Being a parent is difficult, and if you’re also working at a job outside the home, it can be downright stressful. Fortunately, there are many ways to find stress relief as a working mom, but if you haven’t found anything that works for you yet, keep looking and try some of these stress-reducing ideas.
Ask for Help
We all want to seem like we’re supermoms and can do everything ourselves but sometimes we need to take a 3chi gummy and enjoy a bit of r&r downtime. In fact, thinking that we can, or should be able to, do it all by ourselves can be extremely damaging, especially if it causes significant stress.
It’s easy to tell you to ask for help, but it’s much harder to actually do it. In most cases, family members and neighbors are more than willing to help you out if they’re aware that you can use a hand, but that’s the catch. Most people are caught up in their own lives and don’t always notice when someone needs help. You’ll need to ask for it, but you’re bound to be able to remove some of your load from your shoulders when you do.
Hire Help
If you don’t want to ask for help from your friends and family, you can always hire help. There are plenty of people willing to clean your house, cook your food, watch your children, or tidy up the lawn for a fee, and if you’re overly stressed, it could be some of the best money you’ve ever spent. Ask for recommendations from people who know who are already using these services and check out their reputations online before you hire anyone. Removing some of your chores from your plate can free you up to spend more time with your kids and is a great stress reliever.
Get (or Just Pet) a Dog
There’s plenty of scientific evidence available that shows how having a pet can lower your stress levels. In fact, just petting a dog (and to a lesser extent, a cat) reduces blood pressure, slows the heart rate, and makes you feel calmer overall. Of course, you shouldn’t get a pet if the responsibility of taking care of it is only going to add to your stress, but visiting someone with a dog or taking a trip to the animal shelter can do wonders to lower your stress.
Set Boundaries
This is another tip that’s easier said than done, but to really keep your stress levels from soaring, you need to keep your work at work and be a mom at home. Talk to your boss about the time you need away from the office so that you can be the best employee you can be and explain that you’ll be unavailable during your non-working hours. If it isn’t totally possible to be entirely away from your office, designate at least a couple of hours each night where you’ll be 100% present with your family. This will give you time to recharge your batteries.
Step Away From Electronics
In addition to leaving work at work, you should also try to disconnect from all electronics when you’re at home. This includes your phone, the television, and the computer. While this may not always be possible, limiting yourself from media consumption for a few hours each day can make you feel lighter because you’re not weighed down with the troubles of the world. Even social media can be stressful, so set a time when you’ll be online and stick to a limit, no matter what.
Conclusion
Getting a break when you’re a working mom may seem next to impossible, but if you plan ahead and set some limits, you’ll be able to better control your stress levels. You deserve to be more relaxed, and your kids will be better off as well.
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