Are You Tired? Do You Feel the Single Parent Burnout?

Written by Missy Bell

When we are busy taking care of others, we can neglect taking care of ourselves. Take some much-needed time today to do something just for you. Self-love can be hard at times. Taking care of your child often means sacrificing so many of your own needs – physical, material and emotional.

Practicing intentional self-care can help prevent burnout. Taking time for yourself can create a sense of peace for what lies ahead.

Recharge: We all know that parenting demands energy and a significant number of emotions. As a single parent myself, one of the big emotions that I felt was guilt. I thought that taking time for me was wasteful and meant neglecting other things that needed my attention. I found that taking time for me was actually quite the opposite. Even just a few minutes throughout the day can make such a difference in how we show up as parents.

Reduce Stress: Raising a family comes with many challenges. Imagine doing this alone! Stressors can take a toll on the mental wellbeing of single parents. (Financial worries, social support and just parenting alone.) The effects of stress may be different for every parent.

Rejuvenate: Parents rejuvenate differently. Knowing what activities provide relief and calm versus more stress is vitally important. What feels right for you?

Here are five ideas that may get you thinking about taking care of yourself to prevent burnout:

1. Schedule “me” time on your calendar. You may have just 10 minutes. Take those 10 minutes to listen to music, take a quick walk or just do some deep breathing. Do not ignore this precious time you have scheduled for yourself.

2. Work together with your children on setting up boundaries for quiet time. Make it a part of your daily routine. For example, designate quiet time after dinner or before bedtime. This way you may get a little uninterrupted alone time. Enjoy it.

3. Keep scheduled bedtime routines. Give yourself an hour each night for yourself to unwind from your day. This time may be needed to get some tasks done. But be sure to schedule 15 to 30 minutes for relaxation.

4. Take an hour each day to reset. If you are a morning person, get up an hour earlier than everyone else to establish your day and get some alone time in before you get everyone ready for the day. It is important that you care for yourself to prevent burnout and balance roles as parents and selves.

5. Let go of perfection. As a single parent, you may have days where you are tired and just do not quite make the mark. Forgive yourself and treat those days as learning growth opportunities. Be kind to yourself.

Most of all, listen to your body. If your body is telling you to take a break, take one. You will be glad that you did.