Practicing Self-Care as a Special Needs Parent With Chronic Fatigue

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There’s no getting around the fact that juggling all your responsibilities and managing your own energy levels is especially difficult as a parent of a special needs child. Chronic fatigue is normal for special-needs parents, but that doesn’t mean it has to take over your life. Here’s some quick and easy ways to evaluate your fatigue levels, identify the most common causes of your fatigue, and put yourself on track to living healthier and happier.

How to Assess Your Fatigue Levels

It’s hard to know when you should push yourself harder or take a break when you feel exhausted all the time. Start by monitoring your energy levels throughout the day or week to determine which times of the day you’re most energized and which leave you feeling drained.

Once you’ve identified these times, you can plan accordingly for tasks or activities that require more energy from you during this period. Tracking your sleep quality is also important because a good night’s rest is essential for managing chronic fatigue.

Common Causes of Parental Fatigue

Chronic fatigue can stem from various factors, some of the most common being poor sleep quality, marital issues, and lack of social support. The extreme stress and anxiety from your parenting challenges, as well as the physical exhaustion from handling your child’s medical needs, can also lead to crippling fatigue. It’s crucial to recognize the causes of your specific situation and address them head-on to prevent long-term damage to your health.

Setting Personal Goals for Self-Confidence

It’s all too easy to become overwhelmed by parenting duties, especially if they include extra care for a special needs child. But establishing personal goals can help boost your confidence and give you something positive to focus on besides all your day-to-day responsibilities.

Dedicate time every day or week to yourself. It could be anything from taking an online course or class or something that interests you to joining an exercise program (or doing light workouts at home) to even having a night out with friends once in a while. Do whatever brings some much-needed joy back into your life!

Attending school online can provide an invaluable opportunity to advance your education and career. By enrolling in an online degree program, you can take classes from the comfort of your home and on your own schedule.

For example, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing without compromising your parenting duties or other responsibilities. Plus, online degrees are often less expensive than traditional courses and can provide access to classes that may not be offered in your local area.

Getting a Hobby

Further, finding the right hobby can be incredibly rewarding and give you a great outlet for boosting your energy, joy, and confidence. Hobbies allow you to explore interests you may not have had the opportunity to explore otherwise.

Participating in activities like painting, playing music or sports, reading books, or learning a new language are a few of many examples of how you can express yourself creatively and get energized. When you find a hobby you love, you’ll also notice that you have something positive to look forward to because it will fill up some of the time you might have spent on more mundane tasks!

Practicing self-care as a special needs parent with chronic fatigue might seem unrealistic, but taking small steps now can go a long way toward improving your overall health and happiness. Assessing your fatigue levels regularly, along with understanding the causes of your fatigue, are key to better managing your energy levels effectively. And setting personal goals is also critical for maintaining high spirits in the midst of your daily struggles.

Take time to develop a strategy that allows you to get healthier while avoiding unwanted outcomes like overburdening your support system or under-treating your anxiety. You might be surprised by how quickly your new habits become second nature!

Emily Graham is the creator of Mighty Moms. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms -- from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family.