Your kids are constantly watching you and learning from your behaviour. They instinctively know when you’re feeling low and are sensitive to subtle changes in your demeanour, too.
This means that you need to model positive self-care if you want to raise a healthy, happy child. Taking time for self-care teaches your kids that it’s okay to set boundaries and that everyone deserves a break from life’s challenges.
Practising self-care together can reduce your stress levels, too. Self-care practices like journaling and doodling are great for kids and will help you raise confident children with great self-knowledge.
Setting Boundaries
Becoming a parent means sacrificing boundaries that you didn’t even know you had. Your toddler will demand to sit by your feet while you use the loo, and your 6-year-old will wake you up in the middle of the night when they want to watch movies on your iPad.
However, as your kid gets older, you can try to set some boundaries with them. For example, if you’re raising an energetic child who loves to wake up before dawn, consider setting a time when they are allowed to wake you up. Creating a routine like this can increase your productivity by allowing you to prioritize sleep, improve your cognitive function, increase your attention span, and reduce your risk of fatigue. Other things that you could incorporate into your routine include:
- Eating a balanced breakfast;
- Meditating once per day;
- Reading;
- Organizing and cleaning your home.
Modelling self-care by setting healthy boundaries is a great way to show your child that everyone deserves to have some control over their time and space. If you’re raising multiple children, consider asking them if there are any boundaries they’d like to set with you. This shouldn’t, of course, be abused with poor behaviour but should give them space to watch their favourite shows or hang out in their room undisturbed by their siblings.
Lifestyle Changes
Improving your health and wellness starts with lifestyle changes. You can’t expect to teach your child healthy habits if you are inactive, eat junk food, and drink more than your fair share of booze.
Get started with small, visible steps to improve your well-being. For example, if you usually plate up convenience food for dinner, consider slowing down and cooking a healthy, balanced meal once a week. This requires a little effort on your part but can make a resounding difference to your child’s understanding of health and food.
As a busy parent, you may feel as though you already burn enough energy chasing after your child. However, setting aside some time every week for physical activity is a key part of self-care and teaches your kid that exercise is crucial for a healthy, happy life.
Lifestyle changes like exercising, drinking less, and eating a more balanced diet can help you manage the effects of ageing, too. While working up a sweat won’t remove your wrinkles, healthy changes will help your skin stay more elastic and help you fight off some of the physiological changes that come with parenting and ageing.
Talking about Self-Care
Your child will always look to you for guidance and will naturally pick up your habits and behaviours. However, sometimes your kids won’t make the connection between what you do and why you’re doing it. This can cause confusion when you suddenly start eating healthier foods and exercising regularly.
Reduce the risk of your kid accidentally developing an eating disorder or low confidence by talking about self-care and why healthy living is important. This is key if you have put your wellness on the back burner for some time. You don’t want your child to think you’re making changes out of a sense of embarrassment or low self-esteem.
Clear communication with your child can help you overcome some of the mental health challenges your child may face, too. Speak to your child when you decide to make a change and talk about the value of self-compassion and self-care with them. This ensures that they understand why self-care is important and helps them model the same healthy behaviours as you.
Destressing Together
Destressing with your child may sound counterintuitive if you’re a busy parent with a tantrum-prone toddler. However, in the right setting, destressing with your kid can be relaxing and rewarding for you both.
Get the ball rolling with simple changes like practising gratitude together. Practising gratitude can improve your sleep quality, boost resilience, increase self-esteem, and improve your physical health. Mindfulness can help your child practice important social skills, too, as they’ll gain experience with introspection and reflection when talking about their thoughts and feelings.
Start with simple tasks like writing thank you notes and journal entries together. This gives kids time to think about what’s going well in their lives and helps them reflect with intention. They don’t necessarily have to share their work, either, but should have the space to do so if they wish. Share your list with them when possible, as this may help them destress and better understand the value of gratitude.
Conclusion
Nurturing wellness by modelling self-care shows your kid that it’s okay to set boundaries, take a time out, and talk about their emotions. Start simple, with changes that improve your whole family’s well-being. Even subtle differences like increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat can have a profound difference on your kid’s perception of wellness. Remember to talk through changes, too, as this will build a positive association between healthy living and self-care.