Staying calm and in top form as a parent does not come easy, anytime. Though we can trust a pandemic to make it even more challenging.
Parental duties aside, we may also be dealing with these
- Fear of losing our income
- Balancing work commitments from home
- Worry over our own health, and that of our loved ones (does not help if we or our family members have existing conditions)
- Disruptive changes to our sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty concentrating amid the endless chores and tasks
- Sense of helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism, mental and physical fatigue, or panic
- Reduced sense of security, causing behaviour such as (but not limited to) a need for constant cleaning (and sanitising), hoarding (items for the household, foodstuff, etc.), compulsive hand washing or showering, or obsessive tracking of social media feeds and news.
Surely, adults (and parents) deserve some attention and time-out too during such unusual times? Afterall, when we appear edgy and irritable, our kids will most likely detect it too.
Give yourself a break
It may be the most obvious thing we need, but often the most neglected. As little as five minutes of time-out is a great way to keep our sanity through the day. Training your kids to play independently is one way to create your pockets of rest � find out how here
When the kids are asleep (they can be conditioned to sleep slightly earlier) and the chores are done (these can be shared with family members), unwind with your favourite music, or engage in your hobbies Or simply enjoy a dedicated drama-hour every night.
Stay active, homebound
We may not be able to engage in mass sports now, but there are still workouts and activities we can do at home, with plenty of free online resources. Check out what ActiveSG has planned for parents and kids here � including GetActive TV, live on Facebook, on Mondays to Fridays!
Alternatively, cleaning may be a daily chore (though some people use this as stress relief!), but how about de-cluttering your bursting wardrobe, or sprucing up a section of your home? You may have been thinking about creating a corner for your collectibles or handicrafts, or wanting to inject a cosy caf� ambience to your dining area � how extensive this gets is entirely up to you, and a good distraction from the mundanity of chores.
Sleep� is even more critical than ever
It is a fact we know too clearly � we need to be fully and well rested, to help us deal with the day ahead. Sufficient and quality sleep helps us stay energised and clear-minded. Try to look for practical sleep solutions and make small changes to our habits.
Adjust expectations
With our lives compacted into home space this period, our cosy nest may feel more like a pressure cooker for now. Avoid falling into anxiety, by allowing more time to get the usual things done - start on things earlier, re-organise tasks for the most efficient flow, and accept that some things can be put off.
Be discerning about social media feeds and news
Are you subconsciously addicted to your smart devices and social media feeds? Are you receiving far too many negative messages, and potentially inducing a negative effect on your well-being?
In this digital age, we can be overwhelmed by excessive information, with factuality and relevance being ignored. Amid daily updates on the Covid-19 situation in Singapore, we can make a conscious effort to focus on positive and accurate information. Seek meaningful, happy and humorous content � there are plenty of hobby groups, funny pet videos, and inspiring stories to browse.
Know when to seek support
You do not have to feel guilty about wanting time-out, or when you feel worn out enough to need help. Ask your spouse, discuss how chores and time can be re-organised, and take turns for me-time.
Staying in touch with your buddies helps too, and it is not just Liking every post they make on social media. Have a weekly video chat, make it fun by setting a fuss-free theme or making everyone give a response to topics like �My top three essentials during an emergency� � it does not have to be a long video call, but the virtual socialising should compensate for this period of physical distancing. Alternatively, join a social media group, for parents to exchange the realities of parenting!
Lastly, check out WHO�s thoughtful aid for �Parenting in the time of COVID-19� here.
