How to Be Resilient as a Working Parent During Tough Times

lba-admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:33:01 +0000

lba-admin Wed, 06/03/2020 - 12:33

Working parents at home or the office — this one’s for you!

RESILIENCE (noun); The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

Resilience is a quality we all want and one that we hope to impart on our children. How quickly we are able to bounce back from setbacks truly defines who we are and where we are going. In order to stay resilient during tough times like these, the right approach and mindset is key, especially for working parents who are simply juggling even more than ever before.

Here are a few tips to help working parents deal with the stress during these difficult days.

Know that obstacles are part of life — The tough times make us who we are and teach us the most valuable lessons. Shifting your mindset to see the good through the bad will help you better adapt, reduce anxiety and de-stress in difficult situations or when life throws you a curveball. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

You are not alone — While this pandemic has been a very isolating experience for some parents, the key to resilience is remembering that you are not alone. We are all going through this together. Regardless if you continue working at home or are returning to the office, you'll have days when you need help and that is alright. Whether it is a partner, a family member or a trusted child care provider, asking for help is a sign of strength.

Be flexible — Our lives have been turned upside down, and your children are also adapting to the situation and to the unexpected curveballs that come with it. For example, it can be difficult teaching children to understand the importance of “work time.” However, resilience is all about being flexible. Find ways to make working ideal for you and your family, for example, by teaching the children where to stand when mom or dad is on a video call or helping them to understand how to act in the home office. Changing our work habits is essential to succeeding during this unconventional time.

Make a plan — Just because we are flexible doesn’t mean we don’t need a plan to ensure productivity. As a full-time parent working from home, it is important to set clear expectations, organize spaces and make detailed schedules. Sometimes, meal times need to be scheduled and a designated hour for emails needs to be prioritized. Being resilient means finding the best way to create a new routine.

Self-care — During hardship, it is easy to fall down a rabbit hole of making bad choices, like eating all the junk food in your pantry or falling behind on exercise, but it is so important to make good choices, especially the ones under your control. Avoid stress-eating and try to practice healthy habits. There are many other ways to de-stress: completing a workout, taking a warm bath or a nap, or taking up a new hobby. As they say on airplanes, you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Find whatever method works best for helping you de-stress, and then do it!

Help others — This one is easy: As parents, we don’t even realize how naturally it comes to us. We are always helping our children. People who cultivate resilience are generally happy to help others. It takes the focus off of your problems and creates happiness by giving to others. Find the joy in being a good person and practice random acts of kindness. Even the smallest gestures can make a great impact, especially during times like these.

Resilience is like a muscle...build it — Remember that what you’re going through is not permanent. This too shall pass. Find the silver lining and take it one day at a time. There is no need to overlook the “positives” that are coming from this challenging time — you received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to slow down, soak up as much family time as possible, learn new skills and so much more! The better you become at overcoming obstacles, the easier it will be to make it through future hardships down the line.

Ten Minute Exercises to Help Working Parents Get Fit

lba-admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:59:23 +0000

Ten Minute Exercises to Help Working Parents Get Fit

lba-admin Mon, 02/06/2017 - 14:59

Most of us start off the new year with high expectations to lose at least 10 pounds before spring! But by February, we want to start over...again. Sound familiar? That's because it's almost impossible to squeeze in even 30 minutes of exercise each day with preschool children, a job and all of your other responsibilities.

Take heart! New studies show quick, short bursts of exercise in 10 minute increments help keep your heart strong and help you lose weight when combined with a healthy diet. That's because it's much easier for a working parent to fit 10 minutes of exercise on a consistent basis rather longer exercise routines because it's so much shorter and more manageable. Then you can incorporate your longer workouts on the weekends when you have a little more time.

According to data from the National Runner's Health Study, repeatedly starting and stopping a workout routine makes weight gain probable and weight loss more difficult. And no one's got time for that!

Here are a few quick but effective exercises that will help get you started achieving your fitness goals in 2017!

1. Jog in place during TV commercials. You can burn up to 90 calories in 10 minutes just by jogging in your own living room! Be sure to keep your knees up and your breathing steady for effective results.

2. Walk...everywhere. Walk during your lunch break. Take the stairs. Walk to the post office, library or pharmacy...just get out and walk. Walking can get your body moving and help you to burn 50 calories in just 10 minutes.

3. Dance. Dance. Dance. Who doesn't love a good dance party? And this is an activity you can do with your preschool child. Crank up your favorite dance tunes and go crazy! Dancing for just 10 minutes can burn up to 100 calories.

4. Go for a bike ride. It might sound crazy to ride a bike in the winter, but you can burn over 100 calories in just 10 minutes of cycling. This is one of the warmest winters on record so bundle up and get riding! You will burn even more calories when it's cold because your body is trying to keep warm.

Whatever you choose, just get moving! You'll be happy you did when you can fit into your favorite jeans again. It's the little things that become the BIG things! You are worth it!