Finding ways to relax and unwind is important, for your own mental health and to support you in your caring role.   

One technique that many people find helpful is mindfulness. It’s a technique that has roots in meditation and can help you to feel calmer and cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts. Parents and carers may want to practise mindfulness on their own, or as a family.  Some techniques you could try include:

• Mindful breathing techniques
• Mindfulness colouring
• Self-massage
• Affirmations
• Meditation

Everyday activities, such as brushing your teeth or doing the washing-up, can also be carried out in a mindful way , so that you can easily fit this technique into your daily routines.

Some benefits people find they get from practising mindfulness are:

• Reducing anxiety by focusing on the present, rather than dwelling on concerns about the future or past.
• Feeling more regulated, which can also help you in supporting your child to stay calm.
• Making decisions from a place of calm, not fear.
• Feeling happier by appreciating small positives in your life, not just focusing on the challenges that need fixing.

Read more advice and tips on mindfulness for parents and carers by clicking on the links below.