How many times have you found yourself scrambling and stressed out as a parent? Odds are, its likely more often than you might like, and around the holidays, it may be even more so. As parents, we want the best for our children and will do anything we can for them to make their lives better. Our world revolves around them, and it’s easy to lose sight of who you were or who you are when you’re focusing solely on your kids. It’s important though, to create and maintain a self-care ritual for yourself too, so that you can be at your best for your kids. See where we’re going with this?

In order to care for your children the way they deserve to be cared for, you have to pay attention to yourself too.

Think of it like this: you put your phone on the charger each night because it’s useless if it’s dead, right? You put gas in your vehicle when the tank is low because you need it to reliably take you where you need to go, right? Taking care of yourself, and carving out time for yourself works much the same way.

Below are some tips for helping you learn how you can create a self-care ritual that works for you!

• Make the decision that you are worth at minimum 5 minutes a day. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is enough time for busy parents to do a quick meditation, or scribble down a few things you are thankful for in the morning to set the tone for your day. Adjust your self-care time as needed for your own unique situation!

• Trying to stick to a self-care ritual at least 3 times a week, will help your chances of future success, and help you begin to create a routine for yourself that you’ll stick too.

• Start with exercise. Take your kiddos to the park and do a few laps, or when your child is napping, do a quick YouTube exercise video. Start small and work your way up.

• Avoid stressful extras or add-ons to your already busy life and stop doing everything for everyone else. Set boundaries with demanding loved ones or friends. It’s not selfish to want to do something for YOU, and is the basis of any good self-care ritual.

To learn more about creating and sticking to a self-care plan, check out this article here.