Schedule Regular Health Check-ups for Yourself

Remember when your biggest health worry was running out of coffee? Now, between diaper blowouts and toddler negotiations, squeezing in your own check-ups feels like scheduling a moon landing. But hey, if you can survive assembling a crib without losing your mind (or a finger), you can totally book that dentist appointment—promise, no stickers required.

Prioritizing your own health keeps your brain sharper, your mood more stable, and your energy levels less like a roller coaster. Research shows that parents who keep up with their own care are less stressed and more resilient—which means fewer meltdowns (yours, not just the kids’). Plus, modeling self-care teaches kids that grown-ups need check-ups too, wiring their little brains to value health for life.

How to do it

  • Add your own doctor and dentist appointments to the family calendar—yes, in ink. This makes them visible and official.

  • Treat these appointments with the same importance as your child’s. Only reschedule if it’s a true emergency (think: the house is literally on fire).

  • Set reminders for yourself a week before and again a day before the appointment. ‘Parent brain’ is real, and double reminders help you stay on track.

  • Arrange for your partner or a friend to cover kid duty during your appointment. This way, you can avoid bringing a toddler to your pap smear (trust me, it’s worth it).

  • After your appointment, reward yourself. Whether it’s a coffee or a nap, pick whichever feels most luxurious to you.

Key Tips:

  • Use a shared family calendar to keep everyone informed.
  • Treat your health appointments as non-negotiable.
  • Leverage reminders and support systems to make self-care possible.
  • Don’t underestimate the power of a small reward—it reinforces the habit.

When you’re putting your kid’s next check-up on the calendar.

Open your calendar app and add a reminder to book your own check-up.
Do a silent victory fist-pump or text your partner, ‘Look at me, adulting!’
Save your doctor and dentist phone numbers in your phone’s favorites.

After brushing your teeth in the morning.

Say out loud, 'I deserve to be healthy too.'
Give yourself a cheesy wink in the mirror.
Put a sticky note on your bathroom mirror that says, 'Have you booked YOU yet?'

When you get the reminder ping.

Send a quick email or text to your doctor’s office asking for appointment options.
Treat yourself to your favorite snack, guilt-free.
Set an annual recurring reminder on your phone for your birthday month: 'Book health check-ups!'