Pandemic Parenting: New Year’s Resolutions for the Whole Family
Considering we’ve just survived another year with COVID, making resolutions might seem a bit silly. If anything, most of us are probably busy thinking of ways to distract from the fact we’re still stuck in pandemic mode. However, setting goals at the beginning of a new year is a great way to motivate growth. Still, given all the chaos of the past two years, it’s fair to choose things that will improve our lives and keep us sane. Therefore, prioritizing mental well-being should be a part of the resolutions for every member of the family.
Resolution 1: Health is (Mental) Wealth
当我们生病或痛苦时，我们所有人都经历了情绪波动。我们还看到了焦虑或抑郁如何影响我们的免疫系统，能量水平和食欲。我们的思想和身体一起工作 - 当一个人被扔掉时，另一个是接下来的。这意味着，如果我们想在精神上感到坚强，我们需要同样照顾自己的身体。这意味着要定期吃饭，每天晚上睡得足够，并且活跃。如果您生病了，就可以给自己足够的时间休息和康复。避免有害物质或行为。不，这并不意味着要跳过快餐或成为健身房老鼠，而是保持健康的生活方式有助于保持一切平衡。
Resolution 2: Find New Habits
We all have good and bad habits when it comes to dealing with stress. How many of us overeat, oversleep, or watch endless hours of shows or movies? While those coping mechanisms work in the short run, they take a toll on us both physically and mentally. On top of that, children tend to learn their coping skills from those closest to them. You’ve likely noticed which of your habits have helped you get through the pandemic, and which ones made things worse. Take this opportunity to assess which habits to nurture and which to unlearn. There are many self-help books and websites that teach healthy strategies, but you can also consult any therapists or psychiatrists who are treating you or your family for additional advice.
第3号决议：选择短期和长期目标
One of the reasons why people ultimately fail at keeping their resolutions is because they set their sights on something too intimidating, or something that will take too long to achieve. It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t succeed right away. Take weight loss, for example. It’s a lot more challenging to think about losing, say, 50 pounds than to work towards losing 2 pounds a week. What about wanting your child to be a better student? They might need to learn how to consistently turn assignments in on time, or how to study effectively first. If you can reach your smaller goals, you’ll feel more accomplished and stay motivated to push the limits further.
决议4：这是关于进步的，而不是完美
Another reason why many of us give up on our resolutions every year is that we have an all-or-nothing mentality. We make ourselves feel ashamed or guilty over every little mistake. That kind of thinking creates a spiral of negativity we struggle to get out of. Rather than focusing on what you didn’t do, notice what you did right. Maybe you didn’t exercise today, but you ate a healthy dinner. The same goes for your child. If they didn’t bring home a good grade even after studying hard, praise them for their effort and work together to come up with ways to improve. It’s important to remember that growth is a journey. Sometimes we lose our way before we make it to our destination.
Resolution 5: Be Kind to Yourself
You know that saying “you’re your own worst critic?” We’re all guilty of saying “but” or “I still need to” when someone compliments us while working towards a goal. This is especially true if we come across a hurdle, or we push the goal post back. We’re so stuck on what we haven’t done rather than paying attention to the hard work we’ve put in. Instead, the next time you’re in a rut, ask yourself: would I be this hard on a friend or family? If the answer is no, then you should rethink the way you approach yourself. To echo what was said above, it’s an important lesson to learn, as children learn how to treat themselves by watching their parents or other adults around them. Being gentle with yourself will teach them to see themselves with kindness.
Yes, there will be more challenges going forward into 2022. However, with a focus on maintaining mental well-being, this year can still be a happy and healthy one for you and your family.
撰写者：詹妮弗·杨（Jennifer Yen），医学博士