Simply working a full-time job can feel overwhelming. When raising children, however, demands skyrocket. Most parents are eventually able to find the right balance to meet their personal, professional and family needs, but finding this balance can be difficult.

Here are wellness guidelines for achieving your ideal work-life balance:

Food Matters

Diet is essential for both parents and children, but many people treat food as a bit of an afterthought. Take some time to plan out which diet works best for you and the rest of your family, and make sure to budget time specifically for shopping and cooking. If you feel your time is limited, look for recipes that are easy to cook and provide excellent leftovers. Eating well doesn’t have to be complex: A broad, balanced diet, when eaten in the right portions, will help you get the energy you need to thrive while raising your children.

Focus on Mental Health

Modern life can be stressful, and it’s common for people to fail to recognize that they’re dealing with depression or other mental health struggles. The best way for you to care for your children is to be in the right space mentally, so make sure to periodically ask yourself if you could benefit from professional health. Finding help for depression or other conditions helps you handle every day as well as possible. It could be TMS treatment for depression, weekly therapy sessions, or prescribed medication. Whichever sort of mental health help you pursue, doing so ensures your ability to better handle the time demands of raising children on top of a full-time work schedule.

Make Fitness a Priority

There’s no replacement for professional care when it comes to managing depression, but studies consistently show that exercise is a powerful antidepressant. These benefits don’t just help those dealing with depression; everyone who’s able to build an exercise regiment notes significant benefits both physically and mentally. Find a time that works for you. Even if you aren’t a morning person, finding some time to exercise before heading to work can help you start your day feeling great. Furthermore, exercise can be a great family activity. Consider developing the habit of bringing your kids to the park at an early age.

Don’t Take Your Relationship for Granted

Relationships take time and effort, but those dealing with both work and children often find that working on their relationship takes a backseat. Try to set aside some time to spend with family as well as occasional for couples nights out. Consider trading occasional childcare duties with a couple you know. Although couples therapy is generally only sought when a couple feels significant strain, a few sessions can help you and your partner learn strategies for keeping your relationship strong even when other stresses build up.

Relaxation

Many working parents feel as if there just aren’t enough hours in the day, but taking time to relax is essential. Note that relaxation is a great way to recharge, ensuring you’re able to tackle other tasks more productively, especially over the long term. Even 15 to 30 minutes of unwinding can help, and spending a bit of time away from screens reading a book before bed can make your sleep more productive.

There’s nothing more rewarding than raising children, and many couples are able to balance raising their kids with maintaining a career. Make planning a top priority, and take a step back on occasion to examine your day-to-day life. Doing so ensures you’re ready to face each day feeling confident and refreshed.