How to Find More Energy as a Parent

Tiredness and parenting go hand-in-hand. Life is exhausting enough, but when you add small children that aren’t fully capable of taking care of themselves, and you have your own self to care for, too, it’s no walk in the park. While many other of life’s roles afford you the opportunity to take a break once in a while, parenting is nearly a nonstop gig. 

It’s important, then, that parents have the energy they need to be the parent they know they can be. Read on for helpful ways that you can get more energy as a parent so you can show up for your family, and yourself, in full. 

Prioritize Your Physical Wellness

With an impressive number of tasks on your to-do list, it’s no wonder that you often find yourself at the end of each day with little time for you. However, your own physical needs are just as important as your child’s. Stop eating leftover crusts for lunch and make time for healthy meal prep, regular movement and a water intake schedule. If you need an extra boost for your energy and nutrition, you can look into ginseng, vitamin b or read a Le-Vel Thrive review for ways to provide and sustain alertness throughout the day. 

Take a Nap

Many parents reject the advice to sleep when the baby sleeps, but it’s common guidance for a reason. You may be tempted to use naptime to take care of a host of household chores while your hands are free, but if you're already running on fumes, it could be time to reevaluate your daily schedule. Chores are important, but not at the expense of your physical and mental health. Even a quick 15-30 minute power nap can make a huge difference. 

Ask For Help

It takes a village to raise a child. If it’s been a while since you’ve reached out to your village, that may explain the fatigue and sleepiness. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs there is, and you deserve a break once in a while. Call on family members for babysitting duty, ask a neighbor to help you take out the trash cans every week or invite a friend over to chat while you sort socks together. 

Adjust Your Expectations

Parents are, arguably, everyday heroes, but that doesn’t mean you have to hold yourself to unreasonable standards. Self deprecation, parenting-related stress and internal criticisms can drain a great deal of your mental energy, which can start to rob you of physical energy, too. Always keep in mind that you’re doing your best, no matter what, and don’t place unrealistic expectations on yourself. 

Do Less

Extra tasks and obligations sometimes have no place in the life of a busy parent. To preserve your energy, you may have to decline requests for your help, presence or ideas even when you wish you could say yes. The less you take on, the easier it will be to manage what you already have on your plate. 

Schedule Breaks

From the moment your child first comes home, you were advised to set a schedule and stick to it. If this schedule does not also include time away from your child for self-care, it’s time to reevaluate. Alone time is crucial for parents to prevent overwhelm and anxiety from building to uncomfortable levels. Even just ten minutes of time spent in an intentionally soothing activity can feel like a big daily reprieve, especially on the rougher days. 

Work with What You’ve Got

The pressure to be a perfect parent is immense, and that pressure can lead many to seek constant reassurance, advice, gadgets or other means to try to improve things for yourself and your child. It’s a good idea to find ways to make your life easier, but if the comparison is starting to weigh you down, redirect your energy to your own life. If you know you don’t do well with sleep deprivation, it’s important to prioritize sleep. If your child is resistant to solid foods at first, back off and try a gentler approach. The less pressure you place on yourself and your family to be somewhere you’re not, the better you’ll feel about where you are.