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Going Strong, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

6 Ways To Avoid Dad Burnout

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Being a dad is a rewarding role but it can also take a lot out of you. Working hard and trying to care for your family may leave you feeling exhausted at the end of the day.

If you have a busy life then it’s all the more reason why you need to put measures in place that help you to remain energized and in a good mood. What you don’t want to do is ignore how you’re feeling and hope that your anxiety goes away. Here are six ways to avoid dad burnout so you can get your health and happiness back on track.

1. Identify Your Stressors

A wise first step is to create awareness around what stresses you out the most. For example, it may be working long hours, having young kids who need you, lack of sleep, or having poor time management skills. Identify your stressors so that you can work with them and hopefully not let certain aspects of your life get in the way of you feeling your best. Once you know the causes you can better cope and take good care of yourself as soon as you notice your stress levels rising.

2. Find Time to Relax & Put Your Feet up

It’s also important that you find time to relax and put your feet up every so often. Rushing around and being on the go all the time will drain your energy and you might feel worn down. Avoid dad burnout by making it a point to rest and calm your mind and body. There are many ways to spend your time such as watching a movie, reading a book, or sitting on your patio and enjoying some of the best cigars and pipes on the market. You’ll feel refreshed and more like tackling your to-do list when you’re good about incorporating downtime and not always being connected and busy.

3. Set Boundaries at Work

Avoid dad burnout by not overdoing it at your job. Set boundaries at work so people understand your limits and your availability. Learn to delegate tasks to others so that you have a manageable workload and aren’t the one staying at the office late each night. Ask for help when you need it and set up a home office that will provide you with greater flexibility when it comes to your work hours and schedule. Make lists and set priorities so you know what needs to get done first and foremost each day. Take time off, eliminate distractions, and learn to say no when you don’t have availability.

4. Have A Personal Life & Hobbies

Another way to avoid dad burnout is to have a personal life and hobbies. This will keep you happy and engaged in life. It also provides you with the opportunity to have a social calendar and activities that help you build relationships with others. Hobbies enrich your life and leisure time allows you to take breaks from your responsibilities and work duties. There are many options out there to give a try so start by experimenting with different hobbies and see what you find the most rewarding.

5. Exercise & Break A Sweat

One of the best ways to stay healthy and beat stress is to exercise. Not only move more but also find ways to break a sweat regularly so that you sleep better and have less anxiety. You’ll feel more energized overall and will love the way you look which will boost your confidence. Work daily exercise into your routine and you’ll feel great and have a positive outlet for managing your stress. You’ll like the way you look and it’s an effective way to boost your mood and mental health. Even if you don’t feel like exercising you should try to because you’ll feel better once you’re done.

6. Open up & Talk

It might also help to confide in others when you’re feeling overwhelmed or need advice. Open up and talk to your spouse or friends and extended family and use them as sounding boards. Let them know what you need from them such as just to listen or if you want advice and suggestions for certain problems you’re facing. The more you get in the habit of opening up and talking about how you’re feeling, the more likely it is that you’ll avoid burnout and be able to navigate the future with a more positive and optimistic outlook. There are also dad support groups and other fathers out there who are going through what you are and would likely be happy to listen and converse.

Going Green, Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

Children’s Health Is Degrading In America. What Can We Do?

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According to a Children’s Health Fund report, over one-third of children between the ages of 17 and 1 have at least one health condition. A whopping 40% confirm that the condition affects their day-to-day activities. 

Not all conditions may be life-threatening, but children living with conditions such as autism, asthma, and even anxiety problems can experience unexpected challenges. Additionally, modern US lifestyle choices can present huge risk factors, such as a poor diet or lack of physical activities. What can parents do to improve their children’s health and give them the best chances in life? 

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Help them feel comfortable with their pediatrician

Children of all ages may feel uncomfortable when they need to visit the doctor. Young children are prone to panic and tears. Older ones tend to clam up for fear of sounding silly. So, it is important to build up their confidence and create a positive and productive relationship with the doctor. Arranging for regular checkups with a family doctor, for instance, can normalize medical visits. It can also encourage your child to build a trust relationship with their doctor, so they are more likely to talk about their health concerns. Many dangerous conditions can be prevented and avoided if they are caught early! 

