper diet, enjoying a hobby, and maintaining relationships.
Sometimes parents and caregivers have a hard time caring for themselves, but it is important to understand that caring for oneself does not need to take a lot of time. A 15-minute walk, a 5-minute meditation, or a few deep breaths go a long way in helping you to parent in a positive manner. Self-care activities also set a good example for your children.
Tips for Taking Care of Yourself
Mississippi State University Extension
http://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/P3516.pdf
Six Ways to Deal with Parental Burnout by Kendra Wilde
Greater Good Magazine
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_to_deal_with_parental_burnout
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.