Self-Care for Parents: Finding Your Balance

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome back to Keep Calm and Parent Strong. I'm ChristaCarol, you're a post, go to pal and come to navigating this wild adventure called parenting. Today we're kicking back and diving into something we all need a little bit more of. Self-care. It's

[00:00:20] not just a trendy term, it's essential. And trust me, it's a game changer for all of us, especially if your parents. Today we're going to explore why taking a little time for yourself isn't

[00:00:31] just good for you, it's crucial for your whole family. So grab your coffee or your tea or whatever did you enjoy doing? Maybe some of you guys are driving, settle in and let's get into how

[00:00:42] you can reclaim a bit of you time in the middle of the parenting chaos. In today's episode of Self-care for Parents, finding your balance. Remember, if you do enjoy the podcast, please

[00:00:54] make sure to hit that star button and give us a review. It helps get our podcast out there to other parents like you who might enjoy listening to some stories, tips, tricks and just

[00:01:04] knowing that they are not the only ones out there navigating the crazy waters of parenting. You can also feel free to comment on our episode posts at the website Keep Calm and ParentString.com.

[00:01:15] Tell us what you think. Give us some suggestions. Have a story to share. Hit the comment button. Alright, so let's dive right in. You know as parents we often wear like a million hats, chef, chauffeur, nurse, negotiator, mediator, CEO of the household and somehow we're

[00:01:34] supposed to keep all these balls in the air without dropping any. I mean just this week I had two managed getting the groceries. Let's see, I had one kid having to go to the

[00:01:43] dermatologist. I had my own doctors appointment to go to. We had a schedule a dentist appointment. Of course getting my son to his friends so that they could have it get together hang out. Yeah,

[00:01:55] it's never ending and then of course everybody's big question what's for dinner? What's for dinner? Every day. What's for dinner? I don't know. You guys go make them any and tell me what's for dinner.

[00:02:05] It's nonstop and that's just on top of the normal day-to-day grind. You know making sure the bills are paid. Making sure taxes are due. You guys know that property taxes are coming up and

[00:02:18] just everything. Everything that it takes to be an adult and a parent and a spouse. It takes a lot, the hustle of it all. Taking a breather feels like a luxury that we just can't afford. But here's the kicker. Ignoring our own needs can sneak up on us.

[00:02:36] I hit my breaking point last month. Everything was normal until it just wasn't. And suddenly I was overwhelmed snapping over the smallest things. And I didn't like the person

[00:02:49] I was becoming, you know, you guys ever feel that way. You just have a day and you're just like this big what I call a grump of mousse. And I don't like being that person. It wasn't pretty. Never is.

[00:03:03] That's when it hit me. If the phone gets recharged every night, why not me? Well in most cases there are some nights I forget to charge my phone. Anyone else out there with me? Why do we wait

[00:03:13] until we're running on fumes to finally give ourselves a timeout? The finally thing about our own needs above our kids or our spouses or everything else that we tend to manage and fill up our

[00:03:27] plate with. So today I'm here to say it's okay to press pause. Actually it's necessary. Let's talk about how to spot those signs that you're mirroring your limit and why catching them early can be a

[00:03:38] total game changer for your sanity and for your family's harmony. I also have some lovely ladies who decided to share some of their insights on self care tips using our voice record on keep calm

[00:03:51] impairingstrong.com. So look forward to hearing those later on in the episode. Let's talk about the science of it. As some of you know if you've listened to some of my previous episodes, I like getting

[00:04:03] into the nitty gritty of what science has to say. What research shows us about all these things that we seem to know but don't ever follow like bedtime routines in last week's episode. But as parents

[00:04:17] were often caught up in a whirlwind of daily tasks, right? So why isn't necessary for us to hit the pause button? Between our morning school rush to bedtime stories, it's just easy for get, right?

[00:04:30] To take a moment for ourselves into a whirlwind on empty. But the thing is self care isn't just a buzzword. It's essential for keeping our sanity and staying sharp. Research, there's that word I love, backs it up according to the American Psychological Association, regular self care, slashes,

[00:04:49] stress levels, and boosts our mood, making us better parents in the long run. And it's not just about feeling good in a moment. Engaging in activities like yoga, reading or you know just taking a quiet walk

[00:05:01] can significantly lower our risk for things like high blood pressure and anxiety. Even better when we're taking care of ourselves, we're setting a great example for our kids, right? I mean that's the biggest way our kids learn is watching what we do. We are their biggest models.

