Because dad's need to take some timeout too...
Every parent deserves to have some time for themselves, to take care of themselves, and to do things that make them happy. Of course, spending time with your family is one way to enjoy yourself, but sometimes it's important to look inwards too. It's important to take care of your own needs around those of your family. When you're at your best in both body and mind, you're able to be there for your family in a better way. There are some essential things that every dad should do to take care of himself and make sure he's in the best position to be there for his family.
Find Time to Keep Fit
Staying physically fit is something that can be tough once you become a family man. Finding the time to exercise consistently is hard, especially when both parents want to be able to work out regularly. The obvious answer to this may be to exercise as a family, whether you're playing football with the kids or going on a bike ride. Of course, sometimes you want to be able to do it on your own, especially if it's one of a few chances to get some peace and quiet.
Have a Hobby
Even if you don't enjoy exercising, having a hobby is important. Every dad needs his own things to enjoy, even if you don't get a huge amount of time to do them. Having a hobby can be something you can do alone to relax, with friends if you want to socialise or share with your family. Hobbies can be all kinds of things too, and could be something that you do at home around your family or after the kids have gone to bed. Picking up a hobby gives you something fun to do that might help you to relax, and it can be something to feel passionate about.
Look After Your Health
Taking care of your health is always important, but it becomes even more so when you have a family. Plus, you need to pay attention to your health as you get older and your body has experienced a little more wear and tear. As well as keeping physically fit, there are lots of things that you can do to care for your health. Getting a check-up is one option if you want to assess your health. If you're over 40, you can get an NHS Health Check, or private health checks are also an option if you're younger. Of course, you should also see your doctor if you have any specific problems.
Get Your Sight (and Hearing) Checked
As part of caring for your health, you should be sure to get your vision checked regularly. Every two years is usually the recommended length of time between tests. Even if you don't need glasses now, you might need them at some point. If you do need to wear glasses, you can take a look here to find the perfect pair, and contact lenses might be an option too. Something else that you might not think about is getting your hearing checked. This becomes more important as you get older, but it should also be a priority if you work in a noisy environment.
Give Mindfulness a Go
If you've heard about mindfulness before, you might have dismissed it as not for you. But it can be a great way to manage stress and look after your mental health. Mindfulness is about learning to stay in the present and focus on the here and now. It can help you to let go of stress and anxiety and even help you to sleep better. If nothing else, it can allow you to engage in some relaxing deep breathing and get a few moments to yourself. Mindfulness and meditation take practice, but they can be good for you.
Update Your Style
Dressing sharply might not be a top priority once you're a dad. But even though you don't want to be the dad trying to dress like a teenager, you also don't want to be the sloppy dad who doesn't care about how he looks. As you get older, periodically reviewing your style can help you to keep looking good. As well as buying clothes and accessories that suit you, pay attention to your skin and hair so that you can look after them too.
Make Time for Friendships
Everything can become about family when you have children. A lot of your friends may be couple friends or parents of your children's friends, which is ok. But it's important to make sure you have time to spend with friends in different ways. Having friends as an adult doesn't have to mean just hanging out with people who are barely beyond acquaintances. You can have real friends who are there for you when you need them.
Make Time for Romance
Of course, love and romance are important too. Whether you're married or have a long-term partner or you're a single dad thinking about getting back out there, your love life is something you can work on too. It's one of the ways to make time for yourself and strengthen your relationship. Even though you might be married, going out on dates (or having a date night in) is still a great way to spend time together. Maintaining your relationship is a must for your health and happiness.
Spend One-on-One Time with the Kids
Doing things for yourself doesn't have to mean being alone or doing things without your family. In addition to spending time together as a whole family unit, spending time with your children one-on-one is a good idea too. Special daddy days where each of your children gets you to themselves (if you have multiple children) gives them a chance to bond with you without having to compete for your attention. And, of course, it's great for you too. Make sure everyone gets their turn so that it's equal.
Dads need to do things for themselves too. Taking some of these steps is good for you and for your family.