Guest Post by Gwen Payne
Mention the importance of self-care to a parent, and you’ll probably be met with looks of “How could I possibly have time for that?” For parents of children with special needs, the luxury of self-care is even more of a foreign term. However, if you’re feeling extreme fatigue, then you’ll also probably know that rest is vital. Here’s how to pinpoint when you need a break and what to do about it.
Determining your level of fatigue
Sometimes, it’s not easy to identify when you’re just feeling more tired than usual or if you’re experiencing excessive fatigue. While the former is usually easier to rectify with a proper diet, adequate sleep, and exercise, the latter is often more challenging to treat.
Judging the effectiveness of your parenting
Extreme fatigue can alter the effectiveness of your parenting dramatically. Otherwise known as burnout, fatigued parents often find it difficult to cope with normal parenting situations. However, fatigue can be exacerbated when you have a special needs child to look after, and you feel like you need to be present around the clock. Ignoring the warning signs can lead to a lack of focus and irritability and even more serious consequences such as depression, parental neglect, loneliness, shame, guilt, and more.
Your sleep quality
It’s strange to think that burnout can actually affect your quality of sleep and lead to insomnia. So, if you feel like you just can’t get to sleep at night, most nights, you need to address the root cause of your sleep issues, which could mean tucking in early regularly to avoid feeling overly tired.
Read: Ten effective remedies to beat insomnia
What has your social support been like?
As parents of children with special needs, having the support of other parents who are in similar situations is vital for your mental health. In addition to the support of friends, family, and national organizations, seeking the advice of therapists or counselors is also essential for your mental wellbeing.
Exploring other interests
Perhaps, the solution to any frustrations you may be experiencing could be pursuing something that brings you a sense of fulfillment, such as a new career path or starting your own business, for instance. If you want to follow the path of becoming a business owner, just be sure to find out all you can beforehand before launching a mammoth project. For starters, you’ll need to decide on a business type such as an LLC, for example. An LLC has many benefits, including tax advantages, greater flexibility, far less paperwork to manage, and more. Also, don’t forget about checking everything regarding legislation, as different rules may apply in different states.
Balance is vital
Maintaining balance in all areas of your life is vital too. It is often when we focus too much on any one specific area that can cause the unraveling of the most important areas in your life. For example, focusing excessively on the aspect of self-care may cause you to become abnormally inward-focused, which may cause you to neglect family members, friends, and your usual parental responsibilities.
Finding the time to be your authentic self
As parents, it’s easy to feel like you don’t deserve a moment to yourself. On the contrary, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Because as parents with a lot of responsibility resting on our shoulders, it’s vital to find time for ourselves so we can be the best version of our authentic selves that we can be, not only for ourselves but for our children too.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions in this article are solely that of the author. The information within this article should not take the place of a doctor’s advice. Always consult with your doctor first before beginning a new treatment plan. Images via: Pexels
About the author: Gwen Payne is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, she has mastered raising her two daughters while side hustling to success through small ventures based on her passions — from dog walking to writing to e-commerce. With Invisiblemoms.com she hopes to show other stay-at-home parents how they can achieve their business-owning dreams.