Top Tips For Parental Self-Care
As a parent of a child with SEN, it’s easy to forget to put yourself first. We've put together our five top tips to replenish your own energy and well-being in order to nurture your young person's growth.
1. Take time for yourself
Prioritising self-care is essential to ensure your basic needs are met, enabling you to effectively attend to your child’s needs. This could be as simple as taking a nice hot bath, eating a well-balanced meal, or simply asking a relative for a bit of help.
2. Use your home
Self-care doesn’t always need to be expensive or time consuming. Remember that your home is more than just a space for eating and sleeping, it can also serve as a place of joy. Try turning off your phone, logging off social media, and have some quality time such as playing family games.
3. Reward yourself
Life can be busy, and we often don’t always do things that are fulfilling are fun. Allocate time to give yourself a reward for completing a simple activity or task. As long as your rewards are healthy and in moderation, you should prioritise something that brings personal satisfaction.
4. Relax
Another strategy for self-care is to relax. This will be unique to each individual as it's based on personal preference. For some, relaxing could mean doing a physical activity, such as a gym workout. For others, it could be a peaceful afternoon of arts and crafts at home. It is important to do things that make you relaxed in order to help your child.
5. Hobbies
Reflect on the activities or hobbies that brought you joy as a child. Now, consider your current daily activities and routine—what are you doing for yourself? Identify what brings you happiness and make a conscious effort to engage in hobbies that bring you pleasure and joy.