Self-Care 101 eBook for Busy Parents
Written by Kristi Yeh
To all the busy and tired parents out there— this is for you...and your children! Practicing regular self-care is an important part of teaching your children how to pay attention to their needs and be kind to themselves. And, as we know, children learn more from what we do versus what we say. You might be thinking there’s no way I can fit self-care into my busy life, but self-care is really about doing small things on a regular basis to increase resilience and sustain well-being.
As psychiatrist Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., wrote, “When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”
After my first child was born, I struggled to rework my self-care routine amid the demands of a newborn and my changing identity. I could only focus on one or two things at a time, otherwise it was too overwhelming. As a new mother, all I had energy for were the physical self-care basics: eating regular meals, drinking enough water, and showering regularly. The other area of self-care that was the most important to me was relational self-care. I prioritized staying connected to my friends, even if it was just a quick text or phone call. As my children got older and I gained a bit more freedom, I was able to make more time for other kinds of self-care, such as reading, listening to podcasts, writing, drawing, and meditation. Enter COVID-19, and all of us parents had to rework our self-care routines yet again.
I started Parent Self-Care with the mission to meet that need, as I began sheltering in place in California at the end of March. I also wrote my first eBook, Self-Care 101 for Busy Parents, as a way to share my top tips and resources for parent wellness from over a decade of research and personal practice. Part of my self-care is my love of drawing and art, so I also had the book professionally illustrated. The soft pastels and beautiful drawings help to bring the words to life in a soothing way.
The 50-Page eBook Includes:
An overview of the nine self-care categories and the burnout cycle for parents
The top barriers to self-care: guilt, unrealistic expectations, difficulty creating new habits, and lack of time, and how to overcome them
Self-care kit instructions and more DIY self-care activities
Self-Care ideas including: the benefits of laughter, breathing and meditation exercises, self-kindness practices, and gratitude activities
Self-care activities, worksheets and a printable poster
Resource guide featuring books, websites, podcasts, TedTalks and apps to promote self-care and wellness
This book is not meant to lead you to feelings of self-blame if you don't do "enough" of the activities. You are the expert on what helps you stay rested, healthy, and joyful. This guide is meant to support you as you kick off your self-care journey, or inspire you if you are in a rut. You don’t need to read it from start to finish, you can pick it up anytime and turn to whatever section is calling to you at the moment. Self-care is meant to be nourishing and restorative, so make it work for you. Lastly, to deepen your self-care practice and your overall sense of connection, share your self-care challenges and wins with supportive friends.
Warning: If you try some of these self-care exercises you may experience joy, calm, and gratitude. Take care parents!
Connect with the Author:
Blog - Parent Self-Care
eBook - Self-Care 101 for Busy Parents
Instagram - @parentselfcare
Podcast - The Mental Mile
Merchandise - Hoodies, Mugs + Totes
