The Life of a Busy Mom: Top 11 Ways to Deal with Stress
How to deal with mom stress?
We all know that feeling when we are running after deadlines, kids, and household chores. We often say that we are stressed.
But what is stress? Stress is a physical or emotional response to an ongoing event that has the potential to disrupt our mental or physical well-being.
This can be a crush of deadlines at work or a hectic day with kids back at home.
Typical symptoms include a racing heart, difficulty concentrating, and tense muscles. If you have these symptoms for more than a month, it might indicate an unhealthy level of stress in your life.
In today’s society, life can be stressful. It seems as if there is never enough time in the day with busy schedules and children to care for. Where does stress come from?
There are many sources of stress: work deadlines, family obligations, school demands, household chores and more.
Stress can be a healthy emotion when we use it as a motivator to complete tasks we otherwise would not have had time for or as a way to release tension when we need it most.
However, too much stress is unhealthy and can lead to mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
According to the research, the number one cause of stress for mothers is their children. The second cause of stress is their husbands.
Why are these two causes so high? It’s because women are often caught in a double bind between work and home, which can lead to an overall sense of being overwhelmed.
The first cause for mothers is their children because they have to take care of them all day long, while at the same time they have to spend time with them and do other things around the house.
They also have to spend time with their husband which can lead to an overall sense of being overwhelmed.
A busy mom may find herself stressed by her husband because he may not be as active as she is with the kids and household chores. She may feel like she does more than he does and that causes stress to build up and then explode.
The wife’s anger might manifest in different ways such as yelling or an emotional outburst that she doesn’t mean to have. It might even lead to physical violence or verbal abuse towards him which can have long lasting repercussions on their relationship.
Here are the best 11 ways to deal with stress as a busy mom.
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1. USE MEDITATION TO RELIEVE STRESS
A lot of people are turning to meditation for stress relief. Meditation is a technique that requires feeling at ease in the mind, body, and spirit.
It’s usually done by sitting with your back straight and eyes closed while focusing on your breath.
There are many different types of meditation techniques. Some techniques involve focusing on a single word or object, others just involve concentrating on the breath.
The goal is to have an empty mind that can still think, but not be preoccupied by any thoughts or feelings; concentrate on the present moment.
Most people meditate in complete silence without any form of music or visual aids. Sometimes they light candles to help them focus on their breathing if they find it difficult not to lose their concentration when doing so in silence.
Meditation is a powerful technique to reduce stress and also improve your focus. Mediate on God’s word and the impact it will have on your situation.
There are many meditation techniques out there, some of which are more popular than the others. Here is one technique that you might not have heard of before, but it’s very effective – walking meditation.
This type of meditation is very similar to traditional mindfulness meditation in that the walker focuses on both their internal thoughts and external surroundings at the same time.
They walk slowly while focusing on one thought at a time while also paying attention to any sounds, smells or things they see around them. Look around and pay attention at God’s creation with gratitude in your heart.
The main difference between this and traditional mindfulness is that instead of sitting down, you’re walking slowly in a line or circle.
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The Surprising Benefits of Walking for Exercise, and How YOU Can Make the Most of It!
2. KNOW YOUR STRESSORS
On of the first steps to managing your stressors is identifying them. You must know what causes your stress so you can efficiently work on reducing its impact on your life.
Stress is a physical, emotional and mental response to a difficult situation. This means that your stressors can be either external or internal.
Some of the most common external stressors are fear, anxiety and relatives. Fear is when you are afraid of something that might happen or has happened in the past.
Anxiety is when you worry about things that might happen in the future. And relatives are people who depend on you for some reason – like children, spouse, parents etc.
The fear of the unknown is one of the most common stressors.
Anxiety can result from not knowing what to expect or where to go next in life, or from feeling that you are not in control.
And relatives are often a source of stress for many people. It can be hard when there are family members who need help but refuse it, when you’re not sure how much time you should spend with them, when they don’t agree with your decisions or want you to change, or when they cause trouble in your relationships with other people.
Work related stressors are quite common too. For example, if your job requires more responsibility or you feel like your work doesn’t fit with what you studied to do. Work-related stressors include competition at work, deadlines and tight timelines.
And last but not least there’s also sickness as an external stressor – which can be mental or physical depending on what kind of illness it is.
3. DISCOVER THE POWER OF SAYING “NO”
If you are feeling too much pressure, then sometimes saying “no” is the best thing you can do for yourself. When we say “yes” to everything that comes our way, we end up neglecting our needs and goals.
It’s okay to protect your time and say no when you need to.
Saying “no” is not always easy or comfortable, but it is worth it in the long run.
Discover the power of “no”. Saying “no” to things that are not adding value to your life is hard but vital.
The first step is recognizing how you are saying “yes” to stress. It’s not always easy because it’s hard to see what’s adding stress in the first place. One way to do it is asking yourself these five questions:
1. Am I busy?
2. Is this keeping me from my other responsibilities?
3. Does this make me happy?
4. Do I have time for it?
5. Does this fit my goals and priorities?
In a world where we feel perpetually stressed, it can be difficult to figure out what to say “no” too. But if you don’t prioritize your self-care, you risk not being able to do anything at all.
Here are some ways that you can say no without feeling guilty:
– Saying no doesn’t make you a bad person
– You’re not the only one with obligations and responsibilities
-Saying no is an act of self-care
4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP TO FEEL BETTER
We can never underestimate the importance of getting enough sleep. It’s not only essential for our health but also for our decision making skills and moods.
When we sleep, we get a chance to recharge our batteries and get refreshed.
Some people say that they don’t need to sleep enough because they are too busy or think that it’s not necessary for them. And that might be true if you’re a superhero, but in reality we all need sleep even if we don’t know it.
