Healthy De-Stressing Tips For Busy Moms
Most mothers (and fathers) would agree that even with schedules, routines, and a strong support system, raising children is stressful at times. Juggling the many things you have on your plate while navigating the ups and downs of life is a lot.
As typical as it is for mothers to be stressed, too much emotional overwhelm is terrible for everyone. When the body is under too much stress, it can cause physical and mental health problems that make it hard to parent. So, how do you minimize the stress in your life? Here are some suggestions for parents.
Laugh
Laughter is one of the best medicines for stress. When you start to feel overwhelmed, take a moment to laugh. Stare in the mirror and make silly faces, watch a funny video, read a funny joke, or spend a minute with your kids (it won’t be long before they do something to crack you up).
Dance
Whether you know how to cut a rug or you have two left feet, dancing is a great way to reduce stress. Dancing is a physical activity that gets your blood pumping and boosts your mood. Turn on your favorite upbeat song and shake your groove thang to the beat. It won’t be long before you’re smiling and feeling better about your day.
Take a Bath
You’d be surprised how therapeutic the warm water from a bathtub can be. At the end of a long week, set time for a bath. Fill the tub with warm water, bath salts, and full spectrum CBD oil to ease the tension. Light some candles and turn on soothing music to help set the tone. Soak for 15-30 minutes before getting out, lotioning up, and putting on some comfy pj’s.
Drink Some Tea
Instead of drinking coffee and soda, which exacerbates stress and anxiety, try drinking a cup of herbal tea when you’re on edge. While taking a break to enjoy any cup of tea can put your mind at ease, linden, chamomile, green, rosemary, catnip, and oat straw are some of the many options to relieve stress.
Go For a Walk
Walking isn’t just for exercise. It’s a strategy commonly used to blow off steam and relieve stress. It takes you out of the stressful environment or headspace and allows you to get reacquainted with nature. The next time you feel like the walls are closing in on you, grab your jacket and take a walk. A few minutes walking through your neighborhood, a park, or any outdoor area will help you find your center.
Unplug
Smartphones have become a modern convenience that most moms couldn’t see themselves without. It’s your means of communication and entertainment. Many busy moms also use smartphones for managing their schedules, to-do lists, budgets, and more. The constant dinging and pinging from notifications, however, are overwhelming at times. Do yourself a favor and unplug for at least an hour a day. When you get home from work, turn your phone on silent and simply be in the moment with your family.
Take A Nap
Last but not least, busy moms looking for a way to de-stress should consider taking more naps. When you’re under a lot of stress, your body needs the energy to help you cope. While you may have gotten a good night’s rest, sometimes your body needs a little break. A 15-minute nap would allow your mind and body to rest, replenish, and restore themselves.
With parenting comes buzziness and stress. While this is unavoidable, allowing yourself to become physically or emotionally overwhelmed, isn’t the answer. When the body is in fight or flight mode for too long, it starts to break down, causing several mental and physical health problems. That’s why busy moms and dads are encouraged to find ways to reduce stress like those discussed above, that will help them make it through each day. Dedicating just a few minutes to self-care and mental health helps to keep things in balance.
Tips contributed by Anne Davis.