New year, new you. We’ve all heard it 1,000 times. Then, suddenly, it’s February and life got hectic and you have already dropped all of your resolutions.
What if we altered our mind-set on what a new year should bring and instead of feeling like we must change or improve, we just take care of what we have?
You may be thinking, “taking care takes time” and I know as a busy parent, time is one of those things you don’t have (probably along with money, sleep and sometimes sanity!). Between work, school and extracurricular drop offs and pick-ups, making meals, grocery shopping, cleaning … there isn’t much time for anything else.
However, many of the elements of “taking care” don’t need to be time-consuming.
Self-care should be a top priority. I know you have heard this repeatedly as well. It turns out, this one is true. You can’t take care of others if your needs are not met.
This doesn’t have to mean getting a babysitter and spending a whole day at the spa; grab that book you’ve been meaning to read since before your kids were born, take a bath, go for a walk by yourself after dinner or purchase that new item you’ve been looking at. Thinking about the little things that would make your day better and doing them can make a big difference.
Take care of your relationships with your friends. Parenting is a 24/7 job that doesn’t leave a lot of time for socializing but you can (and should) maintain important relationships outside of the family. If your visit needs to be virtual, via phone or even a quick text to say “I’m thinking about you,” staying connected with your friends will brighten both of your days.
Speaking of relationships, if you are on this parenting journey with a partner, it is crucial that you take care of each other. Check in, ask how they are doing, do something for them without being asked, most importantly, be forgiving—they are juggling a lot as well.
As a working mom of two, I know these “taking care” measures are easier “said” than done. But if you can put in the effort to mindfully take care of yourself and those around you, it might just be the New Year’s resolution you stick with for years to come.
– Stacie Gaetz
