Being a healthy parent doesn’t mean strict diets, excessive exercise routines and abstaining from alcohol or sugar, it means being the best version of yourself so that you can keep up with your children’s boundless energy and cope effectively with the ups and downs that come with parenting. It’s never to late to become a healthy parent and even just some simple changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. Here are some simple changes you can make to be a healthier parent.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is important for a number of reasons and you should be aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to recharge your body and mind. This will help you feel refreshed and ready to face the day, no matter what that brings. You can also make the most of this down time by using thera tears 5 in 1 eye drops. Simply apply these to tired or dry eyes before bed and they will repair, protect, hydrate, soothe and restore your eyes whilst you sleep. This is a perfect self care tool for the busy parent as there is no waiting time.
Enjoy nutritious meals
You don’t necessarily need to go on a diet or think about weight loss to be a healthy parent but it does help to focus on making sure you are eating a balanced and nutritious diet on a regular basis. This will help keep your body, heart and mind healthy so that you can be active with your kids and prevent illness. Try incorporating whole, unprocessed foods into your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid takeaways and try and prepare meals at home whenever possible as this will allow you to have more control over ingredients and portion sizes. When snacking reduce the number of sugary snacks you reach for and grab some fruit, nuts or healthy frutiy flapjacks instead.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and maintain optimal bodily functions. Limit sugary drinks and pick water, herbal teas, Kombucha, or infused water instead. Staying hydrated is important for physical fitness as well as cognitive functions and it can help keep food cravings at bay too. Not to mention the impact it can have on your skin too!
Reduce the alcohol
Being a healthy parent doesn’t mean you have to be alcohol free all the time, that Friday night glass of wine can be very much needed. However, to be a healthier parent you may want to reduce your alcohol and work out why you drink. If it is being used as a coping mechanism then try and avoid drinking when you feel stressed and use a different, healthier, coping mechanism instead. If you are drinking out of habit then try making some swaps to alcohol free drinks instead. Reducing your alcohol intake will be beneficial to your liver function, will prevent dehydration, reduce your calorie intake and prevent the hang overs.
Get active
Try and be more active on a daily basis. Aim for 10,000 steps a day when ever possible and look for ways you can get moving with the kids too. It may be that you go for family walks or take up an activity together or even just turn the music up and dance around the kitchen, whatever you pick try and do something active every day and remember it doesn’t have to be with the kids it can be something just for you too. Being active is good for burning off calories and loosing weight but more importantly it is good for heart healthy and mental clarity, two things that will help you on this parenting journey.
Find your coping mechanisms
Life can be stressful and being able to respond appropriately is really important, especially when there are children involved. Find healthy ways to manage your stress, such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, journaling, or spending time in nature. Using these tools to manage your stress levels on a regular basis will help to use them effectively when something big happens. If you don’t know where to start try these 17 journaling prompts.
Self care
Self care is really important, take some time for you to do the things you want to do. This could be going to a book club, joining a gym or even just having a long bath in peace with a face mask. If you don’t have a lot of spare time and can’t commit to time away from the children then find some products that you love and that you feel benefit you and then incorporate them into a routine, some could be daily products like the astral intensive moisturiser where as others might be weekly treats like the Vegamour deep conditioning mask.
Whatever self care looks like for you it is important that you incorporate it into your weekly routine, here are 36 self care ideas to get you started.
Shop Organic
Another way you can be a healthy parent is by shopping organic as this is environmentally friendly and contributes to sustainable living. Now this can be more expensive and may not be viable for every aspect of your life but you may want to switch to organic in some areas such as fruit and vegetables or meats if you’re a meat eater. Another area you may want to make the swap to organic is your skin care or your children’s skin care products. One company that offers lovely organic skin care products is Organii. If you’re wanting to go organic and give them a try then why not start with products that you don’t need to replace very often like suncream. This will give you the opportunity to try going organic without breaking the bank.
By making small, sustainable changes to your lifestyle, you can become a healthier parent for you and your children.