Single parents oftentimes find it difficult to keep up with everything on their plate. The kids will typically come first, along with work commitments and household tasks, and at the end of the day, there may be little downtime left. While single parents may always feel as if there is something else they should be doing, embracing downtime and practicing self-care is important too, and there are many great ways to utilize those precious free moments that will give you a major boost.
Carve out time alone to reboot
Even if your finances are stretched thin, there are plenty of ways as a single parent to have a bit of fun when free moments become available. Many single parents enjoy the opportunity to do things like get massages, pedicures, or manicures, or head out for a night out with friends. The Spruce suggests heading out for a long walk, getting care for the kids and hitting a movie solo, or even getting up a few minutes earlier in the morning to enjoy a few minutes of quiet before the preparations for the day begin.
It is not always easy to carve out time away from the kids outside of work when you are a single parent, but a little bit of creativity goes a long way. When your kids are at dance rehearsal or sports practice, head to a local cafe for some quiet moments to read or catch up on connecting with others. If the kids are playing at the park, take the opportunity to squeeze in some exercise yourself. Nothing makes you feel young again like swinging or sliding down a slide, and many parks have trails or sidewalks that you can walk or jog around as the kids play.
Utilize downtime to start a new venture
You may want to even consider leveraging your free time to start up a venture like dog walking. Something like this can give single parents the chance to get some active time to themselves away from the kids while even earning a few extra dollars.
As Pet Sitters points out, if you have a love for animals, starting your own dog walking service can be a great way to get some exercise and fresh air, meet some new people, and earn some extra cash. A bonus would be that you could get your kids involved and give them an opportunity to bond with some great dogs as well, which is an especially fun opportunity if you can’t have a dog of your own.
Make yourself a priority even when your to-do list is long
As Parents points out, it is important as a single parent to both set aside time specifically for your children as well as carve out time for yourself. The daily demands of a single parent can oftentimes take over, but it is OK to sometimes ignore the dirty laundry or dishes in the sink to focus on your kids or yourself.
The anxiety associated with being a single parent can sometimes be overwhelming. No matter how busy you are, it’s important to make your mental health a priority, as high anxiety levels can lead to additional issues in the long-term besides just stressful days. Refueling is important, and different strategies work for different single parents. Some embrace time to themselves to take a bath or read a book, while others prefer to connect with other adults or even throw themselves into a new adventure. As Universal Class notes, making time for self-care is essential, even if it is difficult to make room in your schedule.
Life can be crazy when you are a single parent, but it is important to carve out some leisure time to reboot and re-energize. You may utilize time while the kids are at rehearsal or practice to sit alone at a nearby coffee shop to read, or put the kids to bed a little early so you can relax with a yoga DVD. Whatever gives you the chance as a single parent to take a break from the daily demands of life and end up refreshed is the perfect approach, and your relationship with your kids will benefit from the effort.
[Image via Pixabay]