Hey ladies! Let’s get real for a minute. Being a mom can be stressful. From running errands to cooking meals, cleaning the house, taking care of your kids, and possibly working outside the home, it can be overwhelming at times. Can get an amen?! Though it may seem impossible to squeeze anything else in, it’s important to prioritize your mental and emotional health, you truly can’t pour from an empty cup. Here are 5 simple steps to reduce stress in your daily life. Practices that I have been implementing recently and how they are going for me.
Schedule “Me-time”
I venture to say the majority of us hold the covenant role of “calendar keepers” for our families. Are you currently scheduling “me-time” on there? As mom’s we often think of ourselves last but your self-care is just as important as that ball game. Make sure to schedule time each week, shoot each day if you can! Even if it is only 5 or 10 minutes.
Bath
I recently scheduled Wednesday nights as date nights. A date night between my tub and me. Warm water, bubbles, and all illuminated by candlelight. This time is majestic. I’m no regular bath taker either. It always seemed like a waste of time to me. I could be getting things done or sleeping instead of sitting on my keister in a tub. Well, not any more friends. I look forward to this night all week. It gives me the break and relaxation I need mid-week to carry me through until the weekend.
Reading
Another wonderful option is reading a book. Now I love personal development books, but while consuming this material I find myself still having an urgency or desire to implement. No, what I’m looking for is to release my control over what is going on around me and to escape in fiction. I find my mind and my body release into a state of calmness and when it is time to rejoin reality I feel refreshed and renewed. This is new to me as I have never been a big reader, but what can I say as we age things just hit differently!
Go For A Walk
Alright, now this next option has always been high on my priority list, exercise. Exercise is about so much more than fitting into a pair of pants. It has endless benefits for your mind and bodily function. If you are someone who is not a lover of exercise then start by taking a stroll outside. You will see many benefits flow into your life with this simple act. Clarity, creativity, and improved mood to name a few.
Write it All Out
You wake up and your mind is racing 1,000 mph you have so much to accomplish and only a few hours to execute. You brush your teeth and wash your face and then go to start on your to-do’s…only you stop dead in your track as you have been hit with paralysis. What needs to get done again? What should be done first? All of a sudden you can’t remember what you had set out to do in the first place.
Ready
At this point you have two paths to choose from. Continue on through your day in a panicked state jumping from one task to another OR take a few moments to write it all out. That’s right let your brain off the hook. Write down all of your to-do’s and rank them in importance then simply release the info from your brain and let out a deep breath.
Set
This concept seems too simple to truly be effective. However, you will be amazed at the amount of stress you release. Just by taking a few minutes to write it down and have a game plan.
Match
Now the tricky part is in having realistic expectations. This is typically my downfall. I want to get it all done because I look at myself as superwoman. Ok not really, but the way I push myself at times it sure seems that I do.
The Big Three
Setting realistic expectations is difficult because in reality it all needs to get done and it would have been great if it was done yesterday, am I right? Sweet friend, the truth is it does NOT all have to be done and you are one person.
How
This is why choosing your BIG THREE to do’s prioritizes the most important tasks. The concept is if you accomplish these three to-do’s then you have accomplished today’s goal. Anything else is just icing on the cake. That way at the end of the day you have a sense of accomplishment and you know you are three steps closer to that always forward-moving finish line.
What If
I want you to take a moment to think, what if you actually reached the finish line? What would that look like? Essentially, It would mean that you are no longer a care giver, you have no service to provide, and you are basically bed ridden for your remaining days. Whoa, that puts a new perspective on things now doesn’t it? I personally don’t want to reach that finish line, how about you?
Present
The goal is not to reach the finish line but to live present in the moment and provide for our loved ones. We get so enamored with getting it all done, but the fact is that it is impossible to get it all done. There will always be laundry, there will always be dishes, and there will always be another form to fill out. This is life and you need to make the most of it. Get the NEED to do’s done but don’t strive for the moon. You can’t get there on your own.
Asking for Help
Eww, this is not a favored option for many reasons. Whatever your reason might be it is important to stretch this muscle. If you need permission, change your perspective a bit. Asking for help reduces your stress levels which allows you to be a more present mom, wife, and friend.
As a mom who just graduated out of the toddler phase, it has been very interesting to let go of control and allow the children to take on some responsibilities. I say let go because you really like it done the BEST way which is your way, right? As I type I realize this is also the way we don’t want to delegate to our husbands, haha. In both circumstances, guide them in how you want it done, and then take a deep breath and step away. Practice being ok with done over perfection. It is a growing moment for you and for them.
Appreciation
You likely hear the word gratitude a lot. I don’t know about you but I tend to glaze over the word. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a buzzword or it just seems too deep. However, gratitude essentially means appreciating what you have in your life. Taking a moment each day to think about what you’re thankful for. This can help shift your mindset from focusing on the stressors in your life to focusing on the positives.
I actually like to practice this when I have my first overwhelming thought. I try to catch that thought and re-engineer it. This immediately allows me to remove the negativity and pour more love into the task.
Example
Negative Thought: “I’m so tried of doing laundry it never ends!!!”
Reframed: “I have a lot of laundry because I have been blessed with two beautiful children. My children are healthy and active and have the opportunity to get their clothes dirty.”
Woah…you will not hear me griping anymore.
Start Off Right
Another way to implement gratitude is when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed name three things that make your life better. Starting and ending your day on the right foot.
Takeaway
Remember, reducing stress is a process, and it takes time and effort. But by prioritizing your mental and emotional health, you’ll be able to better manage the demands of motherhood and enjoy your life more fully. So take a deep breath, and start implementing these steps for success today!
For more mom stress-LESS tips, join my email community where each week I bring you simple habits that you can implement to reduce stress in your life. Life is not meant to be lived alone, let me be a part of your village, I know I want you in my inner circle.
Curious, about where I find my biggest release from mom overwhelm? Check out this article to see if it could be a good match for you as well!
Until next time, keep reaching for your biggest dreams!
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