Khloe Kardashian Says She Finds Co-Parenting a Source of Comfort During the Pandemic

Stress is at an all-time high this year for parents, and Khloe Kardashian is no different. The TV star, entrepreneur, and mom to 2-year-old True, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson, has been working on how to best cope with uncertainty since the pandemic began.

"Being a new mom, it has been scary," she says, adding that being an "overthinker and planner" has also served to make this time particularly challenging. "There is nothing to plan and we don't have all the answers yet, which is OK, but I had to learn how to balance my stress."

We recently caught up with Kardashian about her best methods for getting centered mentally and physically, the comforts of co-parenting with Thompson, and what she's learned about herself as a mom during this tough time.

What Self-Care Looks Like for Khloe These Days

Kardashian has regularly inspired her fans and followers with her commitment to fitness, and she has found it empowering to adapt and find creative, new ways to get active this year.

"For me, working out is such a self-care mechanism—it releases so much stress, and so, I've been doing a ton of 'mommy and me' workouts," says Kardashian, who explains that might look like something as simple as heading to a park and pulling True in a trolley behind her.

Still, she admits her stress has been at an "all-time high," which has led to a spike in her migraines, a health challenge she has faced since she was in sixth grade and has documented on TV and social media. "Early on, I was completely isolated with my daughter, and it is literally paralyzing to not have help," notes Kardashian. "There were times I would be hit with a migraine, and you can't explain it to a 2-year-old."

Kardashian is partnering with prescription migraine medication Nurtec ODT to share her experience parenting through migraines. She also has a drawer in her freezer filled with go-to aids like peppermint oil, which is just one way she bolsters preparedness to manage her stress. "I'm a planner," she shares. "I live by my schedule, and every minute is accounted for. Yes, it's a little crazy, but it makes me feel good. For me, self-care is making sure everything is organized, planned for, and accounted for. It's about being fully suited and booted for your specific needs and wants."

What Co-Parenting Has Looked Like for Khloe This Year

Thompson, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, usually lives in Ohio, but the NBA released players at the start of the pandemic and he was able to spend time in L.A. Kardashian says it was particularly comforting to have his support at the beginning of the crisis when the path forward was so blurry.

"Tristan has been so great during the pandemic," says Kardashian. "My mom is going to be 65, and we didn't see each other for month and a half, and my sisters were all isolated with their own families, so it was really nice to have someone to help me and to bounce ideas off of, a partner in crime. He would help as much as possible."

How She Has 'Reset' Life During the Pandemic

Although this year has presented unprecedented challenges, Kardashian says she has learned to embrace slowing down. She has enjoyed "hitting the reset button" and spending as much time as possible with True. "I appreciate the time I get to have with my daughter to really just love on her," she says. "We're scared as adults, but we're really just loving on our babies so much more—just to reassure them."

Kardashian is also grateful that this year has resulted in a "huge wake-up call about balance" for her. Like many moms, Kardashian feels like she had gotten "so used to giving so much to other people," but the pandemic urged her to reevaluate that and account for her own needs, as well.

"This time has given me more opportunity to be grateful for things I took for granted," she says. "I feel empowered to find balance in life, so that it's not just about work work work or True True True. It has to be about me and True and my personal life and my work life. I'm happy I had that realization."