Taking Time For Yourself

Taking Time For Yourself

• Taking time for yourself means doing something purely for you, that you enjoy and will help you relax.
• To make life easier you could try some of the following:
  • prepare a week's school lunches and freeze them
  • make up double quantities of foods like casseroles, mince and hamburgers. Freeze half so you can have a night off cooking when you want to
  • find someone to mind your children on a regular basis so that you can have some time for yourself. Ask a friend or neighbour to mind your child in return for watching their child some other time
  • plan your day well - write lists of tasks you want to complete. It's very satisfying crossing off jobs as they are done
• Plan a special treat with your partner. Arrange for your children to spend time with a friend or relative while you and your partner spend time together. Simple activities such as going to the movies, taking a walk together will help you relax while spending important time with your partner. Try to spend a weekend away together occasionally.
• Keep in touch with friends, even if it's only a phone call. Talking to another adult keeps you in touch with the grown up world! Organise a simple activity for your child to enjoy while you are on the phone. Things like a special bag of toys , a pencil and paper, crayons or a snack will keep your child occupied.
• Meet a friend for coffee. Join a craft group, choir, book club, sports group. Occasionally, do something totally different - go wind surfing, sky diving, horse riding.
• Join your local library and enjoy the facilities they have to offer including the latest reading materials, audio and visual tapes, internet access as well as activities for the children.
• Organise a relaxing activity at home such as reading, gardening or even just having a bubble bath with your favourite music on.
• Try to get outside at least once a day, walk the dog, sit under a tree and read. If you have no one to mind the children on a regular basis, go to the park with the children and relax while they play.
• It may help to reduce the time you spend watching TV. Many of the programs shown on TV are not relaxing and are unlikely to help relieve tensions and stress.

Parenting tips & parenting articles copyright & courtesy
Department for Community Devlp, Australia.

Taking Time For Yourself :: Positive Ways To Help Overcome Depression :: Home

Go To Main Parenting Index Page