[00:05:18] Studies show that one parent's handle stress well and maintain a positive environment. It reflects and that kids behavior and their emotional health. So let's make self care priority, not just for our health but for our families vibe too. Whether it's catching up on your favorite

[00:05:32] show or hitting the gym or reading a book or watching that next episode on the show you really want to binge but know you probably shouldn't because you'll stay up until like 3 a.m.

[00:05:43] or just not built for that anymore but finding that me time is crucial. Trust me your family will thank you for it, you'll thank yourself for it. Maybe you'll thank me for it too.

[00:05:53] So just a quick note before we get started with our guest speakers I want to clarify that well we're open to discussing various programs and hearing from those who've maybe had personal experiences with them. This is not an endorsement. Here I'm keep common parents strong. Our goal

[00:06:07] is just to provide information and different perspectives helping you to make the best decisions for your own lifestyle. So everyone's journey is unique what works for one person might not work for another.

[00:06:18] So let's get into it and learn more about what our guests today want to share about self care. That rhymed. Hello, keep calm and parents strong community. My name is Janet Curley and I've

[00:06:32] been asked by my dear friend Christopher Carroll to share a quick tip at on a self-try to or something that I do to take time away and focus on myself. So as I thought about what I

[00:06:43] wanted to share, what I immediately came to mind was to fact that as I've aged and am now part of the 50 and over club that I am committed to prioritizing activities that contribute to my overall health.

[00:06:59] I've noticed a trend that when I'd have blood work and things like that done, some of my numbers were creeping up. I would have liver enzymes or out of whack or my cholesterol with

[00:07:09] creeping up. And so in January of 2023 I started a weight loss journey with an online program called Body Sliced. It's a program out of Ireland at the Retire Program that focuses on exercising in

[00:07:28] the form of an hour walk, limiting calories and mental fitness. So the three tiers are exercise, calorie, reduction, and mental fitness. I lost almost 40 pounds by that July, but more importantly

[00:07:43] it was what I gained from the program that was so much more important. I gained a total shift in the way I thought about things and my daily habits. So this is my long-winded way of sharing that one thing

[00:07:59] I prioritized and committed to daily to take care of myself is an hour back exercise. Whether it be walking or doing dance videos, which yes I love dance videos or some other form of cardio

[00:08:15] I have found that it helps center me and re-energize me and on their days for life gifts in the way and I'm not able to do it. I do notice a difference in how I'm feeling, my ability to focus.

[00:08:30] So I have found that as I carve time out their exercise I'm able to think more clearly and be able to focus more and just have more energy overall. And truth be told another added benefit

[00:08:42] is I don't feel as guilty when I indulge in sweets or unhealthy snacks. So just to sum up what I do for self care is to carve out time for exercise. Jenna thank you so much for sharing that

[00:08:54] and you make some really great points. I mean when we're feeling good about ourselves I think overall it makes a difference in everything about our life, about how we perceive things, how we perceive

[00:09:05] our daily life and when things might not be going our way if we're still feeling good about ourselves we might have a more positive outlook. Same thing with you know spending time with our kids

[00:09:15] if we're already feeling good about ourselves and we're getting that exercise and we're taking the time that we need to take care of ourselves we're gonna have that energy that you talked about

[00:09:23] more energy to spend with your kids. I mean there have been days I have found myself not wanting to do anything and it takes I don't know probably too many of those days for me to realize

[00:09:34] oh Christo when was the last time you actually stopped and just did something for yourself exercise take a walk. You know anything that I would find joy in versus your autopilot today you know making sure everyone's fed drop-dough picked up tucked in everything that makes our life

[00:09:53] feel pretty robotic it's never ending to do lists and it's easier for get about taking care of ourselves and the rush of it all sometimes you know that's why we need to intentionally make self

[00:10:04] care a part of our routine intentionally trying out a program because it holds you accountable whether it be exercising or paying for a yoga class or something I don't know about you but

[00:10:15] I'm driven by money if I'm paying for something by gallium gonna do it because that won't waste those dollars you know so doing you know yourself better than anyone else so holding yourself accountable for that self-care because taking care of yourself remember it's not a luxury

[00:10:34] it's essential so if anybody wants to debate that with you feel free to let me know it's it's not a luxury it's essential if it's going to get your mouth done because you need a time to just

[00:10:45] breathe and focus on nothing but what they're doing to your fingers and feeling pretty and picking out your own colors making that routine is the best way to ensure it actually happens. All right so now

[00:10:56] let's hear what my good friend Betsy has to say about some of her great self-care traditions or routines. Self-care is such a great topic and one that I should probably pay closer

