5 WAYS PARENTS CAN STAY EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY
Lockdown has brought an unforeseen batch of circumstances, placing a greater burden on families
WE ARE OFFICIALLY over 100 days into lockdown in South Africa with days quickly moving on.
Weeks and months have passed since children have been exposed to teaching and learning as they are accustomed too.
Work-from-home routines have not been easy, and finances are under strai n.
There have been major changes within the home, especially for parents. Here are a few tips to help you through this difficult time:
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
We so often fill our days with work and chores that take up physical time as well as mind-space. This can become tedious after a while – especially during a pandemic when the usual routine has been off-set. When we begin the parenting journey, we somehow become “guilty” because we take time for ourselves – instead of parenting. Have you ever experienced that feeling?
Well, here is what you have to remember: you are a human being trying your best to manage the current circumstances, and therefore, time for yourself is just as important as parenting.
If you are going through the days feeling frustrated and exhausted, then you will unconsciously bring the same energy into your home – making it an unhappy and uncomfortable place.
SELF-CARE WHILE YOU ARE A PARENT
When you become a parent, the joy of self-care becomes two-fold because you are now not only caring for yourself, but also teaching your child that is it important to care for oneself.
As your child grows, they will also invest time in caring for themselves which makes for happier individuals. Do something that you enjoy – whether it is reading or exercise.
During lockdown, it is not possible to hit the gym or join a group class for exercise – but you can do home workouts or walks outdoors.
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER
We all have days when we feel down and try to bottle up those emotions and keep going. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with your partner will help you ease the “burden” that you are carrying during this time.
Yes, there are many uncertainties right now – from education to finances, and most importantly, health and safety – we, therefore, have to share our feelings regarding these important topics.
Also, share the stresses that you feel if you are a parent who is working from home and trying to manage the home and children at the same time – this is no easy feat. Therefore, talk to your partner about the additional responsibilities that this time may bring about, and how best you both can help each other.
DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR GOALS
I am sure that many did begin the year strong (I certainly did), and now six months later we find ourselves in a place where reaching our personal goals may not be as practical is it was at the beginning of the year. It may be disillusioning at the moment – but keep the goal in mind, and see how best you can tweak the milestones to still be able to achieve what you wanted too. It may take a tad longer, but do not give up hope.
REACH OUT FOR HELP
Seeking help is not a weakness. Talking to a friend, a confidante or to a professional is never something to be scorned at. Due to this pandemic we have also endured great emotional and psychological stress.
Therefore reaching out for help, to share and to gain clarity and perspective is important to keep the mind healthy.
Keeping physically safe is super necessary but nurturing a strong mind with positive thoughts and outlook is equally important to get through this difficult time. Take care of your emotional well-being – as your mind is essentially your best friend. Keep strong, keep going – you are important.
Krsangi Radhe is the founder of Sankalpa Coaching. She is an NLP practitioner, time-line therapist, life coach and educator in the public sector. She can be reached on sankalpacoaching@gmail.com