How to Model Excellent Self-Care​

We all know the benefits of self-care: less stress, equanimity, feeling balanced, and more joy, to name a few. But this is not something usually taught in schools (though it should be!). That leaves it up to parents to model good self-care practices for their children.

 

Self-care can look like many things:

  • a stroll around the neighborhood
  • mugs of hot tea or coffee
  • exercise
  • meditation
  • a Netflix binge
  • petting your dog or cat
  • naps
  • making art
  • tinkering
  • playing a game with your family
  • curling up with a good book
  • cooking a hot meal from scratch
  • hiking
  • listening to music

 

The list is endless and is as varied as each of us. The important piece here is to model self-care for your child. Establish a time each day that is designated for self-care. It could be 15 minutes after dinner or before bedtime. It doesn’t have to be a big chunk of time; consistency is more important.

 

Make it a point that your child sees you taking time to renew and rest, and talk with them about how important it is to prioritize time to relax and do things they enjoy. If they can build in time for self-care now, they will be more likely to make time for it when they are older, and this is such a crucial skill to have!​

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