Mamas, did you know that stress affects the way we build our relationships with our children? Our ability to manage stress translates into how we deal with our families, so it’s important to take good care of ourselves and effectively manage our stress.
You might be thinking – that’s so much easier said than done! It’s true. Most of us are working moms that are extremely busy juggling so many things. Add worrying about our children, our spouses, and the rest of the family on our plates, and we’re left with countless pressures every single day.
But despite all the worries, there are ways in which we can manage our stress better. These strategies are backed by studies, and are some things you can try to incorporate into your daily life. Here they are:
1.) Identify your stressors in life
What makes you feel angry, irritable, or worried, mama? Identifying what causes you stress is the very first step in dealing with them. Once you’ve figured them out and listed them down, take steps to reduce or avoid these stressors.
2.) Take note of the physical signs of stress you experience
When experiencing your life stressors, you might experience physical signs of stress. These can include a rapid heartbeat, a headache, nausea, and more, and can be different for each person. Taking note of these physical signs of stress early on can help you figure out what to do next. You can choose to take a walk or exercise, do relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, or use it as a signal to take a break and do something you love.
3.) Take a break and treat yourself
When in stressful situations, it’s important to try and take yourself out of it as quickly as you can. Even on days when you feel you’re unable to escape your stressor, it’s important to at least take a break. Pause, take deep breaths, and use a couple of minutes to yourself just to feel better. If you can, take a longer break and treat yourself to something you’d enjoy, like a nice meal, or a massage.
4.) Talk to your support group
Talk to your support group to calm your worries. Whether it’s through talking on the phone, exchanging a couple of messages, or meeting up for a cup of coffee, your support group is there to cheer you on and help you through these difficult situations.
5.) Don’t take life too seriously – laugh with your family
Sometimes, we don’t realize that the cure to a stressful situation is a good laugh. Shake off your tenseness and laugh with your family, whether that’s through exchanging stories, watching a movie, or exchanging jokes. Whatever it is you choose to do with them, the key is not to take life too seriously!
When you’re able to do these five things, dealing with stress as a new mama will definitely become easier for you. At the end of the day, what’s important is you take good care of yourself, so that you can take care of your family the best way you can, too.
Remember, mama: you can’t fill from an empty cup. So go ahead and do what you need to do to destress, don’t forget to ask for help, and always take care of yourself so that everything else follows.
