Using Self-Care to Combat Stress
It’s no surprise to anyone that moms today are under a lot of stress. A once-in-a-century pandemic, economic troubles, and managing the normal demands related to raising kids are all overwhelming for moms. It is no wonder that over half of Americans say they are stressed on a regular basis. There are so many things to think about and juggle day to day and it can start to feel like it’s too much to handle.
While it’s normal to feel some stress related to various things happening in your environment, there is a limit where too much stress can be a bad thing. Too much stress can lead to a lack of sleep, irritability, and less overall joy. Stressed moms tend to struggle with being able to pay attention and focus on sometimes simple tasks. Simply put, stress can cause your life to be harder than it should be.
If you want to ward off the negative effects of a stressful lifestyle, self-care can be your best line of defense. Self-care, which includes a mindful, healthy break from the demands of the world for a few moments or hours, can go a long way towards warding off the side effects of stress.
Here are some ideas for moms looking to up their self-care game:
Think relationship self-care. Carve out some special time to be fully present with someone you love. Pay careful attention to everything going on during this time. Embrace the closeness and enjoy being present in the moment with this person.
Think mind and body self-care. Focus on adding healthy things into your life rather than taking away or restricting things. Examples of this are taking a mindful walk in the evening or having a salad for lunch a few times a week.
Think relaxation self-care. Yoga, time in nature, a bubble bath, anything to dial down the physical effects of today's stress. This should be something that can allow you to clear your mind.
Think fun self-care. It may seem counterintuitive to relieve stress without dialing things down, but planning a fun activity is sometimes just what is needed. Try a new sport, take a cooking class, or visit an attraction you enjoy.
Oftentimes we can’t avoid the stress that comes with being an adult and a mom. But if we learn how to cope with it and add in some self-care to combat those negative side effects, we will be on our way to feeling better each day. It can feel overwhelming to add in one more thing to do, but self-care is so very important. Check out our SELF-CARE FREEBIE for more ideas on how to make self-care a priority and keep stress at bay.
