How Leeds Wellbeing Week started:
I created Leeds Wellbeing Week in 2017, in order to promote all the great wellbeing initiatives happening in Leeds all year long and get Leeds people to try new things that might be part of their own wellbeing strategy.
How becoming a parent changed things
In 2018 I became a parent. There was so much joy! And so much change. And so much struggle. For a few months, I tried to ‘do it all’ – be the good mum, the successful entrepreneur, the perfect housewife, the present friend… with no family around (both my parents and in-laws live abroad). But it wasn’t working for me. My baby was thriving, the house was sparkling clean and the business was growing. But I was not in the right place, at all.
Luckily, I spotted the signs of stress and overwhelm easily, and was able to take action to make sure I had enough oxygen myself to keep going. My first decision was to pick up a nursery for my baby. She now goes three days a week. I found a bit of balance back. She is very happy there, I know she is well taken care of, and I can focus on my projects. And I can breathe. But it is still hard!
When did you last prioritise yourself and not your little one(s)?
For many of us, the answer is probably ‘Well, before giving birth to child number one!’ As parents, we can have the tendency to forget ourselves for the wellbeing of our little ones. To leave everything behind so that they are well. To even leave ourselves behind sometimes.
However, it is very important to prioritise ourselves too! Do you remember the security procedure when we take the plane? Put your own oxygen mask on, before putting it on anyone else. And it is the same in life: you need to have enough oxygen first. You need to take care of yourself first so that you can take care of others, a.k.a. your little ones.
Leeds Wellbeing Week 2019 events for parents
That’s why, for this edition of Leeds Wellbeing Week, I decided to include events for parents and families and create this safe place where parents can open up about their struggles, and have fun along the way.
Two events are mainly dedicated to parents:
And there are also many other events that you can browse by clicking here. Leeds Wellbeing Week is also on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
