Assess your fatigue level and create a self-care plan
by Dean Burgess
If you’re the parent of a child with a disability, you likely face childrearing challenges regularly. As a result, your fatigue level could be rising. By learning to assess your fatigue level and create a functional self-care plan, you can keep your energy levels up, restore your mental clarity, and maintain your emotional health.
Assessing Your Fatigue Level
While assessing your fatigue level may seem like a challenge, it isn’t as difficult as it appears. Ask yourself a few key questions, allowing you to reflect on your current situation, your mood, and more. Has my parenting effectiveness changed? Am I experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression? Is my marital satisfaction declining? How’s my child’s sleep quality?
By reflecting on questions like that, you can estimate your mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Then, you can take steps to stave off or overcome the relating fatigue.
Self Care Tips for Treating Fatigue
Embrace Micro Self-Care – As the parent of a child with a disability, finding time for self-care can be challenging. That’s why micro self-care can be such a great fit. The activities only take a few minutes to complete, allowing you to squeeze them in with ease.
One great example is a short deep breathing exercise. You can do it anywhere, and it only takes a moment or two. The same can apply to sun salutations, a short yoga flow series designed to help you recenter and relax.
Keeping a motivational quote in a place you look at frequently, like your desk or fridge door, is another simple option. The same goes for changing login passwords to remind you of things you love.
Pursue Personal Goals
Spending time pursuing your personal goals can be an excellent form of self-care. It allows you to focus on yourself and move toward an objective that you want to achieve. If you want to take your career to the next level, getting a degree online is an excellent way to make that personal goal a reality. If starting your own business is a goal, consider forming an LLC. You can get tax benefits while reducing liability.
Unwanted Outcomes to Avoid
It’s important to note that there can be unwanted outcomes to self-care. If you begin leaning too heavily on your spouse or support system, an imbalance can occur in the relationship. As a result, resentment can build.
Prioritizing self-care over legitimate responsibilities is also problematic. If you’re neglecting key duties in the name of self-care, a challenging situation can quickly become worse. Self-care alone may not be enough if you’re suffering from clinical anxiety or depression. Similarly, if you have an undiagnosed physical ailment leading to fatigue, self-care isn’t sufficient. As a result, if your fatigue persists even after participating in self-care, seeing your doctor is necessary.