Looking after you too

We're all so busy and it can totally feel like there is no time for ourselves. But have a wee think about the things you LOVE doing... just let your mind wander. Faint smile? Good vibe breaking through? You see it's worth it! By making time to do some of the tiny things that bring us joy we're way better able to manage some of the challenging stuff more easily - promise!

Some of the things we love doing may take up bigger chunks of time so you may need to schedule this in slightly less frequently but that's cool. Also think about the other things you enjoy that don’t take up so much time and when could fit these in. Start a wee plan!

What do I love doing? - This might be dancing, reading, connecting with mates, biking, gardening, yoga, staring at the sky, heading to the exhibition, doing some art... anything that lights you up on the inside.

Where could I fit any of these into my day or week? 

Parent guilt sucks! BUT if you want your kids to be super duper, don't you want them to spend time looking after themselves and nurturing their wellbeing? Oh, yes we do! And how do our children learn this? Oh through what we model! Ta daaaaaa! Do you see what we just did there? 

What can I say to myself when guilt pops up? 

How do I want my child to feel about doing things they love doing?

There are many ways we can strengthen our wellbeing. We love the 5 ways because they're super simple. The acronym C.L.A.N.G is a good way to remember them:

C-onnect - with your friends, partner, whānau, colleagues. Organise coffee dates, a zoom date, pick up the phone, head to the park with a buddy...

L-earn - be curious! With your kids, with that thing you're interesting in, learn some new things, head to the gallery or museum...

A-ctive - dance, walk, garden, bike, gym - whatever works for you for 10 minutes plus a day...

N-otice - be present. Sit and feel the sun on your back, look at the sky with wonder, spend time noticing the things your kids do - the rainbow, the bug, the dew...

G-ive - your time and presence. This is all about being kind - cool huh?

Which of these 5 ways to wellbeing am I already doing well? 

Is there anything I want to add into my day/week?

There is loads of research out there around how important it is for our wellbeing to spend time slowing down and taking notice - it's your biggest bang for your wellbeing buck! AND it's just soooo simple. Taking notice may getting specific about eg planning in a meditation or using a mindful app or doing a yoga session. Or maybe it’s more about finding those moments in your day when you can bring your attention and focus to the present and linger in sweet, glorious or calm moments.

In what ways do I spend time taking notice?

How could I increase my focus on taking notice?  

Let’s be realistic about how we are actually going to make this happen!! Reflecting on what we have covered throughout these tips consider what is doable in your day and set yourself up for success. Consider which wellbeing tips stand out for you and what might work. Think about practicing self care and looking after you as important as getting the children to bed, getting a load of washing on or sending that important work email.

My looking after me goal is ……………….

It's the little things we do sometimes that create those lighter moments. You might like to head off on a spontaneous adventure. Or here's an advent calendar we created for spring time - because advents are for any time right? Either choose the coloured version, or get the kids to colour the front page with this black and white one and then you add the back. 30 days of a tiny bit of fun each day!

Whether you are thinking about a routine for the whole day, getting out of the house in the morning, after school madness or getting everyone to bed in a reasonable time. The routine doesn’t need to be fancy….or it can be! Or get a whiteboard with the plan written up, get something printed to your specific design or write on a bit of paper and stick it to the wall. As long as it can be seen by everyone and referred to then it helps. 

Try our whānau routine template here

Set aside 30 mins each evening to prep lunchboxes, fill up drink bottles, get your own lunch sorted, decide what's for dinner the next night (and check you have all the ingredients), - see our tips on avoiding lunchbox headaches in this section of our website. As well as this, decide on your outfit for the next day and ask the kids to arrange their shoes and backpacks at the front door...    

Make these things part of the routine. 

Allocate age-appropriate jobs, and have everyone in the family take turns, eg, setting the table, helping with the dishes, bringing in the laundry. Check out our ideas on getting the family involved with chores and keeping the house running.

Jot down all the little jobs that you've been wanting to do (but haven't quite managed to find the time!).

Prioritise what needs doing, and set realistic time frames to get things done. 

Perhaps schedule a specific time each week when you can look at your list, for example, every Tuesday night, once the kids are in bed, you'll spend 30 minutes on your tasks.

But don't put pressure on yourself to get it all done by a certain date. If you get things ticked off the list, all good. If not, know that you'll eventually get to it!

Nothing like curling up on the sofa with a hot cuppa and a good read.

Why not join your local library and stroll down and peruse their shelves? Or download a book from their extensive online catalogue? An easy, and free, way to access a whole lot of awesome books. 

There are soooo many podcast platforms and e-audiobooks on the internet right now. The trouble is: which one to chose?

The iPhone has a podcast platform app already installed, otherwise, if you have an Android phone, you can download any one of a number of podcast platforms via the Google Playstore.

And if you're completely new to podcasts, then read this guide first to get you up to speed. Then get downloading!

Or, would you prefer to listen to an audiobook? Then check out the Christchurch City Libraries for their extensive catalogue of e-audiobooks - they're free and easy to check out & downloaded to your phone or device. Easy as! 

Then curl up, close your eyes, and enjoy! Happy listening!

Get yourself a cuppa, mute your phone, curl up on the sofa and enjoy some time in front of the tele (Netflix make series with 24-minute episodes especially for this reason)!

A great option when it's cold and wet outside, or just 'coz. Block everything out, don't worry about anything, and just chill!

Colouring books for adults have made a real comeback over the past few years.

They say there are so many benefits that come when you get your felts out, including a reduction in anxiety, and improvement in general mindfulness.

Colouring can help you channel your inner artist, de-stress and bring a sense of peace. That's gotta be good for you!

And if you feel like it, why not do this activity with the kids - a great way to spend quality time together, chat, figure out your favourite colours and just hang. Great for everyone! 

Ask friends, school parents to see if you can join a local group. It's so much easier to get motivated if you have someone to go with! 

It's well known that regular stretching and exercise does wonders for your body and mind. There are plenty of yoga studios in Christchurch for either a regular or drop-in class.

Have a look through our Adventures to see who we recommend. Many studios offer a free class or trial, so you can figure out if it's right for you.

If you prefer yoga in the comfort of your own living room, there are a huge number of paid, and free online classes. Just google and do a bit of research on what might best work for you.

We can recommend Yoga with Adriene and Gaia Yoga, or Les Mills Yoga & Body Balance. There are many online companies that will offer a free trial (for a week or two) so you can figure out what's right for you.

There has been a huge proliferation of online fitness classes over the past few years. 

Some are free, some are subscription-based. Some are high-intensity, while others focus on more gentle movement. Do some research, see who you like - we recommend checking their qualifications first so you know they know what they're doing (it's an unregulated industry at the moment, so anyone can offer fitness classes). Ultimately, find what works best for you.

Some online classes we know of include:

• Han Romano
• She Moves
• Sala Studio
• On Form Pilates
• Les Mills On Demand
• Move It Mama

Have fun! 

Just put your shoes on and go - even if it's for only 15 minutes around the block.

Or schedule it in with a school-parent after morning drop-off? 

A brisk walk is great for your cardiovascular system, raising endorphin and serotonin levels (your feel-good hormones) and, if it's sunny, is a great vitamin D getter!

If you enjoy sports, google your local sports club and join a team. 

Or ask a friend and join together - might be a local walking group, tennis club, cycling group, golf club, aquacise class, or even your local council gym. 

The thought of it is often the biggest challenge, but it's a great way to meet new people and keep fit & active.