Founder
dadsolo.com
It can be hard to find proper balance with the difficulties of being a single father.
Work, duties, and sheer exhaustion can all get in the way of a father taking care of himself. It’s vital to remember that you’re not alone.
Not only is there support out there for you, there are others in your shoes who can offer advice for how to best take care of yourself without shirking your responsibilities.
Armed with good advice, you can truly not only see your children thrive, but you yourself can lead a deeply fulfilling life.
Mental Health
The way we eat, drink, love, and cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and sadness all play a big role in the state of our mental health.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a step back and ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing for you, and not the easiest thing. Reuters reports on a Canadian study suggesting that single fathers claim mental health issues twice as frequently as fathers with a partner.
This means that there is extra importance in single dads looking after themselves and getting the support they need to not only be the best parents they can be, but to feel the best they can, too.
It can be hard to find time, but single fathers need to.
Even if you don’t feel you need the assistance of a therapist, there are many things you can do to better look after your emotional and mental well-being. Exercise, yoga, and meditation are all ways you may be able to lower your stress levels and center yourself.
Learning how to disconnect from social media is thought to improve one’s emotional state as well.
So much of what we see on social media platforms, whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or even Twitter, is crafted to give the appearance of perfection, one that is absolutely false. By limiting your exposure to these fake perspectives, and not comparing yourself to what is arguably impossible, you may find yourself feeling more content in your day-to-day life.
Financial Concerns
Meditation can only do so much to ease the worries of a single parent. One of the largest stresses in life is that of money.
It’s hard enough raising a child on two incomes. Cut that in half and even add more than one child, and stress can seem insurmountable. However, there is there’s help out there for you out there for you.
Even if you don’t qualify for government assistance, you can visit a food pantry or apply for free school lunches and various grants. If you can find the time and energy, you can consider you can consider freelancing as a way to earn some extra money.
You can pet sit during the week and dog walk on the weekends. It may be a nice way to give your kids the experience of a pet without the financial burden involved as well. Even an extra $50 a week can go a long way to providing healthy groceries, paying down debt, and giving you some peace of mind.
Have Some Fun
This can be hard to do. Exhaustion, money worries, lack of time, and all sorts of reasons can get in the way of having fun with and without your child. If your child is an only child, he or she may look to you as the main source of socialization and fun at home.
Playing with your little one is very important but so is your own sense of well-being of well-being. You need to have time to yourself. A way to make sure both you and your child get what you need is to schedule some playtime.
A family game night is a great way to do that. It’s something you both can look forward to, and it allows you to have time to be an adult and decompress without forcing yourself to play games when all you want to do is unwind.
There are going to be difficult times as a single parent and obstacles that may seem daunting, even overwhelming. With that in mind, it’s all the more important to invest in yourself and find balance between responsibility and self-care. Give yourself some respite and appreciate all that you have achieved as a parent and as an individual.
About Daniel
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