Sleeping gives us the mental clarity and energy we need to make important decisions and enjoy life with friends and family.
Good decisions come from a rested brain. Rest is important for our mental and physical health. Sleep deprivation causes mood swings, weight gain, and cognitive impairment.
To get enough sleep:
-Sleep in a cool room
-Keep your sleeping environment dark
–Avoid using electronics before bedtime
-Limit caffeine consumption before bedtime
5. DO NOT IGNORE YOUR PROBLEMS
We all know how easy it is to ignore problems before they get worse. But, we also know how important it is to not ignore them and face the problem head-on.
The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that there is one.
We don’t have to face problems without a plan. We just need to be mindful of what we can do and not let any problem linger for too long.
This article will provide you with some tips on how to stop ignoring problems and start taking action.
It’s important not to ignore problems, because they will only get worse if left unattended. Instead of waiting for the problem to get worse, it’s best to face it head-on and figure out a solution.
6. YOU SHOULD LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
We all want to be the best parent, the best partner, and the best employee. But sometimes we need to lower our expectations and accept ourselves for who we are. This will make our lives much more enjoyable.
There is no perfect spouse or perfect children or perfect job. Accept yourself for who you are and know that it’s okay to make mistakes because everyone does!
There is a lot of pressure to keep up with all the demands in our lives. And it makes sense that we feel stressed and maybe even resentful of others who seem to have it “all together.”
But, here’s the thing: if you set your expectations too high, you risk being disappointed or feeling like you are failing at everything.
Lowering expectations can help you enjoy things more and be more content with what you have accomplished so far.
We all have expectations for ourselves and the people around us. But accepting that life is not perfect and trying to lower your expectations can make a huge difference in your life.
Accepting yourself is the first step. That doesn’t mean you don’t try to improve yourself, but you should not be constantly looking for faults in yourself.
After accepting yourself, lower your expectations from the people around you, including your spouse and kids.
Lowering them will make it easier to live with them and enjoy time with them when they’re around because it’s not going to be focused on disappointment or anger about what’s been done or not done.
Finally, lower your expectations in relation to work by taking a few hours off every day in order to give yourself a break from work.
Maybe spend some time on a hobby, chatting with friends and family, or going for a walk. You deserve it!
7. FIND A FUN HOBBY
Some people may think that finding a hobby is not necessary, but others may believe that hobbies are the key to living a fulfilling life.
Hobbies are a great way for people who feel overwhelmed by their day-to-day life, or want a break from it, to find enjoyment elsewhere.
These activities can be anything from doing music, painting, journaling or gardening – all in order to make room for other things in your life and enjoy more of them.
Love reading? Grab a new book to read!
To find what type of hobby to partake in, one can ask themselves these questions:
What do I like?
What am I good at?
What gives me fulfillment?
What do other people like doing that might be fun for me?
Once an individual finds their hobby, it is important not to neglect it. Instead, one should find time for it each week.
Maybe they could find something enjoyable and relaxing to do on their day off or after work hours. Finding time for oneself to relax and forget about the worries of the world is essential for living an enjoyable life.
8. CREATE A DESIREABLE TO-DO LIST
One of the best ways to manage stress is to create a to-do list.
To-do list are not just for the workplace. They are a helpful tool for anyone who is trying to get their life in order.
Create a To-Do list if you are feeling overwhelmed with too many tasks, stressed about how long it will take you to complete them all, or having trouble prioritizing what needs to be done first.
Making a list of tasks and organizing them in order of importance will make it easier for you to get started and stay on task.
How many times have you been stressed because you have too many things to do and not enough time to do them? This section will teach you how to take control of your life.
How can I prioritize tasks based on their importance?
Sort tasks by high, medium, and low importance. Make sure that the most important tasks get done first.
What’s the best way to create a checklist?
A checklist is a list of items that need to be completed in order for something (a project, task, or goal) to be finished successfully.
To create a checklist: define each item in the list; break down the steps involved; and rank each item’s difficulty from easy to difficult.
A checklist can help you keep track of what needs to be done and when, which can help you feel more in control.
Putting your tasks in order also means that the most important ones will always be getting attention first, which is why we recommend starting with step one on your list tonight before bedtime!
9. FIND A LOVING SUPPORT SYSTEM
A lot of times we don’t want people know how much we’re struggling because we worry they will judge us for not being able to handle everything on our own. It’s important to know that it’s okay to seek help when you need it.
A friend or relative can provide a more supportive environment with less pressure and judgment from your significant other.
A counselor provides a safe space with no judgment and focuses on listening.
Prayer will also be beneficial as it allows you time to talk out your feelings aloud with someone who will never judge you. God is always there for anyone who needs Him most.
10. CREATE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
It is imperative that we prioritize our well-being and create a strategy for dealing with stress.
Some of the best strategies for dealing with stress include:
● Prioritizing your health
● Practicing proactive behaviors such as regular exercise and healthy eating
● Planning ahead to avoid reactive behaviors such as drinking too much coffee or watching TV
● Viewing work as fulfilling rather than a burden
● Creating an appropriate work-life balance by pursuing passions outside of work, spending time with friends, getting enough sleep, taking care of your mental health.
11. LET IT ALL GO
Stop worrying and let go. Stress is a part of life, it’s not going to go away.
But you can learn how to deal with it. It’s about recognizing the things that make you stressed and trying to stop doing them or finding ways around them.
The mind has a strong ability to cope with difficulties when they are recognized and accepted. When we let go – we become more in control of our lives, happier, and less anxious about the future.
The best way to letting go– is by letting God! Give Him ALL your cares and don’t look back!
Some ways to deal with stress as a busy mom are praying, lowering expectations of others, and finding hobbies you’ll love!
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