[00:11:10] attention to because I have three kids and three jobs and often do not take very good care of myself because I'm taking care of everybody else but when I do have a few minutes alone I love to go for walks

[00:11:25] and be in nature. I love to listen to podcasts and books on tape as well as working in my garden and pulling weeds if I am stressed. The other little guilty pleasure I have as I love to watch

[00:11:41] crime shows like 40 hours mystery or data in because it always helps to remind me that things could always be worse and it's always a good reminder. I love that those are some great ideas. I mean I

[00:11:58] think most of us already kind of know what we do for self-care it's just a matter of remembering to do it but Betsy did make a great point about why she watches those crime shows which you know

[00:12:10] you never really stop to think about it but things can be worse you know things can be more difficult than what we currently are dealing with in life so I guess it's nice to kind of have that

[00:12:21] guilty little binge of helping us realize you know it could be way worse than it is now and sometimes that's healthy for some people and sometimes that helps them reset their brain waves to be more positive

[00:12:35] so next up I have Kameisha who's going to share with us her perspective on the importance of self-care self-care for me is grounding myself and being grateful for everything that I have

[00:12:50] right now I'm in the season that is not necessarily favorable but I have to stop and think and remember that the place that I'm at now I want to pray to be here and although things were not

[00:13:06] where they should be they're not where they could be and so as I sit back and I reflect and be grateful for God answering my prayers it also creates a sense of hope you know knowing that

[00:13:24] my prayers were answered before and they'll be answered in the future if I just stay in faith and so once you center yourself and become you know grateful and in that state of gratitude things start looking different your mood changes you begin to be happy

[00:13:46] because you realize you have so much to be grateful for and so when I think of self-care I think of me being happy and I know that being happy is sometimes temporary and a lot of people

[00:14:04] associate self-care with temporary things such as massages and I need something more permanent and that's a state of happiness and I find happiness when I realize what I have when I'm in a state of gratefulness. Can you show what a great perspective on how self-care isn't

[00:14:28] just about actions or the things that we do your testimony is a great reminder that sometimes self-care is emotional finding that perspective you need to lean on every day throughout your daily life and autopilot and to do lists of just stopping and pausing especially when you find yourself

[00:14:50] in a moment where things are overwhelming or they seem unbearable to pause and reflect on what you do have to be grateful for and what is your state of happiness. Next up I have Ellis Collins, a friend of mine who is an acupuncturist and she takes on a

[00:15:08] more physical approach on self-care so let's hear what she does in order to find her peace in her calm. Hi this is Ellis Collins, I am a homeschooling mother for and also an acupuncturist and

[00:15:22] herbalist with a Dallas Fort Worth area. Stress is something that can overwhelm me day to day because of work and school. I of course can needle myself in the acupunce to call my system but if I don't

[00:15:35] have needles with me I like to use acupressure there is a point right between eyebrows that some people may know as the third eye when I press on that spot with my finger and take slow, deep

[00:15:47] breasts it comes me down. It's great for not only stress but anxiety as well. Another thing that I like to do for self-care is taking Chinese herbal medicine I prefer the granules. What's interesting is that often our bodies will tell us which herbs we need for example take

[00:16:07] bitterness and herb that might be too bitter for you we feel entased to strike for me because my body is craving that bitter herb and the property of bitterness is dispersing and dredges out toxicity

[00:16:21] so perhaps I needed that. Finally I love taking baths, the element of water can really change our energies and there's something very soothing about it which is why I had home water bursts when

[00:16:34] I gave birth to my children. Thank you for allowing me to share what I do for self-care and I look forward to hearing what yours are. Thank you, Ellis and wow I didn't even realize that about the third eye.

[00:16:47] I actually do that quite often not even knowing that it was kind of a self-care routine but I guess it is putting pressure right there in the center of my forehead and of course I can't believe

[00:16:58] I didn't even think to discuss the idea of bath time. Bath time is one of those things that I think as you become an adult you kind of forget the calming of it and the peace that it brings,

[00:17:13] you know and of course as moms sometimes it's hard to find that time to be in the bathroom without anybody else, no other children or animals following you in there and being able to really just relax

[00:17:28] in the warmth and the sense of the herbs or you know the bubbles I prefer roses, the scent of roses but it just it relaxes and comes you and I remember times that I would do

[00:17:43] calming music or just you know soft music that I enjoyed listening to and candles. Doing something like that is a luxury but it's a luxury that should be put into our you know weekly

[00:17:57] or monthly regimen because we deserve it. We deserve that time to ourselves to relax and just be that way we can come out a better person for our family, for our kids, for our spouses

