17 Expert Tips to Manage Stress While Raising Children
Raising kids is a rewarding journey, but it can also be really stressful. Balancing their needs with everything else can sometimes feel too draining, but there are ways to manage it without getting stressed out. Simple things, like taking some time for yourself and asking for support from others when needed, can make a huge difference. Want to handle parenting stress better? Here are expert tips to help you out.
10-Min Tidy Up
The space around us has a massive influence on the way we act and feel. This is why a messy house is often synonymous with a messy mind. The solution? Spend ten minutes a day every day tidying up. Involve your whole family for extra productivity. You’ll be surprised to see how much you can do in ten minutes.
Create A Daily Routine
Creating a daily routine can help you and your children know what to expect. Make a schedule with times so they know their duties, playtime, and any other things to do throughout the day. A schedule can help make everyone organized and reduce stress.
Divide Responsibilities
Don’t try to do it all by yourself. Delegate tasks to everyone at home, including your partner and kids. If possible, hire help. Sharing responsibilities will ease your load and teach your kids essential life skills. Dividing tasks will also give you plenty of time to relax and unwind.
Ask For Help
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of strength. If your parents live close by, ask them to babysit occasionally. They will probably be thrilled to look after their grandchildren. If this is not an option, invite your friends or coworkers, promising you will return the favor.
Plan And Organize
Planning and organizing are crucial to leading a stress-free life. From meal prep to to-do lists, having a structured life will help you manage your anxiety. Ensure you have an agenda where you write all your meetings and children’s activities so you won’t have to remember everything by heart, filling your head with useless information.
Prioritize Self-Care
You cannot be a good mother unless you start caring for yourself. Self-care is non-negotiable. Whether you want a boiling-hot bath, a few hours away from anyone in your favorite café, or a walk in nature with nobody around, remember these habits are not selfish. They are a necessity.
Do Less
Another great tip for being less stressful is to do less! If you can never finish your to-do list, you probably have too many tasks; ask your spouse to help or delete some chores from your to-do list. There’s surely something that can wait.
Prioritize Your Relationship With Your Spouse
It may seem contradictory initially, but prioritizing your relationship with your spouse makes you a better parent. Why? Going out on dates and nourishing your love relationship will decrease your stress levels while bringing more joy to your life. Your kids will surely benefit from this while also learning that they are not the center of the universe.
After School Balance
How many activities are your children attending after school? Violin classes, football lessons, mathematics tutoring… Is it too much? While, on the one hand, these activities keep your kids entertained, giving you extra time for other chores, they can also be time-consuming for you based on where they take place and for how long. Figure out whether your kid should give up some of these.
Say No
Saying ‘no’ is fundamental when feeling stressed. People-pleasers may have a hard time declining invitations, but once you learn how to do it, you will suddenly have plenty of time at your disposal. If you truly can’t say no, try proposing alternatives. For instance, you may still help your friends move out of their apartment, but you can suggest helping for one hour instead of the whole afternoon.
Figure Out What Stresses You
Are you aware of what causes you stress? For some people, it may be the idea of being late, and for others, it may be a lack of structure in their lives. Understanding what triggers stress is crucial to eliminating this negative feeling from your life. Once you’ve figured it out, communicate this to your partner so he can avoid all behaviors that bring you stress.
Journal
Sometimes, writing down what’s going on can bring plenty of clarity. It may seem silly to those who have never tried it, but journaling has an incredible therapeutic effect, like venting with friends.
Prioritize Sleep
Another common cause of stress is sleep deprivation. The solution? Go to bed early! Send your kids to bed early in the evening and enjoy an hour of solo time to let go of all the stress accumulated throughout the day. Make sure to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day to feel well-rested.
Music
Lastly, music can have plenty of benefits for your mental well-being. Sometimes, relaxing pieces like smooth jazz, piano music, or a lo-fi playlist can instantly calm you down, helping you stop running around like a headless chicken and pushing you to focus on the present.
Take a Break from Technology
All those notifications and endless screen time can really add to your stress. Try setting aside some time each day to unplug—whether it’s during meals while hanging out with your family, or before bed. Stepping away from your devices lets you be more present, refresh your mind, and connect more deeply with the people around you.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to eliminate unnecessary stress from your life. Even a quick 15-minute session in the morning can make a massive difference, affecting the rest of your day. If you are new to this practice, check out a few meditation videos on YouTube to get started and see whether they suit you.
Learn To Control Your Emotions
As silly as it sounds, sometimes you are stressed because you are convincing yourself you are. Okay, let us explain. Whenever you feel stressed, take a second and ask yourself why it is happening? What is bothering you so much unnecessarily? Finding the answer may help you calm down.
You can then take a few extra minutes to analyze your situation. Is there a good reason why I’m feeling this way? Can I do anything right now to improve my feelings? These simple questions may help you embrace objectivity and release your negative emotions.
More For You
Did you find these tips helpful? Hopefully, they will help you release stress and finally get well-deserved peace of mind. Here is an extra tip: Spend five minutes every morning taking care of your skin. This simple act of self-love will help you start your day in the best way.
This article was first published on the RB ITALIA Blog.
