When you’re a parent, your children are the center of your world.
But like anyone else, you have goals and ambitions that have nothing to do with parenthood. You’re your own person and there will be experiences you dream of having, things you want to learn and achievements you want to pursue.
The only question is how do you find the time, when there just aren’t enough hours in the day?
From small steps for handling stress to stepping stones that will help you reach for the stars, this article examines just three ways to focus on yourself whilst juggling a busy family life.
1. Meditation
Mindfulness, yoga and meditation are amongst the internet’s most highly recommended stress-relievers, taking off with just about everyone from influencers to CEOs.
And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to dedicate hours and hours out of your week to the search for inner peace.
In fact, research shows that just ten minutes of meditation per day can make a significant difference to your overall physical and mental wellbeing, lowering your blood pressure, improving your sleep quality and reducing anxiety and depression.
Try squeezing in a quick meditation in the morning before the kids wake up, or at night before they’ve gone to bed, and witness how that precious you-time changes your routines for the better.
2. Take up a hobby
Your busy lifestyle most likely doesn’t leave you the free time to learn the piano or pick up clay pottery.
But hobbies are a great way to learn a new skill, and there are plenty of portable pastimes well suited to a parent who is always on the go.
For instance, if you’ve always wanted to learn another language, Duolingo is a free mobile app that teaches you vocabulary through simple memory games and is a great introduction to language learning.
Alternatively, sketching is a hobby which can be practiced at just about any time. Try carrying a drawing pad around you, or even invest in an artist’s pencil for your phone or tablet!
These devices are also ideal for bringing a book with you on the go, and you can listen to audiobooks just about anywhere for a hands-free experience – perfect for busy parents who are always on the move!
3. Study
Adult study is becoming increasingly common, but for parents juggling hectic work and family lives, it can be impractical.
That said, study is an enriching experience that can unlock the next step in your career development and even help you break into a whole new industry.
These days, many parents are turning to remote learning to pursue that life-changing qualification. Whether you’re a working parent or stay-at-home mom or dad, many courses from ARU Distance Learning take place 100% online, enabling learners to fit their study in around their career and family commitments.
From small changes to big steps, we hope these three tips inspire you to take some time for yourself – you deserve it!
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