While they’re working so hard to make sure everything is perfect for their kids for back to school 2021, parents often forget to take care of their own health.
It’s important to stay healthy so you can continue to be active, present, and available for your kids, especially while they’re in school. They need your support, your affirmation, your advice, and your ability to provide them with food, shelter, and transportation. Providing these essentials is extremely hard – even impossible – when you’re sick or injured.
Below is a back to school health to-do list for parents to help you stay on track with your children.
1. Take Time For Your Annual Physical
Just as your kids need regular doctor visits to maintain their health and keep up with vaccinations, parents need to take time for their own annual physicals. These appointments are opportunities to detect hidden illnesses or start treatments for any aches and pains that are slowing you down. They also allow you to stay up to date on your flu and covid 19 vaccinations so you can protect yourself as much as possible from getting sick.
2. Stay Sanitized
The covid 19 pandemic taught us the vital importance of staying sanitized and keeping clean. Cleanliness helps prevent germs from spreading and infecting you and your children. Make sure you keep up with your sanitization efforts, both in your home, in your vehicles, and on your person.
3. Stay Calm For Your Kids
Your kids can sense when you’re stressed out, science says. You pass your feelings, negative or positive, onto them with your mood and behavior. Try to stay calm during the chaotic back to school season – and all throughout the academic year. Make sure you make time for yourself to relax and sort out your negative feelings, whether that’s through meditation, listening to your favorite music, or performing soothing breathing exercises.
4. Stick To A Healthy Diet
When you’re carefully packing a healthy lunch of fruits, veggies, and protein for your children, think about what you’re going to eat, as well. Eating healthy foods will improve the function of your various bodily systems, improve your immune system, lower your stress, and help you maintain your energy throughout your busy day.
Try incorporating more of the following foods that contain energy-sustaining nutrients such as Omega 3’s, iron, and Vitamin D.
- Bananas
- Oatmeal
- Tuna
- Beef liver
- Citrus fruits
- Avocados
- Leafy green vegetables
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Beans
- Nuts
5. Get Plenty Of Exercise
Exercising regularly helps you increase your strength and endurance. These are essential qualities that will help you get through your day.
Exercise also improves the blood flow to your organs, especially your heart, which allows them all to function properly. A healthy, fit body and organs will keep you moving and grooving, for yourself and your kids, for years to come.
When you feel healthy in your body and mind, you are able to remain fully present for your children and their needs. In addition, you make sure you don’t lose yourself as you keep up with the daily stressors of your family’s schedule. Follow our health to-do list not just for back to school 2021, but year round.
