Being a mom can be exhausting even at the best of times and it is not unusual for the kids to become such a focus of attention that parents forget to look after themselves. Everybody will have read at least one article telling them to exercise regularly and eat well but when you’re juggling home life, work life and a distinct lack of sleep, it is hard to find the energy or motivation to really take care of your own wellbeing.
So we have come up with a list of six activities moms should consider to help them relieve the stress of parenthood.
Make time for yourself
This may seem obvious but thousands of moms and dads don’t do it. It can be quite hard to fit a bit of ‘me time’ into your daily schedule but it is important to try. With moms now expected to work as well as be, in many cases, the primary child carer at home it is no wonder that stress levels are going through the roof.
It is even more important, therefore, to get a slot in your daily routine just to relax or do something fun even if it is only for 10 minutes. Make this a priority and make it stick. Once you have it worked into the plan every day, you will soon find that it is much easier to maintain and continue on an ongoing basis.
Laughter is a great cure for stress
Ahmed Mamow on the stage at Late Night Fredag by Tore Saetre (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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The power of laughter is like that of a river in full flow when it comes to making you feel better. Comedy is the cure for all ills and so getting in a regular dose is one great way to make motherhood a whole lot easier and more fun to boot.
Get into the habit of watching your favourite comedy show, make getting to a comedy club a regular thing in your life or, failing that, hang around people you know make you laugh. Having fun in this way will not only lighten your mood but it will rub off on the whole family. Happy wife happy life is an expression not without wisdom.
Sports and exercise
The good thing about living in 2019 is that sports are everywhere and technology is making it things easier for parents to find it. Whether it’s soccer, hockey, jogging or who knows what, there’ll be a team or a group out there – try searching Facebook for your interests and see if you can’t find some people meeting at a time that suits you.
If actually playing sports isn’t quite your thing, you can always get into them as a spectator – still exhilarating and still a break from reality. Betting on sports can add to the excitement and there are plenty or free bet offers out there such as those suggested by Oddschecker, meaning it doesn’t have to cost you vast amounts of money to enjoy this pastime.
Get back to nature
Rainbow in the badlands by Acroterion (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nothing makes you feel more at ease than getting back to nature. This could be going for a quick walk around the local park during your lunch break or perhaps a bit of a trek to the nearest national park. National park visitation figures demonstrate a year on year growth. Taking Theodore Roosevelt National Park as an example, 2018 saw an increase of more than 40,000 visitors on the previous year just highlighting the popularity of green space.
Try and get back to nature as much as you can. You will soon feel the difference and again this is an activity that can be shared with the whole family.
Read a book
The forgotten art of getting absorbed in another world through the storytelling of a great writer is something everyone should reacquaint themselves with. Reading can be a lovely activity to do last thing before bed and will help you unwind after a long day.
So, you see, there are myriad options out there to help relieve the stress of adult life. Carve a little spot in your daily schedule for one or two, and you’ll instantly feel the benefits.