Here at Major League Mommy we often discuss how to best cater to your child. But today, let’s talk about how you can best cater to yourself — particularly when it comes to your mental health.
Parenting comes with its own set of unique challenges. But one thing that’s for sure is this — parenting is a whole lot more difficult when your mental health is not in check.
With that being said, here are a few tips you can use to look after your mental well-being throughout every stage of parenting.
*Post may contain affiliate links. Full disclosure can be viewed here.
Major League Mommy is an informational site and much of the information shared on this site is based on my personal experiences. The resources shared on this site are provided for informational purposes only and are not to be used as a replacement for a trained and professional medical/ mental health care professional.
Major League Mommy cannot be held responsible if you choose to use the information provided. Please always consult a trained mental health professional or physician before making any decision regarding treatment of yourself or others.
First things first. As parents, we have to learn to be patient with ourselves. We will make a lot of mistakes and that is OK. Parenting is one of those learn-as-you-go jobs, and although it can be scary not knowing what you’re doing, you’re not alone.
We are all trying to figure this parenting thing out. And honestly, we will never have it all figured out. So give yourself some grace and understand that you are still learning.
2. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Woo. This is a big one. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS. With the rise of social media, finding other people to compare your life to has become both habitual and too easy.
You will never know the exact details of the next person’s journey. Each path is unique and therefore what other parents are doing has absolutely nothing to do with you.
It can be so easy to get caught up in the comparison game and it is truly so damaging to your mental health.
Allow yourself to step away from the media and draw your attention back to your own household. Doing so will be greatly beneficial.
3. Focus on Building a Healthy Relationship With Your Child
I believe one of the most important aspects of parenting is building a healthy and trusting relationship with your child. We so often focus on trying to be a “good parent,” but that is so subjective.
At the end of the day, I personally feel that it is best to just focus on building a healthy relationship with your children and all those other things will fall in line.
4. It’s Okay to Take a Break
Just like you would take a break at work, it is okay to take a break at home — even as a parent.
Drop the kids off with a trusted friend or family member and delegate your duties to someone else for a set period of time so that you can focus on yourself. This is so extremely important and is something that I am still working on myself.
5. Find a Trusted Individual to Talk to
Whether it be a licensed therapist or a close friend or family member, make sure you have someone that you can vent to or turn to for comfort when needed.
You don’t want to leave all your feelings and thoughts pent-up inside of you. We all need someone who can help us unload when things are getting too heavy.
6. Prioritize Self-Care
I cannot emphasize this enough — your self-care should ALWAYS be a priority, and I mention this every chance I get.
Being a good parent starts with making sure you are in good working order – both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Make self-care part of your daily routine and it will eventually become habitual.
7. Identify Healthy Ways to Release Excessive Stress and Worry
This is another very important step to take. Make sure you have a plan in place to help you relieve stress. There are several things I do to help ease my worries and anxiety which I describe in this post.
Here are a few ways you can release excessive stress.
Journaling
Exercising
Meditating
Listening to music
Read a good book
Watch some comedy
Getting out in nature
8. Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness gets you to be more present and can really calm your nerves. There are so many ways to practice mindfulness and I highly recommend you check out these mindfulness exercises for some really great ideas.
I actually tried out a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course and I shared my experience in this post.
9. Speak With a Professional
Ultimately, if you are struggling with your mental health, you should definitely bring this to the attention of your physician and consider speaking with a licensed therapist.
You don’t have to be embarrassed or afraid. Mental health should be maintained and prioritized just like your physical health and it is time we break the stigma surrounding this subject. Caring for your mental health is one of the greatest acts of self-care and love and is definitely nothing to be ashamed of.
Briana Marie is a mental health and financial literacy advocate, and founder of Major League Mommy. In her spare time, Briana enjoys yoga, travel, and spending time with her Husband and two daughters.
