*This is a collaborative post.
While you may see parents decrying a lack of sleep or how busy their life becomes after bringing their loved ones into the world, you rarely see them being outright hostile to their new status as a parent, at least online. That’s because most parents, despite the huge added responsibility they have, know that this gives them more purpose than anything else.
It’s hard to be bitter about the difficulties of parenthood, at least on a fundamental level, when you realize all the effort and sacrifice goes towards a little loved one you absolutely adore. Many parents suggest that before this, their life didn’t have the exact direction and purpose it has now, at least not in such a pressing sense.
That’s all very noble and true, of course. But it doesn’t mean you won’t want to try and feel your best despite the rigors imposed upon you.
So, is it possible to counterbalance those aforementioned rigors when dealing with the energy drain of parenthood? Let’s consider that, below, without the platitudes of “get more sleep” you often read online:
Try To Re-establish Your Focus
Parenthood can leave you somewhat scatterbrained, because when you have so much to deal with and you’re tired to boot, you could find yourself starting tasks only to abandon them halfway through when your child needs changing or a tantrum erupts, and this constant switching between priorities creates a kind of cognitive exhaustion.
The thing is, your brain craves completion and closure, so when everything feels half-finished, it keeps running in the background like too many browser tabs open on an old computer. You could try setting smaller, more achievable goals throughout your day as opposed to attempting to tackle everything at once. Maybe that means dedicating just fifteen minutes to one specific task, like reading in the morning before your baby has woken up, or meditating when you can.
Reconnect With Nature
It’s almost miraculous about how quickly fresh air and natural surroundings can reset your internal batteries, especially when you’ve been cooped up inside dealing with the intensity of caring for your family. It’s fine if you can’t manage long hikes or camping trips anymore, but you could step outside for a few minutes each day and notice what’s around you.
You might go for a walk with your dog, or begin sitting on your front steps while your child naps in the stroller, or take a slow walk around the local area without headphones or scrolling your phone. This can also allow you a form of “walking meditation” which can also reconnect you to your surroundings.
Consider Supplement Intake & Skincare
Your body is working overtime in ways you probably never anticipated, which means that the basic building blocks of feeling good need a little extra support outside of whatever nutrients you’re managing to grab between school runs.
An NMN supplement could be worth exploring since it supports cellular energy production, which becomes pretty crucial when you’re running on fumes most days. Your sleep schedule might look nothing like it used to, and your meal timing could be completely unpredictable, so giving your body some extra support at the cellular level makes practical sense. Parents often suggest that a real focus on skincare can be helpful too, because it gives a meditative time while also helping to add nutrient-rich formulas to help us feel and look our best, becoming something of a nice ritual to integrate.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily counterbalance the rigors of parenthood, not completely, but in some small and helpful ways.
