Stress Hacks for Moms: Keeping Your Cool with Back-To-School
How many times did you have to say to your kids, “Don’t lick the dog?” I lost count before the first week of summer was over. If you’re like many moms, including myself, you’re probably over the stress of summer and relieved that back-to-school season is finally here.
Three months of unstructured time is three months too many! But as much as we welcome the return to routine, the transition can be challenging, especially if you’re already tired and overwhelmed from the summer.
This blog goes out to all my moms, bracing themselves for back-to-school season. Amidst the chaos, finding time for self-care is crucial for managing stress and maintaining your sanity! By implementing these stress-hacks into your routine, you can stay cool, calm, and collected.
Deep Breathing
Take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out. Deep breathing or ‘belly breathing’ is an effective way to reduce stress by engaging the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. This meditative process activates your parasympathetic system, signaling the body to relax. The best part about deep breathing? You can do it anytime, anywhere!
Start by sitting comfortably, with your eyes closed. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, then hold your breath for 2 seconds. Exhale slowly through your mouth, and repeat for 5 minutes. It’s that easy!
Grounding
Does it feel like your mind is going a million miles an hour? Grounding is another meditative process which uses the 5 senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) to help you hone in on the present moment. Grounding can be combined with deep breathing to help manage stress and center yourself.
Pick a sense, any sense! Let’s tune into it…
Hearing: Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. What sounds are the loudest? What do you hear in the distance?
Smell: Stop to smell the roses… or your favorite candle, perfume, herb or spice! Inhale slowly and try to note the fragrance’s qualities. Does it smell sweet, citrusy, earthy?
Taste: Chew your food with curiosity; Allow yourself to fully savor the flavor of each bite. Slowly sip your tea or coffee and let your mind ponder on how it tastes.
Touch: Grab the nearest item to you, and examine the texture of it. Focus on what your fingertips are feeling. Does it feel soft or smooth? What characteristics do you notice?
Exercise: The Ultimate Stress Reliever
Regular exercise is crucial for long-term health and stress management! It has been proven to help regulate our hormone, thyroid, and immune function, improve mental and physical health, and reduce the risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and obesity. How do you create a habit of exercise? By making it enjoyable!
Start with something manageable and fun, like going for a daily 30 minute walk, taking a pilates, yoga or spin class with a friend, or following a Just Dance YouTube video. If the gym is your jam, prioritize time to be there! Even small movements like making the bed, cooking dinner, or taking the stairs will compound over time, resulting in a healthier, happier you! When in doubt, move your body to reduce stress!
Prioritizing Self-Care Is Powerful
There’s 1,440 minutes in a day. I promise you, you can set aside 20 just for yourself. Brew a cup of your favorite tea or coffee and spend some time journaling. Apply a face mask and read a chapter of the book you just picked up. Put on a podcast and go for a walk with your fur-babies. Take a nice, candle-lit epsom salt bath, just because you can and should do something nice for yourself!
Whatever you choose to do with your 20 minutes is completely up to you. Just treat yourself with love and compassion, and devote that stress-free time to you… Because you deserve it.
Don’t Stress. You Got This.
You don’t need to wait till the end of the day to incorporate these stress-hacks! As I mentioned above, deep breathing, grounding, moving, and dedicating 20 minutes to yourself can be done anytime and anywhere. The goal is to be mindful and establish simple touch points throughout the day to manage stress and calm your mind and body.
Sometimes you gotta parent yourself, too. Our kids do best with structured routines and positive habits — why not build some for yourself? On top of making sure you eat, hydrate, and go to bed on time, it’s important to make sure you have moments for self-care and are filling your own cup. You got this mamacita!
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