Effective Ways To Cope With Mum Stress

This is a collaborative post

No matter how much you love being a mother, all parents know that it can be stressful. Parenting is busy, and you’re often just doing the best you can without being sure if you’re doing the right thing. Managing your own stress levels can help you to have a more positive relationship with your children, so taking care of yourself is best for the family too. This can be easier said than done, however, if you’re juggling work and parenting, as well as the external pressures we all face. 

1. Learn the signs of stress. In stressful situations, you might notice your blood pressure rising or your heart rate going up. Your chest might pound or you might feel dizzy. Take notice of what they are when you feel these physical symptoms of stress, as these signs are your body trying to tell you something. 
2. Identify the most stressful times of day for your family. What are the stress triggers in the day? Is it trying to get everyone ready for school, for example, or is it trying to get dinner on the table? A lack of planning can cause stress, and we then pass this stress onto our kids. Get organised and plan ahead so you’re prepared for these stressful times. For example, set out school uniforms the night before, or choose easy to prep dinner options. 
3. Take a break and decompress. Sometimes we all need a break, and this is okay. Don’t feel guilty if you need to take five or ten minutes on your own, as long as your kids are safe. Try breathing techniques, progressive relaxation, meditation, or prayer. These work to relax you and give you the tools to cope with stress. You can teach these tricks to older children too. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep too. Try the same techniques to learn how to sleep better. 
4. Exercise as a family. Choose something that you all enjoy doing, or perhaps let the family take turns in choosing a physical activity to do together. This could be walking, swimming, cycling, or playing a sport. Exercise helps everyone to cope with stress and builds healthy habits for your children. 
5. Find a good support group. This could be your friends or other mothers that are in similar situations to you. You could choose older women who have been through it before and can offer some perspective and advice to you. You could also look for a formal support group for mothers. Whoever you choose, make your support network a group of people that you feel comfortable with, so you can share your feelings and get constructive feedback in return. 
6. Take time to laugh. When was the last time you really laughed with your kids? Use humour to diffuse stressful situations. A lot of tension is held in our faces, and a good laugh can help to release that and help you to forget about the things you were worrying about before. Children are funny, so take the time to laugh together and enjoy each other’s company. 
7. Accept help when it’s offered. You can’t be Mum all the time. Sometimes you need time off to do things alone, with your friends, or your partner. If help is offered, take it. Whether your parents offer to babysit so you can have a date night, or your husband suggests he take charge for the day so you can have lunch with a friend, take the offer. 

As a mother, you have a lot to balance, including housework, work, caring for kids, and helping with homework. All these demands can be overwhelming and it can be easy to only focus on the things you have to do every day. However, if you’re better able to manage your stress levels, you can keep the perspective on what is actually important. You’ll be better able to spend more quality time with your kids and make happy memories as a family. 

Taking care of yourself makes you a better parent, so remember that there should be no mum-guilt attached to focusing on yourself occasionally. The other advantage of learning to handle stress is that you’ll also be setting a good example to your children. Good mental health practices can be taught to children from a young age, and seeing you take the time to care for yourself is a great way for them to learn. Normalise taking time out to unwind, and discussing feelings in your household. Everyone in the family will benefit from emotional honesty and learning to put themselves first, at least some of the time.