Related Articles
Related Topics
Recent Events & Programmes
Related Articles
Related Topics
Related Articles
View AllRelated Topics
[BlogPost 164438712123 NSG 2024 Badminton: Senior Div Girls Quarter-Finals, BlogPost 164238055490 Evergreen Aleksandar Duric Still Making Headlines at 53, BlogPost 164170080646 NSG 2024 Rope Skipping: Junior Div Girls Freestyle Team Finals, BlogPost 162884973666 Move and Rest Better With Data From Your Own Body, BlogPost 163393049482 Life Comes Full Circle For Serangoon Garden Secondary School's Fahrish Khan, BlogPost 163258797651 Making Golf a Sport for All, BlogPost 162512222328 NSG 2024 Sepaktakraw: Senior Div Yuhua Primary School vs Qihua Primary School, BlogPost 162233592997 Gritty Lions Suffer Loss to China, BlogPost 162089384371 On Your Mark, Get Ready, Go Running, BlogPost 161670652697 Lions' Excellent Showing Against China, BlogPost 161435270031 Ogura Optimistic for Exciting Clash against China, BlogPost 161127614758 The Future of Basketball in Singapore: Why 3x3 is Here to Stay, BlogPost 161033673012 The Active Lifestyler's Guide to the New ActiveSG Delta Sport Centre, BlogPost 161128356680 Grand New Champions Crowned at WTT Singapore Smash 2024, BlogPost 160844835218 NSG 2024 Table Tennis: C Div Boys Pool Round, BlogPost 160210745115 NSG 2024 Basketball: Senior Div Girls Tampines Primary School vs Frontier Primary School, BlogPost 159881180544 Whirlwind Return to Women's Football, BlogPost 159633541417 Singapore Smash to Elevate a New Legacy, BlogPost 158983580420 NSG 2024 Rugby: B Div Damai Secondary School vs Peirce Secondary School, BlogPost 159003960202 SFA Fiesta: Kicking off 2024 to a Roaring Start, BlogPost 158830735126 NSG 2024 Football: B Div Girls Preliminary Round Meridian Secondary School VS Bowen Secondary School, BlogPost 158536989718 Team Nila Volunteers Recognized At Awards Ceremony, BlogPost 158270107806 NSG 2024 Hockey: B Div Boys Preliminary Round Raffles Institution VS St. Hilda Secondary School, BlogPost 157966862615 NSG 2024 Floorball: B Division Preliminary Rounds Kick Off!, BlogPost 157562433712 What Is Safe Sport?, BlogPost 157559446197 Sengkang Secondary: Cultivating Well-Rounded Footballers, BlogPost 157368261167 New National Training Centre for Cricket at West Coast Ground, BlogPost 155340164987 Active Ageing with Joey Bonifacio, BlogPost 155930815517 Inaugural Singapore Youth League kicks off from 24th February 2024, BlogPost 155340164727 Bukit Canberra : the Coolest Spot in the North, BlogPost 155368905255 How Padang Fandi Inspired Ayden to Chase his Dream, BlogPost 154755572826 Ageing Backwards with Elizabeth Cheang, BlogPost 154094657315 Running For Fitness, BlogPost 153318636178 Excitement Builds for FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024, BlogPost 153198644247 World's Top Four Confirmed for 2024 HSBC Women's World Championship, BlogPost 149413941770 Cultivating Your Kids’ Interest in the Outdoors, BlogPost 149413941163 Making Sport More Appealing for Our Kids, BlogPost 149412549409 Solo Or Team Sport – Choosing the Best for Your Child, BlogPost 151197478798 Former Lions Stalwart Baihakki Khaizan Sheds Light on New Accreditation to Elevate Grassroots Football and Youth Development, BlogPost 80703591291 New Year, Fitter You! Here are the top 3 workouts for the New Year, BlogPost 81171151456 7 Reasons Why Sports are Great for Children’s Mental Health, BlogPost 80542065330 17 Best Yoga Classes & Studios in Singapore [+ Rating & Prices], BlogPost 149404351798 From Brush to Lens: A Student's Journey in the World of Art and Sports Photography, BlogPost 149402825063 The Benefits of Active Parenting, BlogPost 149397832009 Sweden Claim 9th Straight Gold at the Women's World Floorball Championship, BlogPost 149397831449 Lion City Sailors Win 2023 Singapore Cup, BlogPost 148511324266 Pitch Perfect with Jonathan Teo, BlogPost 148511724402 Seniors: Increase your flexibility bit by bit with these stretches, BlogPost 147866574167 A Valuable Experience In Spain for Singapore's National Development Centre U-14 Boys, BlogPost 146915317264 How one magical Kallang night changed the lives of Abirami and Daania forever]