Taking Care of Yourself (HBR Working Parents Series)

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Working Dads Need “Me Time,” Too

by Alyssa F. Westring and Stewart D. Friedman

Quick Takes

• Beware of dropping everything that isn’t work or family
• Create experiments to fold self-care into your schedule
• Focus on rejuvenating and restoring activities
• Accept that you may struggle at first

Mother’s Day is widely recognized as a day to acknowledge moms who all too often forsake relaxation and self-care for family, work, and community responsibilities. It’s no surprise that many Mother’s Day gifts are designed to give Mom one day to put herself first—like sleeping in, taking a break from chores and cooking, or getting a massage or pedicure, for example. Yet, few people acknowledge the fact that dads, too, are now increasingly engaged in childcare ...