When it comes to parenting, just about anyone experienced in it will tell you that there is nothing easy about it. In fact, single parenting can be so stressful that the parent will often forget about his or her personal needs. While it is wonderful that a lot of focus and attention is being placed on the child, it is not good for anyone involved if the parent does not give him or herself any attention. Being overly proactive and forgetting about yourself can only lead to disaster, as it will eventually backfire on you.
Single parenting and taking care of yourself should always go hand in hand. The big problem with single parenting and taking care of yourself is that most single parents claim that there is not enough time in the day to do anything for themselves. The thing is though; there is time for single parenting and taking care of yourself if you simply make it a priority.
You have to make sure that you are setting aside enough time in your day to do something for yourself no matter how small it may seem to be. Giving yourself a nice bubble bath or taking the time to read a book is a great way to pamper yourself a little bit after a long and hard day.
Finding That Extra Time
When it comes to finding that little bit of extra time for single parenting and taking care of yourself, it all boils down to planning. If you are not planning that extra time then you probably will never see it take place. Putting the kids to bed an extra twenty minutes early will not only give them the extra sleep they probably need but will allow you a few minutes to yourself.
Making arrangements with your friends with kids to baby-sit each others kids will also give you a little bit of free time. There is also the idea that if you become more organized with your own activities and chores that take place throughout your day that you will find yourself a little extra time.
Single parenting and taking care of yourself may be a challenge for some people but it is certainly not something that cannot be done with determination and focus. Just keep pushing ahead and always remember that a little alone time can and will go a long way and it the end you will see excellent results from it.