I’ve been a preacher of self-care since Mike died. It’s crucial when you’re grieving, but still extremely important even if you’re not.
Below is an excerpt from a book I’m reading titled Making Grateful Kids. I love it because it succinctly explains why self-care is so important.
“Many parents struggle with balancing their own needs with their kids’ needs. We think, incorrectly, that if we pour everything we’ve got into parenting—sacrificing time for our own exercise, sleep, stress management, hobbies, life planning, relationship building, value clarification, spiritual development—our kids will flourish.
Talk about being dead wrong! By neglecting ourselves and not engaging in self-care, not only are we on the road to languishing, but, ironically, we’re also setting up our kids up to languish too.
The reason is simple. Our bodies are like ecosystems, consisting of four dimensions: physical, mental, social/emotional, and spiritual. Every dimension affects the others, so neglecting one dimension will negatively impact the rest. To have energy and focus to raise our kids, we must get into the habit of tending to all aspects of our personal development.”
Self-care is even more important during stressful times. The holidays are just around the corner. So, remember to do something that reenergizes you during the next month and a half.
What’s your go-to self-care option? Mine are sleep and exercise. Post a comment below.
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This is all so true, and a great reminder to take care of yourself. It’s so easy to slip into the habit of putting others first, without taking care of yourself. Thanks for posting!
You’re welcome, Kelly. Thanks for posting.