Taking Back Control Despite the Pandemic
Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended my routine as a parent. It became clear that self management for parents is more than just a nice idea — it’s a necessity. Experts say it takes over two months to develop a new habit; with that in mind, I am asking myself how quickly I can achieve success with self management.
As the pandemic wore on, managing myself became difficult. Staying up late, sleeping in, binge-watching shows, making unhealthy snack choices. These are things I’m cringing at remembering. I normally eat healthy, but one cheat day turned into too many to count. My regular workouts became sporadic, and I procrastinated when it came to tasks. Structure and routine were gone, and I felt like things were spiraling out of control. That’s when I decided to take actionable steps toward self management for parents and start setting realistic goals.
1. Take A Deep Calming Breath
Looking at the big picture of what I need to do in order to regain control of my life, I initially feel overwhelmed. But then I realize how easy it is to jot down a list for running errands or going grocery shopping. The simple act of writing things down helps me accomplish what I need in an efficient manner. It just takes a few minutes. I take a deep breath and feel ready for the next step.
2. Make a List of What You Want to Do or Change
You’ve heard this advice before, right? Make a to-do list. But this time, for each “to-do” item, make sure you think about the details to make it actionable. This way, you create actionable goals for parents who want meaningful change. A detailed plan can help you achieve success, one small win at a time.
3. Create an Action Plan for Self Management and Goal Setting
I start my action plan by creating a vision board or writing my goals down in a journal. These are both great places to start when building your system of self management for parents. We can give ourselves deadlines for completing actionable goals and ways to measure success. If our goal is to save money, we can track our spending and decide where to make necessary cuts. If we are trying to eat healthier, we can keep a food journal to stay on track. If we want to lose weight, we can set a manageable goal like losing five pounds in six weeks by working out regularly and eating nutritious meals.
4. Adjust Deadlines as Needed
There’s no reason to panic when a deadline is approaching. These are your goals, and you have control over them. Deadlines can be adjusted or used as a gauge to see how close you are to achieving what you’ve set for yourself. Whether your goal is to be more present, spend more quality time with your family, or save money for a rainy day, keep pushing forward. Everyone has setbacks — it’s important to acknowledge them and press on.
Look at your action plan. Do you need to adjust your goals or timeline? Make the changes needed to continue working toward your objective. The path might shift, but your determination can carry you forward.
5. Self Manage Your Way to Success
Managing others can sometimes be easier than managing yourself. It takes determination and discipline to master self management for parents. For some, it may come naturally. For others, it takes effort, support, and the right tools.
Self management helps children and adults feel in control of their behavior. My adult son recently shared that he felt out of control when he was younger. I believe this is why he acted out so much as a child. If SEL (social emotional learning) had been part of his education, perhaps he would’ve learned how to manage emotions and express himself productively. Learning how to set goals as a parent can also influence how we model goal setting for our children.
Now that I have my list of actionable goals in mind, I feel empowered. I have my pencil and paper out and am about to write my to-do list and an action plan. My goals include healthy eating, consistent exercise, and being more present with my loved ones. The pandemic and life’s challenges may come and go, but I am determined to stay focused and succeed.
How Do You Get Back on Track?
If you’ve fallen off course, know that you’re not alone. Whether you’re navigating post-pandemic life, parenting stress, or just everyday chaos, practicing self management for parents and learning how to set goals that work can help you regain balance.
If you’d like to read more about self management and goal setting for parents, check out our post about growth mindset. We offer SEL curriculum that helps build a growth mindset for beginners. As parents, it’s essential to understand growth mindset so we can pass it on to our children — helping them build self-esteem, social awareness, and resilience. Check out our post about growth mindset