Author: Dr. Christine Teeling

As adults, we have an abundance of roles and responsibilities that we fulfill each and every day-parent, spouse, employee, friend, co-worker, caretaker. Some days it can feel like we do all we can just to survive to the next day. So, I would like to offer some tips on how to not only survive but thrive in all of the roles you take on.

How often do you take off all the different hats you wear throughout the day and take time for yourself? Between a full work day, grocery shopping, paying bills, calling the plumber (again), and figuring out everything that needs to get done the next day, it may seem like there is no time left in the day for yourself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may mean that you need to cut some things from your day to make it more manageable. Having even fifteen minutes to an hour each day to do something you find enjoyable can make a world of difference. By engaging in the things you find enjoyable, you give yourself a chance to de-stress and recharge. Not only will it help you to feel good, it will help you to feel better prepared and energized to tackle that next responsibility.

One of the best ways to take time for yourself is to engage in daily self-care. We’ve all heard the cliché “before you help others, you must first help yourself,” but time and again, I talk with people (myself included at times) who put themselves as last priority because their family, friends, boss, and so on are more important. Yet, just like a car can’t run without gas, we cannot function well without the things that fuel our bodies and minds-sleep, food, and water. Some days include running through the fast food drive thru on the way to work and then going to bed late because you still had fifty things left on the to-do list. The more you can make getting a full night sleep, eating balanced, nutritious meals, and getting regular exercise a part of your lifestyle, the better you will feel and the better you’ll be able to take care of others. Self-care is about more than just taking care of our bodies, it’s also about taking care of our mental, emotional, and spiritual selves. Maybe that means taking time for a walk, chatting with a close friend, or engaging in prayer. Whatever helps you to feel whole and refreshed, make time for it.

Spend quality time with loved ones. Chances are, you already spend a lot of time with your family, but how much of it is spent running errands, doing a quick check-in on your aging parents, arguing in the car with your teenager about curfew while they’re learning how to drive, or checking emails at the dinner table? Finding ways to have more quality time with our loved ones can help us feel connected and also remind us of the positive reasons why we take on all of these roles and responsibilities. One way to increase quality time is to make the most out of the time you already have with those you care about– talking with your child about their day during the drive to the tutor or turning off all electronics to have meaningful conversations during dinner. Carving out extra quality time with loved ones into our busy schedules can be difficult but well worth it; make Fridays (or any day) family game night, have dinner with friends, or go on a walk with your significant other.

Don’t feel like you must take on everything by yourself. With so much on your plate, utilize supports to make things more manageable. This could mean asking someone to help you, delegating some responsibility to others, or learning to say no when you have too much else going on. Emotional supports can be just as valuable and can help to relieve stress. It feels good to do nice things for others, right? So why not give someone else that same good feeling by allowing them to do something nice for you? Maybe that means taking your co-worker up on an offer to pick up lunch, your spouse giving you a back rub after a long day, or calling that friend who is a great listener.

We hope these tips prove useful to you and those busy adults in your life. If you feel that extra support would be helpful, please check out our adult group and individual services. Also, check our upcoming events section regularly as we host various adult and parent workshops throughout the year.