How to Prevent Burnout When Staying Home With Kids

Taking care of kids can be a challenge because they demand a lot of attention from you at all times. It is manageable when they have school to attend and other places to go but with the current pandemic, your options are limited. This means you are stuck with them around the clock. Here’s how to prevent burnout when staying home with kids.

How to prevent burnout when staying home with kids

How will you manage without getting overwhelmed? How do you juggle between taking care of the kids, working from home and taking care of everything else around the house?

It can be exhausting. First, take a deep breath. We are all in this together. Then check out these quick tips on how you can come back from the verge of burnout when staying at home with kids.

Take it day by day

Do not rush into anything. Let this be a step-by-step strategy. There are times when your kids will drive you crazy – to the point that you may think of selling them away in a yard sale (just kidding!), and there are times when they will be such darlings. By easing into everything, you will be able to get into a routine in no time. The goal here is to survive one day at a time. Plan for what your family will do for that one day. If you survive that day, you will be able to conquer the next one with ease.

Tune into your hobby

Sometimes the best way to deal with overwhelming stuff is tuning into our hobbies. What brings you absolute joy? Do you love music? Wake up, crank the volume and dance. We enjoy family dance time. It’s a great energy booster!

Do you love watching movies? You can binge-watch some shows or films on Netflix with your kids, in moderation of course. Or simply make a cup of tea and immerse yourself in a good book. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is structured to ease the stress building up internally.

Involve the kids and give them responsibilities

Your kids do not have a right to drive you crazy without taking one for the team. They are perfectly capable of managing a few responsibilities around the house – no matter the age. Remember that kids are usually full of energy as they are growing and need a way to release this pent up excess energy. With limited outdoor contact, they will be forced to play in the house. More often than not, this does not end well.

Let them help you clean the house. They can start with their rooms. They can also help you cook or do other chores that are age-appropriate. You will be teaching them important life skills and preserving your sanity at the same time.

Find a support system

You should remember that you are not alone in this. There are millions of parents across the world who are going through the same thing. Some are making it work. Others have already been completely overwhelmed and have no idea what to do about it. By connecting to these parents, you can get inspired and learn a trick or two about how to deal with burnout when you are stuck with kids at home. You can find these online communities on Facebook or other social networks.

Here’s a list of virtual playdate ideas the kids can do with friends and give you that much-needed break.

Unplug and find your ‘me’ time

When you feel like you need to take a short break from everything, do so. Use this time to be by yourself and find your inner peace. You can lock yourself away and let the kids know that you are not to be disturbed for a limited time. This will be an important moment for you to find your energy and balance again before you take the plunge back into the chaos. Here are 5 me time ideas we recommend.

I hope this article has been helpful at answering your questions on how to prevent burnout when home with the kids!

 

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