Managing Stress as a Busy Mom — A Few Tips

You probably have certain situations too, that incite stress. Grocery shopping with all of my kids in tow sent my blood pressure flying high before we even left for the store. I’d be irritable all day simply because grocery shopping with the kids was on the to-do list.

Knowing when and how stress creeps in, we can take steps to get ahead of it. Plan ahead for the busy morning by getting things done the night before. Meal plan. Carpool. Implement a bedtime routine. For me, grocery shopping had to happen when I could leave the kids at home with dad. It doesn’t mean you’ll never experience stress, but it’ll certainly make it manageable!

Take a Break

If you’re the type of mom who is constantly at your kids’ beck and call, let me give you some advice: take a break! Yes, you want to show your children how much you love them by always being there for them, but an overwhelmed and stressed out mom has very little to give. And kids notice that. They’ll eventually grow to appreciate the fact that you hid away in the closet with a candy bar in lieu of losing all your cool and taking it out on them.

When you give yourself a mommy time-out, you’re being an example to your kids. They’re seeing you choose to walk away and cool off and come back calm and in a better frame of mind. You’re giving them permission to do the same, inside the home and out in the world.

Stay Connected

Is there really time for a mom to build relationships with humans that aren’t our children? If not, something’s gotta change. We are relational beings, and to be healthy moms we need to have relationships. We need girls weekends. We need date nights. We need long phone calls with a bestie. We need coffee with a mentor. We need alone time with our significant other. We need people in our lives who don’t call us “mom.”

Schedule regular opportunities to connect with your grown-up friends. The stress of finding a babysitter will pale in comparison to the refreshment you’ll feel after spending time with your favorite adults. If you don’t feel refreshed and instead it leads to more stress, you may need to make some new connections and let go of the old. Whatever the case, connection will go a long way in easing stress.

Get Help

As much as we’d all like to be able to manage all the things all the time, we simply can’t. There are probably plenty of things that we as moms could let go of to reduce stress. What could you say no to so you can be the best mom you can be? Once you let those things go, evaluate what areas you could use some extra help.

Could you make room in the budget to hire someone to clean your house once in awhile? How about a lawn service? Or a regular babysitter? Help doesn’t have to cost money. Enlist your neighbor, your church small group, your own mom to pitch in here and there. There’s absolutely no shame in getting much needed help. On the contrary, it’s doing what’s best for your family.

Prioritize Yourself

Being a mom is a beautiful and rewarding calling, but it can’t be done well if we’re not taking care of ourselves. By taking care of yourself, you’re better able to take care of your family, and that’s the ultimate goal, right? Get some sleep. Eat healthy. Exercise. Enjoy some regular downtime. Manage that stress. You deserve it just as much as your family deserves a happy and healthy mom!

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Also read Why You Should Simplify Your Life and Tips for Making it Happen 

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