Self-care for the Whole Family

Self-care is important for all of us: adults, children and families as a whole.  Prioritising self-care can aid in reducing stress, maintaining health and enhancing resilience and energy.

Making self-care a priority can help parents to feel more able to give of themselves as care-givers and it also models behaviour to children that it is okay to take time out to care for yourself and to listen to your needs. 

Choosing the self-care that works for you

Taking time and finding time for self-care is not always easy and it will look different for everyone.  A good start would be engaging in something small each day, week or month.  If you’re having trouble thinking of something that would work for you, ask yourself -

• what activities make you feel good and recharged?
• What would you like to do more of?
• Are there any activities that you look forward to during the week?
• What would your ideal day look like? What activities would you do?
• What did you used to enjoy doing before life got so busy?

If coming up with a self-care activity feels too much, sometimes self-care is also about paring back expectations of yourself a little.  You may not have time for an hour recharge session, but how about a cup of tea outside in your break?  Reachout suggests using ‘dead time’. Listen to a podcast on the way to work or instead of watching TV or scrolling through your phone in the evening, do something that you’ve been wanting to find time for. 

Support your child to also find their own self-care strategies.

Ask them what activities help them to feel relaxed and recharged.

If they have trouble thinking of something, give them some ideas of things you’ve noticed them enjoying.

Commit to routine

Tell your family about your individual self-care plans and make it a priority, not just something you get to in an emergency.  Support children to also prioritise a little down time for themselves after a big day at school.  This can contribute to building resilience and emotional regulation as well as also demonstrating to your child that you value their needs for self-care too. 

For more information, please visit https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/things-to-try-self-care/how-to-make-self-care-a-family-priority

Or contact your school counsellors Bron or Ryoko if you feel your child could benefit from any further support.