By: Janice Russel
It’s easy for self-care to fall to the wayside when you’re busy with work, school, and family. Money problems, in particular, can make self-care feel out of reach. When you’re working around the clock just to keep the lights on, there’s not much energy left to worry about your family’s habits. Unfortunately, over time that ongoing stress can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout.
The truth is, stress and busyness can become a vicious cycle. Failing to prioritize your mental health leads to more problems down the line and makes it harder to keep up with your responsibilities now. When you’re not feeling your best, you end up more tired and stressed than you would if you were taking care of yourself.
The same goes for your children. We often take good health for granted when our kids are young, but unhealthy habits have an impact on everyone. In kids, mental health problems frequently show up in subtle ways like behavior changes, slipping school performance, and stomach and headaches.
Rather than writing self-care off as a luxury you can’t afford, use these budget-friendly tips for making your family’s mental well-being a priority.
You may get by with fewer than 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but it’s not good for you: Sleep deprivation “causes widespread deficits across all facets of life,” according to Science Daily. That includes deficits in attention and reaction time, increased anxiety and stress, and weakened impulse control.
Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is the most important thing you can do for sleep, but if your family adheres to bedtimes and you still struggle to get enough rest, take a closer look at the bedroom. Are the bedrooms in your home cozy sleep havens or a source of stress in and of themselves?
While upgrading bedrooms can be costly, better sleep isn’t something you should put off for a lack of funds. For all your purchases from closet organizers, bedding, mattresses, and other bedroom improvements, find deals at sites like Amazon for the most savings, and look to boost your savings with additional promotions and discounts here.
Fast food and microwave dinners may be convenient after a long day, but they’re not the best choice for your health. They’re also not all that cheap compared to budget-friendly whole foods like beans, whole grains, frozen vegetables, and other affordable staples. That’s especially true when you consider the ways you pay for an unhealthy diet later on. U.S. News reports that in addition to contributing to chronic health problems like heart disease and diabetes, eating a diet high in sugar and processed foods is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression and makes it harder to get the nutrients your brains need to stay healthy.
Eating healthy shouldn’t be burdensome. Instead of spending hours in the kitchen each day, learn quick stovetop and crockpot recipes using low-cost ingredients like canned beans, frozen vegetables, eggs, whole grains, and inexpensive meats like canned fish, ground beef, and whole chickens. Bon Appetit suggests tips like browsing sale flyers, using grocery store websites and implementing apps so you can easily find the best prices on the products you buy and track your spending.
It’s not just what you do that matters for mental health. What you think matters too. Negative self-talk has a big impact on self-esteem, especially for kids and teens who are prone to comparing themselves with others.
As a parent, it’s important to help your children confront their negative self-talk — as well as your own. Reframing negative thoughts into a positive light is a powerful way to combat negative self-talk. So are positive affirmations. Starting each day with positive statements about yourself might sound cheesy, but it’s an effective way to create an inner dialogue that builds you up, not tears you down. Better yet — it’s 100% free.
If you’ve taken these steps but you still feel like your family’s well-being isn’t where it should be, reach out. Everyone is capable of becoming an empowered parent who puts their family’s needs first, but sometimes getting there requires guidance, especially when there are barriers in your way. A coaching session is an affordable way to develop the self-care tools you need to get your family’s well-being on track.
Image via Unsplash
Yes, self-care is vital for the mind, body and soul - great tips - will definitely share with others.
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays! Thank you.