Before kids, I used to take a wonderful kickboxing class at the gym. It was so challenging and yet so rewarding, in part because there was no stopping allowed. Our high-energy instructor insisted we keep moving at all times.
For brief portions, we could move a little less intensively. He called that “active recovery.”
Okay, I realize that active recovery is technically low-intensity exercise, but this didn’t feel low-intensity at all.
Fast forward 10 years. Now I’ve got three kids, and I see that parenting is just like kickboxing.
Whether kickboxing or parenting:
- intensity is high,
- stopping is rarely an option, and yet…
- you still need rest to function.
When you need a break, try downshifting your parenting to a slightly more relaxed pace.
Active recovery while parenting can look like:
- Pizza for dinner (that someone else made).
- Giving the kids some extra screen time.
- Temporarily backing off anything that elicits pushback from your kids (enforcing homework? chores? bath time?), lowering the demands on your kids and yourself.
How could you practice active recovery today? I’d love to hear from you.
Sleep well,
Nora
