Stress Relievers For Mom
September 4, 2007
We’ve all read that too much of the wrong kind of stress can lead to or make certain health conditions worse. We Moms are no stranger to stress! The good news is that there are daily disciplines you can use that will alleviate some of the every day stress. Here are a few that I like:
* Meditation/Quiet Time/Prayer. Whatever this looks like for you and your belief system, getting quiet and tapping into something calmer and bigger than you can do wonders to help you rise above the storm of daily life. Try to use a space or a room in your home that is quiet and void of distractions (easier said than done when you’re a Mom! My time is late at night when the kiddos are sleeping).
* Exercise. Any form of exercise will release endorphins in your brain and alleviate any ongoing stress. Stretching and stuff like Pilates can relieve stress and help with chronic pain too. Especially effective is:
* Walking. 20 minutes of walking can make your problems seem smaller. This month’s Body and Soul magazine had a great article about walking for inspiration and stress relief. The human body was designed to walk. We’re healthiest and feel best when we’re walking. You can literally work off the excess stress but also feel more relaxed after a brisk walk. I find walking a necessity when dealing with kids. Instead of yelling, I walk.
* Writing. Another way to get rid of whatever is causing the stress is to keep a daily journal. Write down your thoughts and feelings and see if you notice patterns (eating and your cycle can affect your mood too). It is deeply cathartic to write. But don’t just write when you’re angry or stressed. Force yourself to write when you’re happy and grateful too! Lately I’ve been writing down funny things the kids say and do that I want to remember. You could start a mom blog to journal your feelings too! And if you’re really mad at someone, write a nice-ty letter. And then throw it away. 
* Music. Music does calm the savage breast. Of course, Chris Martin does it for me as I’ve said a hundred times here. (I wonder if he sings Gwinnie-Pooh to sleep? Sigh.)
* Dancing. This is another stress reliever that you and the kids can do together to have fun and laugh. Put on your favorite CDs from the 80s (Cyndi Lauper!) or 90s (shoegazer bands and ska!) and dance away. The kids will think you’re nuts, but they’ll love it.
* Tea. Sometimes I sit down with a pot of Roobios tea. Herbal and even black tea has properties will calm and soothe and it does reduce stress levels. A little dark chocolate with it never hurt either. 
What about you? What do you do to relieve stress and burnout? And can anyone tell me why my pictures are so tiny on this blog?
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Hey, don’t be so biased, Carrie. These tips are good for dads too! Exercise works for me really well. If you drag yourself to exercise, check this out:
One thing to add: read a good book.
Great article Abel! I like your tip on making exercise fun. I would like to figure out a way to incorporate exercise into my daily life instead of going to the gym. While going there is a nice getaway from kid responsibilities, it’s hard to find child care so I don’t do it as much as I would like to.
I am trying to move into an area where I can walk places instead of taking my car. It’s not possible here.