Motherhood can be a stressful experience for many women, and it’s important to find ways to relieve stress.
I’ve collected 9 of my best mama tips that I rely on daily to help you relieve stress as the brilliant and capable mama you are.
I hope these ideas give you a few more tools to combat the stress that knocks on your door daily, and, of course, that you ACTUALLY put aside some time to de-stress. Yep, even our destressing needs scheduled these days!
Read on for 9 easy to implement stress relievers –
1. Find a place to get away from the world
Find a place to get away from the world so that you can have some time for yourself. This can be something like going to the library, getting in your car and driving someplace or just sitting on your porch with your favorite beverage — and maybe without your phone? — for a time.
2. Make sure you have some free time at least every other week for yourself
I know, I know. You’re asking “what free time?” For me, this looks like booking an hour and a half at a nail salon with me myself and I alone so that I can enjoy a glass of wine, the massage chair, read a few chapters of a favorite book, and walk out with some flashy new toenails.
It makes me feel good, refreshed, smiley, and pretty. This means when I go back to my husband and our baby, I’m in a good mood.
Things like taking a shower or running to the grocery store alone are not considered self-care! Those are basic hygeine and daily necessities (and don’t let your partner tell you otherwise!).
3. Get plenty of sleep and eat healthy food
This includes making sure that you wake up and go to bed at the same time every day. It’s important to make sure that you get the 7 to 9 hours of sleep you need and try not to be too late at night if it means getting less than that. Yes, this is impossible with a newborn, but once Baby is sleeping through the night — you know you can get that beauty sleep!
The same goes for food – make sure you’re eating healthy foods, staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water! Snack when you can, keep your water bottle handy, and think about setting a good example for that little one who is learning everything from you.
That’s not to say you can’t indulge! This mama needs her dark chocolate and occasional weekend donut.
4. Try not to multitask or take on too much
As a mom, your day will seem to be longer than it actually is. By only doing one thing at a time, you maximize the amount of time you have. If you’re cooking dinner, enjoy cooking dinner! Don’t feel like you need to be cleaning something while the oven pre-heats, or changing the laundry, or responding to emails.
Don’t take on too much either. As I’m sure you know, being a mom can feel like there’s never enough time in the day for all of your obligations – but remember that it’s okay to say “no” or “not right now.”
5. Practice gratitude for what you have in life
In a recent podcast episode, mama and entrepreneur Jasmine star said that “overwhelm is the abundance of everything you’ve asked for.”
I wanted to argue with her, but as I thought about it more I realized she was exactly right.
I’m often overwhelmed by everything I feel like I need to get done and worry that Glen isn’t getting the best from me at all times.
Turns out, I’m overwhelmed by exactly what I was praying for all these years of miscarriage and waiting: wanting to spend all the time with my baby, wanting to give my best to a job that I love, wanting to have a clean home of my own with a dinner that I had enjoyed making for my family. And yet, here I was struggling to enjoy all of these things now that I had them all at once.
Instead of being overwhelmed with stress, I needed to shift my thinking to being overwhelmed with gratitude. To focus on the blessings that come with this journey, even if it seems like an unending struggle right now.
You may find that cultivating gratitude on a daily basis will help relieve your concern about what others think and give you focus back on what really matters: your family.
6. Stay connected with friends and family members who love you unconditionally
It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have or worry about not doing enough for your child, but having people around who truly care about you and want to hear your stories will help relieve some of that stress.
Another thing that you can do to reduce stress is to stay connected with friends and family members who love you unconditionally. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remind yourself that there are people out there who care for you. When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, reach out to these people for emotional support. And when you’re feeling good, try to be in touch with them!
Families are often at the center of our lives. They are what surround us in the wake of difficulties and who we turn to when we’re happy or in need of help. However, it can be difficult to keep up with family all the time, especially if you don’t live nearby or haven’t been close for a long time. But staying connected can help relieve stress and make your life better in general.
7. Get into a routine
Some babies are go-with-the-flower babies. Others are very much the opposite. Having a daily routine with your baby provides some much-needed stability and structure in a day where a lot can happen.
We start every morning with the same song, feeding in the same place, and then going for a walk before the Texas heat makes it impossible. And every night we have the same bedtime routine: bathtime, pajamas, bottle, cuddles, reading, and in the crib by 8 PM.
Structure doesn’t mean no fun! Play together, sing and read stories, go on field trips to the park or grocery store. Every hour of the day doesn’t need to be scripted (unless that’s what works best for your baby and your sanity!).
8. Have a hobby you're passionate about, and give yourself moments to indulge
I LOVE to dance. So every other Tuesdsay, I invest in salsa and bachata lessons at a local studio. It’s a long-ish drive and requires my husband to put Baby G to bed, but it puts a smile on my face, fills a social need, and keeps me sorta in shape. So we’ve decided together to make it a priority that I can get to dance lessons at least twice a month.
For you it might be baking, or painting, or swimming. If it helps to fill your happiness bucket, it’s a hobby worth pursuing.
9. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself for the outcome of an event.
Phew! Cheers to true self-care and destressing like the amazing and worthy mama you are!
The post has a lot of great advice for reducing the stress that comes with motherhood (just over here tooting my own horn a bit). I hope you find it helpful! Or did I miss a motherhood hack that you found useful?
Leave me a comment and tell me which strategy you plan on implementing!
