Sometimes parents can exhaust so much energy trying to take care of their teens, that they don’t have any willpower left for themselves. While it is important to provide care and support for your teenager, remember what flight attendants tell you to do in case of a mid-flight emergency: put your own oxygen mask on first.
In the same way that you wouldn’t be able to help your teen on an airplane if you are so busy helping them put on their oxygen mask that you neglect to put on your own, you can’t provide your teen with the level of support they need if you are feeling too exhausted, overwhelmed, and burnt out.
It’s crucial that you practice self-care so that you are able to help your teen and help yourself.
If you struggle with practicing self-care, know that you are not alone. Following the Please skill can help you make sure you are taking care of yourself instead of only devoting your energy to your teen:
Treat Physical Illness
If you don’t take care of your physical health, you won’t be around to help your teen. It’s important that you see a doctor when necessary, take medication as prescribed, and get adequate rest when your body is not feeling up to par.
Balance Eating
When you eat too much or too little, it can throw off your mood and your energy levels. Try to make sure you are eating an adequate amount of food each day, and stay aware of how your food intake influences your feelings and vice versa.
Do you have a tendency to eat foods that are high in sugar and salt when you are feeling stressed or sad?
Do you typically feel sluggish or irritable when you’ve eaten a lot of junk food?
Avoid eating the foods that cause you to feel bad, and avoid eating food to cope with your emotions. This will help you feel like you’re at your best and positively influence the way you interact with others.
Avoid Mood Altering Drugs
There are some substances that can alter your mood and make it difficult to be your best self. To stay healthy and sharp, avoid non-prescription drugs like marijuana, and monitor your alcohol intake.
When you consume too much alcohol or take drugs other than those prescribed to you by your doctor, it can have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and/or emotional health. By avoiding these substances and limiting your alcohol consumption, you can prevent these substances from having a negative impact on your wellbeing.
Balance Sleep
It’s impossible for you to be your best self when you are running on fumes. Getting enough rest each night is essential for optimum brain and body function. When you don’t get an adequate amount of rest, it influences your ability to learn and form memories, slows your brain function, limits muscle repair, and affects your mood. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can make you susceptible to irritability, mood disorders like depression and anxiety, and a lack of focus.
When your teen comes to you with their big emotions, you want to be well-equipped to help them deal with the situation at hand. If you’re struggling to stay awake or feeling fatigued, it will be a lot harder for you to be patient with your teen or to practice active listening.
Aim for 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep each night so you can wake up feeling refreshed, rested, and ready to tackle any challenges that come your way.
Get Exercise
Getting exercise each day will help you promote your physical health. Exercise helps reduce the risk of health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, and it allows your body to fight off weight gain and get adequate sleep.
Not only does exercise help you stay in shape and feel better about yourself, but it also provides endorphins and dopamine which will boost your mood.
Spend time exercising every day, outside in the sun if you can, so that you can alleviate stress and capitalize on these mental and physical health benefits.
It can be easy for parents to put their exercise routine, sleep schedule, and healthy eating habits on the backburner in order to focus all of their attention on their teens’ needs. While there will certainly be times where you will need to make sacrifices for your teen, it is in neither of your self-interests for you to neglect your own self-care.
When you make self-care a priority, it will allow you to help yourself and your teen at the same time.