[00:18:11] and be the best version of ourselves because we have allowed ourselves to recuperate and to reset. So although I say it's a luxury it's kind of essential too isn't it? As a creative person me personally

[00:18:26] I find self care and creating. I love well you know I'm doing a podcast and sometimes you know even my creative projects become a burden so I have to really remind

[00:18:40] myself that it's okay to just be to just you know float in a raft in my pool and not be doing something. I think for me personally that is my biggest struggle. I struggle with ADHD and

[00:18:55] I'm creative and so I'm always on the go as anyone that knows me I have way more than a few things going on in my life. I do it to myself but I think a lot of that is because I am still learning

[00:19:10] how to properly do self care. I really appreciate LS and Kameisha and Betsy and Janet taking the time to visit the website keep common parents strong. To leave a voice recording that went along with today's episode of self care and the importance of self care both with actions

[00:19:30] that you do and in all different forms and perspectives we explored various self care strategies that can help us stay energized and balanced as parents and as people human beings Betsy shared her weekly routine of engaging hobbies like gardening and watching her favorite shows and taking

[00:19:49] walks which help her in-wine and find joy in her busy life. Janet discussed how a new health measurement hasn't only helped her lose weight but also booster her energy levels enhancing her ability to parent with positivity and strength. Commissioner on the other hand brought a unique

[00:20:05] perspective by emphasizing gratitude as a powerful mental approach rather than just an action. She spoke about how maintaining a mindset of gratitude helps her navigate the complexities of daily life with a more appreciative and calm outlook. This approach transforms self care from a

[00:20:24] series of actions into a sustaining state of mind where recognizing and valuing the small moments becomes a vital part of well-being. Her stance reminds us that sometimes the most impactful self care practices are those that alter our perceptions and emotional responses which brings

[00:20:43] me to Ellis who takes a more physical hands on approach of nurturing the body we nurture the spirit we nurture the body through her self care of acupuncture and herbs and having that relaxing peaceful bath time. These are all things that can help

[00:21:05] recentress to bring us back to be the best version of ourselves. The central piece to all of these approaches is the element of intentionality. Just like we decide what's for dinner or stick to a

[00:21:19] bedtime routine with our kids integrating self care into our daily lives requires a conscious decision without making it as routine as any other essential activity in our lives, making it part of our auto-pilot

[00:21:31] routine ensuring that we not only survive but thrive in our role as parents. I really would have loved to have some men give us some tips on some of their self care routine because you know what

[00:21:45] it's just as important this podcast isn't just for moms. It is for all parents we all have to parents strong. So guys if you're listening please feel free to reach out and comment and

[00:21:58] give the listeners some ideas that you have on things that you do for your own self care. I know with my husband some things he does is to watch YouTube videos mainly tutorials or documentaries and that is one of his ways of just being and resetting.

[00:22:18] So remember our self care is vital not just for maintaining our health but for modeling healthy habits for our kids. It helps us meet life challenges with resilience and ensures we can give our

[00:22:30] best to our families. By taking care of ourselves we're sitting a foundation for well-being that impacts not just us but those that we love the most. I know this was one of my shortest episodes. Summer is

[00:22:45] officially a POS and everyone's schedules are very busy and complicated and logistics of guest speakers. It can be a little tricky so I appreciate you ladies for taking the time to send me

[00:22:58] a voice message for the podcast to use for our listeners so that they can get some insights and ideas and just to further nurture that understanding that it is important to take care of ourselves

[00:23:10] so that we can take care of everyone else. Self care is truly a transformative power and we have some great enlightening discussions today. A huge thank you to everyone who turned into keep calm and

[00:23:23] parents strong. It's been a pleasure sharing these insights and stories with you and I know the ladies probably enjoyed it as well. I hope you're walking away with some practical ideas to integrate self care into your everyday life. A special thanks again to Betsy, Janet, Kameisha and Alice

[00:23:39] for opening up about their journeys and strategies. Their experiences remind us of the importance of taking time for ourselves amidst the whirlwind of parenting. Remember self care isn't selfish, it's essential. It makes us better parents, partners, and people so I encourage you all to carve

[00:23:57] out that time for yourselves no matter how small it may seem. Join us in two weeks for another engaging episode where we'll dive into new topics that touch the heart of parenting. Don't forget

[00:24:07] to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today's show again, please leave us a review. It really helps us reach more amazing listeners

[00:24:16] like you. Have ideas for future topics or want to share your self care tips? We'd love to hear from you. Drop us a comment, send an email or reach out on social media. Until next time, keep calm and parents strong.