Motherhood is a roller-coaster combination of joy and stress. Add in the responsibilities of a job and the stress level increases even more. Now lump in summer and working from home (yikes!) and I find it hard to fit in all of the things I need to do for me, much less relax and recharge for my own well-being.
Finding ways to take control of your schedule and reduce the amount of chaos and stress in your day is important. These stress-relief tips for working moms (whether from home or in an office) can be your saving grace.
Stress-relief tips:
Put Yourself on the Priority List
Between work, kids and household chores, we often don’t make time to relax and unwind. (Guilty as charged!) Make sure that time for self-care is on your to-do list and is a high priority.Whether you get up a little earlier in the morning and enjoy some quiet time with a cup of coffee, schedule a weekly massage on your lunch break, or set a hard stop on your daily to-do list, if you put it on your list, you’re more likely to do it.
Take Shortcuts When Necessary
There is no shame in the take-out game. Go ahead and pick up Chinese on the way home on a busy day. Run through the drive-thru after practice occasionally. Store-bought cupcakes for the class party are just as delicious. Give gift cards instead of spending hours shopping for the perfect present for the next kiddo birthday party. Sure, you can do extra when there’s time in your schedule, but when you’re busy and stressed, simple options will keep everyone happy and take the pressure off of you.
Unplug and Disconnect
Being constantly connected to work can create a ton of unnecessary stress. Unless you are in a critical, on-call situation, have an end time to your day and stop reading and responding to work emails. If you can’t resist the temptation to peek, silence your phone or turn it off completely. Setting boundaries is one of the most important stress busters for working moms that will help control the work stress you may feel during off-hours.
READ: Take care of your mental health
Sit Down for Meals
It can be tempting to multitask while you’re eating lunch or dinner, but the constant feeling that you must be doing something productive can create more stress. Though there may occasionally be dire circumstances, make working meals the exception to the rule. Instead, sit down with your family and chat over dinner, hit a restaurant with a friend or coworker, or take a book and enjoy your lunch on a bench in the sunshine.
Plan an Unplanned Day
You aren’t the only one feeling the stress of your busy schedule. Do yourself and your family a favor and set aside a day now and then that is completely unstructured and unscheduled. Don’t clean the house, skip out on activities, and serve simple meals that require little prep. A completely stress-free day can help the whole family relax and recharge for all of the important tasks and activities ahead.
Though stress is almost always going to be a part of parenthood, finding stress-relief tips to reduce the effects and have peaceful time with no pressure is important to a mom’s mental and physical health. By finding stress busters that fit your needs, you’ll be so much happier and so will your family.
*Do you find yourself overwhelmed with work or family? Are you not giving yourself even 20% of your day? Come on over to my new site, Take Back Me, and get back to YOU!
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