Balancing work responsibilities with homeschooling often feels like holding down two demanding jobs at once – because that’s what it is! Between conference calls and lesson planning, parents can find themselves stretched thin, grappling with guilt for not giving “100%” to either role. As parents, we need to acknowledge just how difficult this dual role is and that we need to be more compassionate towards ourselves and pay attention to our health and wellness. This is especially important because we are also teaching our kids the importance of self-care, and we need to lead by example.
7 Wellness Hacks for Parents Managing Work, Kids, and Life
- Prioritize Nutrition
When we think about nutrition, we usually focus on macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, as well as essential vitamins. However, minerals often don’t get the attention they deserve. Even when minerals are considered, the focus tends to be on calcium and iron, particularly for children’s health. Yet deficiencies in other essential nutrients can go unnoticed, as their symptoms—such as fatigue, muscle weakness, or difficulty concentrating—are often mistaken for everyday tiredness. In some cases, even symptoms like a lingering cough can be overlooked or misdiagnosed. That’s why it’s important to recognize the types of coughs and what they might signal about your overall health, including potential underlying deficiencies or respiratory issues.
- Batch Cook
It’s difficult to juggle work, kids, and home responsibilities, which is where batch cooking comes in. Batch cooking eliminates the need to cook on a daily basis, which gives you some downtime so that you can pause your day and just breathe! Get your kids to help with meal prepping and batch cooking, as this will not only lighten your load but also help your kids develop healthy eating habits. You can also use batch cooking for breakfasts and snacks, whether that’s overnight oats or smoothie packs, so that your day is a little less stressful.
- Make Lesson Plans Easier
While your physical health is important, you should also take steps to improve your mental health. Too many parents make the mistake of adopting a specific teaching method and expecting it to work for their child simply because it has worked for others. This can result in a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Instead, a simple tip to homeschool effectively is to adapt your lesson plan to your kids.
- Carve out time for Micro-Breaks
Most of us tend to believe that we need to simply “power through” our day, and we worry about staying on schedule so we don’t take enough breaks. When creating your plan for the day, build in “micro-breaks” of just 2 to 3 minutes, as this is a great way for you to relax and release your pent-up stress.
- Make Movement a Priority
Whether you’re already working from home or looking for home jobs for homeschooling moms, you can get so caught up bouncing between your screen and your kids’ screens that you spend hours without much movement. Make it a point to move around at least every hour and set aside time for family walks or playtime during recess.
- Stay Hydrated
Sometimes we get so caught up in work and lessons that we even forget to drink water. Hydration is an important part of wellness as it not only has a physical impact but also reduces our cognitive capabilities. Studies show that dehydration can increase fatigue, short-term memory and attention. Keep a water bottle on your desk as a reminder to drink water throughout the day.
- Use Rituals to Set Roles
Follow a specific ritual at the start and end of your daily lesson plan – it can be anything from a minute of silence to a short prayer. Use similar rituals for other aspects of your day, as this will make it easier for you to transition between your roles.
