Take a moment for yourself

Parenting is hard work; it's important to step back when you can and take some time for yourself.  

Taking some time to focus just on you can be a great boost for your mental health. Parents often find that they struggle to put themselves first as they are just so busy. There can be times when constantly being on-the-go and putting yourself on the backburner can become overwhelming.  

So, ask yourself – “What have I done for me today?” 

Think about ways that you can care for yourself. This doesn’t have to be something out-there, like a fancy spa day, it can be something as little as having a cup of tea and a few biscuits while your baby has a nap.  

A good way of working in some me-time during your day could be planning ahead a walk; or time completely alone with an episode of your favourite podcast could be scheduled in when your baby goes down to sleep for the night. Taking a long bath with your favourite products and your happiest songs once a week might do wonders for your mood.  

Keep hydrated and cook in batch 

Even little things scattered through the day can make you feel less stressed. Making sure that you are drinking enough water (bottles with time markers are fantastic for reminding you to do this) or cooking and freezing healthy meals in batch that you can quickly warm up are great for both your physical and mental health.