Kitril

Kitril

By Damon Nailer

 

Oftentimes as parents, we feel as though we must be all things to our children- parent, counselor, cheerleader, provider, protector, and the list goes on. What makes matters worst is if we don’t consistently fulfill all these roles, we develop a feeling of guilt. The result of this mindset and behavior is that we basically burn out or deplete ourselves from giving, putting out and not receiving, taking in. To prevent this, self-care must become a priority in our lives. As we nurture ourselves, we will have more energy, love, and joy to give to our children. When performing self-care, we want to ensure that we don’t go overboard.

Here are some simple, safe ways we can meet our own needs.

  1. Pamper Yourself- Celebrate you as often as possible. Throw your own parties and indulge in your guilty pleasures whenever possible. Remember- nobody will appreciate you like you.
  2. Find Your Stress Reliever- All of us must find the activities that successfully enable us to relieve stress. Whether it’s swimming, fishing, knitting, surfing the internet, praying, meditating, bike riding, hiking, camping, bowling, going to the movies, or dining out, find what works for you and consistently do it.
  3. Invest In Yourself- Some people put money into bank accounts, stocks, bonds, businesses, and causes but never into themselves. You are the most valuable entity. Your education, skills, professional development, personal growth, and life enhancements deserve to be financed by you. In some cases, it will take a sacrifice, but the dividends will be priceless.
  4. Schedule “Me Time”- Many of us are in excessive need of alone time. This is essential to our sanity. It enables us to decompress, be alone with our thoughts, and just be at peace. Taking a few moments per day to do this can yield great results. One thing it does is gives us time to relax. We are oftentimes so wound up that we need a little time to exhale. Another benefit is that it gives us the opportunity to have a “moment of clarity” where the light bulb goes off, and we receive some great insight. Living in the fast-paced rat race stops us from doing this often enough, which means our minds are on overdrive, racing all day and all night. When we take a break to isolate, we allow our minds to calm down. This causes us to become clear, open, and attune with ourselves.