Every parent faces the battle against time. As we get older and our children pose more challenges, whether it's them not sleeping properly or we've got to help them navigate milestones in their lives, this may mean that we don't have the opportunities to stretch ourselves. But it is so important for every single parent out there to benefit from certain skills and hobbies that they can incorporate into their lives. What should we all do to stretch ourselves? 

Increasing That Gray Matter

Improving your brain skills will not just help you to be a better parent and be more dynamic as a person, but it will also help to stave off the negative effects of aging. From taking Spanish classes to learning a musical instrument, there is so much you can do to benefit your brain. You may think that you don't have the time to do these things, but this is where you need to compartmentalize your life. For example, if you've got a child that won't go to sleep without you there, you can easily sit there stroking their head, and use Duolingo on your phone! Don't think that when it comes to something like learning a language or an instrument you think you’ve got to be proficient within the space of 12 months. Instead, think about those little victories! 

Gardening

There are many benefits of gardening. It can benefit your mental health, but it can also be an amazing workout. Additionally, it could be something that you can do with your children. Gardening also helps you to conduct more effective research, for example, growing the right plants, but it is also the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the current problems the world is facing. Growing your own fruit and vegetables and learning ways to make them last longer will obviously benefit you, and you are taking advantage of eating organically as well! Additionally gives you immense pride in what you have achieved. 

Meditating or Yoga

Even if your children are taking a lot of your time, hobbies can make a massive difference to your quality of life. Yoga doesn't have to be an hour-long class. It can be a very simple thing to begin with. You can start by going on YouTube and finding one of the many videos that cater to your needs. Like with any exercise program, you need to start small. Think about those little victories! Additionally, meditation is one of those things that can help calm the mind and body, so you are not just improving yourself as a human being, but it gives you the chance to take everything in your stride. You may very well be stressing out that you're not spending enough time with your kids, but incorporating meditation into your life or even doing it with your children gives you the opportunity to slow down. Because all you need to do is something simple like box breathing for a couple of minutes and you can feel the benefits. 

These are a few hobbies that are worth trying. We all need to stretch ourselves but we need to make sure we do them in the right ways.