5 energising tips for tired parents

“It’s been a hard day’s night,” sang the Beatles. And the tired parents of Australia get it. Having kids fed, dressed and out the door by 9 am can feel like a day’s worth of work.

And what if your sleep is interrupted? It’s hard to draw on depleted energy reserves.

Here are 5 tips to help build your energy reserves and create some balance in everyday life.

Let go of expectations

Let’s face it. Your social media, magazines and glossy ads are promoting unrealistic expectations around parenting and home maintenance. Try to avoid the comparison trap. This can be stressful, driving down your mood and your energy levels along with it.

Be mindful of your current capacity as a family. Every situation, like every child, is unique.

Don’t worry about house tidiness, fancy meals or entertaining others. Plan for irregular sleep patterns if you have a newborn or unwell child. Let others help you. Ask them. You may do the same for them one day!

Learn to say no

Once you’ve adjusted your expectations, you can use a parent’s most powerful secret weapons. ‘No’. You might use it:

• in the context of volunteering: perhaps this is not the right time to join the Parents & Citizens (P&C) or baking for the school fete.
• with your children: perhaps they don’t really have to go to a classmate’s party or do 6 after-school activities.
• with extended family: perhaps you really can’t drive 3 hours both ways this weekend for a ‘quick’ visit.

Saying no and simplifying life will free up some time to do some energy-boosting activities like spending time with your partner and regular exercise.