After having woken from an odd dream, doubtlessly induced by our late-night snack and too warm house–and my overactive imagination–, I sat down to my computer with the intent of getting in some work before everyone else woke. But as often happens in these fuzzy hours, I got caught up in aimless Internet surfing. Just as I was beginning to feel guilty for such wastefulness, I came across an article titled, “How to be a Happier Mom” on Parenting.com that piqued my interest. As with most of these articles that target mothers, the information and advice apply equally well to fathers. Anyway, if you are wondering how to be happier in your role as parent, read on (and note that I’ve made inserted “parent” in places where “mom” was originally written).

According to Karen Reivich, Ph.D., a research associate in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, “The first step to being a happier [parent], then, is to value what you do–to feel that it’s important. The next step is to find ways to make it more enjoyable. Not only will you be doing the best thing for yourself, but you’ll also become a more effective [parent].”

Although much of what is suggested won’t surprise you, I think it’s good to be reminded of the steps we can take to increase our happiness as parents. Here is a synopsis of the article, which can be found it its entirety here.

Admit when you’re stressed. Parenthood isn’t all about warm fuzzies (see the post on parenting, resentment and why it’s OK).

Get enough sleep. We all know that this is important, but need to figure out ways to make this happen. Everyone in my family knows that I am a much nicer and more effective mommy and wife when I take the much needed afternoon nap and they are generally supportive when I remind them of this.

(Re)consider your priorities. Structure your day so that you do more things that make you happy. I think it’s helpful to make a list so that you don’t get caught up in merely surviving the day.

Go with the flow. The concept of “flow” has to do with one’s level of engagement with a task, and when we enjoy what we’re doing, time slows and meaning increases. Find ways to make tasks interesting, whether it’s pretending that you are on a cooking show as you prepare that PB&J or explaining the architectural principles behind your child’s sandcastle.

Savor the moment. Spend a few minutes looking out your window at the scene before you or at the delectably chubby hands of your toddler. Slow down—even if ever so briefly—and appreciate the ephemeral things of life.

Take the long view. Try to have some perspective about where you are as a parent right now and don’t get so caught up in the details that you miss the bigger picture, i.e. try to use your panoramic lens instead of the close-up one.

Reconnect with your spouse. “You can’t say, ‘I’ll handle the relationship later,’” says Reivich. “A healthy and realistic goal is to ask, ‘What are some small, manageable things we can be doing to keep our connection to each other strong during this rough time?’”

Say thank you. Write these things down—and express your gratitude to others. When we recognize our blessings in life, we are able to feel a greater sense of satisfaction and well being.