No one said parenting is easy. You go into it assuming that it will make life busier, more stressful, and overall harder, but also with the understanding that having a child is worth it. While nothing can take away from the fact that being a parent is a joy, for modern Irish parents it can feel next to impossible to find balance in life.
The gap that exists between being fully engaged with your kids — attending events, providing constant attention, working on your time management skills, and doing everything for them — and hitting the wall of mental and physical exhaustion may be smaller than you think. The problem is that once you hit the point of exhaustion, it’s hard to be the parent you aspire to be.
Parental burnout is real, and it can happen more quickly than you may think. Let’s explore the importance of sustainable parenting and how to seamlessly weave it into your daily routine.
What Is Sustainable Parenting?
Before you can adopt sustainable parenting techniques, you first need to understand what the concept is. Sustainable parenting refers to practices, tools, and techniques that can be sustained long-term without exhausting parents or resources. Over time, you’ll feel more energized, focused, and content.
When learning a new skill or technique, you need to allow yourself grace. There are bound to be challenges and even steps back, but keep your eye on the prize and remember why you’re making changes to your parenting style.
Who Is at Risk of Parental Burnout?
The simple answer to the question of who is at risk of parental burnout is anyone. Parents continually give their all to their children. It’s what they signed up for, so they do it without thinking. Over time, this constant, ever-present parenting style can wear you down. Unfortunately, the signs of burnout aren’t always obvious and are often ignored.
Some of the signs you may want to watch for include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Poor sleep
- Loss of motivation
- Difficulty focusing
By the time you’ve accepted you are burnt out and have nothing left to give, it’s far too late. You will need time and actionable steps to get back on track. If you’re burnt out, it means you can’t be there for your kids. Just imagine the guilt that starts building too. It becomes a vicious circle. Life doesn’t stop because you’re exhausted.
Daily Recharge Breaks Need to Be Prioritised
One of the most important — and most sustainable — parenting tools to employ is the daily recharge break. Parenting isn’t a marathon; rather, it’s short sprints followed by breaks in between. This is what keeps you healthy mentally and physically.
Daily recharge breaks can take different forms depending on the person. It can include having a morning coffee before the kids wake up, reading in a quiet spot of the house for 15 minutes, watching a new Netflix show, browsing no-deposit bonus deals available to Irish players, or even taking a short nap while the kids are at school.
You may also want to speak to your children about your need to recharge. They must understand that you shouldn’t be disturbed when you’re sitting quietly, resting, or enjoying a little escape. If your children are young, you can explain it as mummy or daddy needing a little time out to relax.
Finally, don’t just try to fit in a recharge break; make it a habit. If that means errands and chores must take a break sometimes, that’s okay. If you’re giving yourself little breaks regularly, you’re much less likely to become exhausted.
It’s Okay to Ask for Help
As a society, we are often taught to do things on our own. It can be touted as being strong, self-sufficient, and a positive trait. The problem with this mantra is that there isn’t space for being vulnerable. Even the strongest person needs a hand now and then, and that’s not a sign of weakness.
Parents need to know that it’s not only okay to ask for help, but that it’s wise to do so. Asking for help from your partner, extended family members, and close friends is part of sustainable parenting. Wise people have often said it takes a village to raise a child.
If your children are older, they should also take part in helping. You could assign them weekly chores, give them more responsibilities, and encourage them to take a more active role in the family routine. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier with time.
Adult-Only Time Can Benefit You and the Kids
Scheduling adult-only time can feel like a betrayal of family time. It can feel like you’re going against everything that parenting entails. But here’s the thing: scheduling adult-only time benefits both you and your kids.
Taking a break from parenting, even for an hour or two, allows your brain to reset. Once you step back into the role of a parent, you’ll be refreshed and present. Your kids will have the attention they need, and you’ll likely be more patient with them. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Running Yourself Ragged Doesn’t Win You a Parenting Award
You never want to let your children down or fail to be there when they need you. At the same time, you don’t get an award for running yourself ragged to the point of exhaustion. Being everywhere and everything to your children is a tall task — and ultimately unrealistic. Taking small and necessary breaks throughout the day allows you to model healthy boundaries for your children. These are boundaries they can later apply in their own lives to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle.