I have two small children so I think what has helped me most during this time is a routine. It’s really helpful for me while I manage my busy days with my three and a half year old and my one year old.
It’s really hard for me to get any time to myself so I use tools that I can do with the kids.
We listen to music every morning. It gets us in a good mood to start the day. I work on small goals with the kids like cleaning, gardening, school work, etc. I make sure to shower, brush my teeth and get dressed every day. I practise breathing often! My three and a half year old has been using this tool since she was 16 months old and she’s so good at it. She reminds her baby sister and me throughout the day. We go outside for walks, gardening and play. I try to get as much sleep as I can, but that can be tricky most nights. My one year old wakes up quite a bit. I make sure I eat well. I keep in touch with family and friends. I check in with my support system when needed. I try to use positive self-talk and change unhelpful thought patterns by doing mental thought logs. I do a mental check-in every afternoon and set my alarm as a reminder. I think of my gratitudes before I go to bed at night.
My life is really busy at the moment, but it’s also helpful, most days, because I don’t have the time to think about anything else. Staying busy is very helpful for me. My days go by very fast.
This blog post was submitted by a member of the Up Hub Peer Advisory Committee.