Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Your mum and you’re trying to do your best to relax. It’s not easy. Even when you are sitting down, your mind is racing a mile a minute trying to think of the next thing you need to do and the next five things after that too. Being a parent means that you have a never ending list in your head. And yet, there’s always a way that you can find time to relax.
It’s just a matter of finding what really works for you. Relaxation is something everyone should find time for, and even when you have a newborn or a toddler or a bunch of teenagers hanging around, you need to give your mind and body time to rejuvenate. This will help you to be much more patient, much more attentive, and make you feel more centered within yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can relax and unwind as a parent.
- Stop doom scrolling. You know that thing where you lay in bed on your side with your phone by your face and you scroll away to TikTok videos? Yeah, you should stop doing that. Instead get yourself a book to read. There’s something about being taken away from those stresses of everyday life because you’re immersing yourself in the life of something or somebody else. Finding a delicious drink, some snacks and a book that can transport you to another world is going to help to take you out of your head and put you somewhere else.
- Do some puzzles. Another good way to occupy your mind and your hands is to get some puzzles done. Whether you’re doing a Sudoku in a book or you’ve got a jigsaw laid out on the dining table, puzzles can help you to unpack your mind and give you something else to focus on, which can instantly make you calm down. There’s a reason why jigsaw puzzles are lauded as something wonderful, and it’s because they can help you to really let go of all of the stress and just relax. The best part is if you have a puzzle tidy, you can put everything away in the evening and get it back out again once the kids are asleep.
- Go for a walk. This one is especially good if you have a small baby because you can bundle them up in the pram and take them for a walk with you. If you do this over nap time, then you get some quiet time with your headphones in and you also get a chance to move your body. Walking yourself in the fresh air is a good way to clear your mind and it really puts your body into relaxation mode. It’s good for the body, it’s good for the lungs, and it’s great for the brain.
- Kick back and watch a movie. This is never easy to do as a parent because there’s always someone that’s going to interrupt you. But if there is a movie that you love and it covers nap time, then go for it. Sit down, get under a blanket and watch a movie with your feet up. Make sure that you have some of your favorite snacks that you don’t want to share with the kids and if you’re feeling really ambitious, leave the kids with dad or with the babysitter and go and watch a movie at the cinema by yourself. You’ll feel very empowered doing something by yourself. But also you can sit somewhere that nobody’s going to be asking you for anything or nagging you for anything and really give yourself that surround sound experience.
- Go ahead and see some friends. It can be isolating to be a new parent, and sometimes having an actual adult to talk to can do wonders. If you spend a lot of your time talking and narrating your day to a baby who can’t talk back but can only cry or Babble, it can feel very lonely after a time. Talk to your friend about what you’re going through and your life and anything else that’s really on your mind. They’ll probably need someone to lean on too, and they can lean back.
- Start journaling. A good way to relax is to release your thoughts and frustration in a private place. Starting your own journal also gives you something to look back on in 18 years when your kids are grown and moving out and you can see how you felt back at the beginning when they were first introduced to your life. Sometimes being able to put your feelings into words can help you to identify them and will help you to really let go of some of the negative things.
It takes time to really let go and relax, especially when you’re a parent. But if you don’t try, you’re going to constantly feel wound up. It’s time to let go.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
