While stay-at-home moms deserve a lot of respect, let’s face it, spilled cheerios, dirty diapers, and screaming children can really get to someone after a while! Dealing with personal stress can be tricky, especially when 5 page “de-stress your life” lists end up stressing you out even more! While attempting to avoid another huge list, here are four simple suggestions that are not only doable, but will definitely help the stay-at-home mom feel a little saner!
1. Take some time out for yourself
Decide what helps you relax. Whether it is a hot bubble bath, painting, a good book, or even just a nap, you not only deserve it, but you need it. Find a hobby, visit a friend, start a home-business, take an internet course, experiment, create. Find an outlet! It doesn’t have to take two hours out of your day. Maybe it is just fifteen minutes, but make sure you do something for mom. Taking a time out for yourself helps you refocus your thinking, gain perspective, and keep your personal identity. Mom often has the potential of getting caught into a rut of diapers, food prep, car-pooling, cleaning, and back to diapers again. Those things are good, but you are more than just that. You are a person with interests, hopes, dreams, disappointments, and desires. When Mom stops taking care of herself, the potential for depression skyrockets. So take time out for mom, because everybody knows “if mom ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
2. Simplify Your Life
Are the unnecessary things of your life starting to make things too cluttered? Look around and figure out what is weighing you down. Is it too many toys, a dog that your kids begged for (but you are the only one taking care of him), or an overabundance of after school music and dance lessons?
Remember, LESS IS MORE! Who ever said that your kid had to be fluent in Spanish, have all the new-age educational toys, and be a concert pianist all before the age of twelve? Why not try limiting your kids to one or two extracurricular activities?
One more thing: Get rid of the Super-mom Syndrome. Too many unrealistic expectations put on you from your spouse, in-laws, kids, the PTA, or even yourself can weigh anyone down. Whatever it is, get rid of it. If that means talking to someone or mentally changing your perspective, do what it takes. Realize that everyone is human, even Mom. And even though she is just a human, she is definitely still worth loving.
3. Exercise:
This one cannot be emphasized enough. Exercise sends positive endorphins to the brain that help you deal with stress, anxiety, depression, sluggishness, and self-esteem.
You don’t have to join a gym to get your work-out in. Find something you enjoy: walk, bike, run, swim, hike, lift weights, or join an aerobics class. Try something new like Pilates or Yoga. The possibilities are endless and will help you be a happier, healthier person.
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