Prevent vitamin deficiencies

Here are some alarming facts about our diet. Over 9 in 10 Americans have vitamin deficiency, including a lack in potassium, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium. Vitamin deficiency can lead to mild to severe anemia and disruption of normal body functions. Some individuals can even experience extreme symptoms such as personality changes, mental confusion, and irregular heartbeats. Severe anemia can have dramatic impacts on your health. 

Unfortunately, vitamin deficiency is a frequent occurrence because the nutrient intake in fresh produces has dropped over the last century, some cooking processes remove nutrients, processed food is low in vitamins and minerals, etc. Bringing supplements and multivitamins for teens can make a big difference! 

Teach them normal portion sizes

According to researchers at the Human Nutrition Center, 92% of US restaurants serve oversized portions. It is no wonder that obesity is increasing alarmingly in the United States as people become unable to recognize standard portion sizes. As a population, we eat too much. Yet, it’s not out of gluttony but a lack of understanding. Therefore, the sooner you educate your kids about portions and macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat), the earlier they can make an informed choice about their food. 

Make sports a family activity

Kids embrace more and more a sedentary lifestyle because they learn by observing their parents. Therefore, making physical activities a part of your family routine starts with us, parents. It could be simple things such as planning a ball game every weekend together or going for a run before breakfast with your teen. There is no need to overdo it. What matters is that you show your child that being active can be fun and beneficial. 

Some of the best activities you can try as a family, regardless of your fitness level, include:

  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Tennis and basketball games in your backyard
  • Zumba classes

Parents have a responsibility to prepare their kids for the future. Showing them the best way to manage their physical and mental health early can prevent many issues that can be aggravated through poor lifestyle choices.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Parenting

The Complete Guide to Fatherly Activities to do with Your Kid

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There is a lot of pressure on fathers to live up to their traditional roles as providers, protectors, and moral guides. But there are many ways fathers can be involved in their children’s lives. Research has shown that fatherly activities such as reading books to their kids, playing with them, and teaching them new things have positive effects on the child’s development. 

Plus, who wants to be a boring dad? Old TV shows and sitcoms such showing the dad sitting at the table reading the newspaper, and fortunately, these traditional standards are disappearing. Children love hanging out with their dads, Bob, from Bob’s Burgers is a great example of that. So, what are some fun activities that you could do with your little ones? Here are some great ideas!

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1. Role Playing Games

Role-playing games are a great way to develop children’s creativity and imagination. They also help kids learn to take on different perspectives and solve problems collaboratively. Sure, there’s the whole “playing pretend” with your kids such as a house, or tea parties, but why not go beyond that? Being a more active dad can be pretty easy, so don’t worry about doing any role-playing that’s too intensive.

2. Nature Walks and Hiking

Nature walks and hikes are one of the best ways to connect with nature. It can help kids learn about ecology, biology, and history while giving them a chance to explore nature. It’s important for parents to lead by example and show their kids how much they love nature by spending more time outside. Even if you don’t live by any national parks, that’s not a problem either, just take them to the local park!

3. Cooking Activities

Cooking is a great activity to do with children because it helps them learn about food and how they can make it. It also helps them develop skills such as patience, problem-solving, and creativity.

Some fun ideas could include!

-Baking: This is a fun activity for kids to get involved in because they get to measure, pour, mix and see the results of their work.

-Cooking: This is an activity that you should supervise closely because there’s a lot of potential for injury. Children usually enjoy this more when they’re older than six years old.

-Ice cream making: This is another fun cooking activity that’s perfect for summertime!

In general, make sure you pick something that you know they’re going to enjoy.

4. DIY Projects

DIY Projects are a great way to make an ordinary day special. With just a little creativity, time, and patience, you can create crafts that will make your children feel like they are the most important people in the world. There are many different DIY projects that can be done with kids. Some of them are fun and easy while others might take more time and patience. It all depends on what you want to do with your kids and their interests. But getting them to feel handy can certainly make them proud of themself!

5. Training/Sports Related Activity

A classic fatherly activity would be tossing the pigskin. You could even watch sports together with your little one, and maybe even read up on a game from Stephen Troese Jr’s website. Sports can be a great way to bond.