I have to admit, as individual I can get a little stressed out over the tiniest of matters. I am one of those people who could make a mole hill into a mountain within a matter of minutes. I’m a worrier, it’s what I do. The L’s Papa is the same, always thinking about the worst case scenario in order to avoid it, but with those thoughts and feelings you inevitably start to feel a little stressed. It’s natural.
Now that I am a mum I find I get more stressed out on a daily basis. From Baby L not eating his tea, or not sleeping through the night, right down to whether or not I have purchased the right nappies or am I feeding him too many bananas. It’s a crazy minefield this parenting lark.
However children can pick up on this, and my worrying ways are something I don’t want Baby L to ever experience or be in the future. I want him to have confidence in his decisions, to go with the flow and just enjoy life. I have been trying to become a less stress mummy and I thought I would share with you some tips to help you do the same.
1. Take time out for you – In a moment where you are starting to feel a little stressed out take some time out for yourself. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, or a nice drink. Maybe pop the little one in the pushchair and head out for a walk. Something that just takes yourself away from the situation or thoughts and allows you to clear your mind. I highly recommend a hot bath in the evening to wash away the day’s stress. It’s definitely worth it.
2. Communicate – Don’t do what I use to do and bottle things up. It does you no good at all. I communicate with my hubby as often as i can. Even if I think he will think I’m silly for even worrying. Blurting it all out means it gets out of my head and I have someone else’s opinion to help defuse the situation.
3.Positive mindset – If you are thinking negatively then the chances are everything is going to a be a bigger deal than it actually is. Thinking positively can really turn your way of life around. It starts of with a habit of just thinking about one positive a day before you go to sleep, then when you wake up and so on. I write a positive a day down in my “one line a day” book. It really gives me the opportunity to remember the positives and not the negatives that stress me out.
4. Look after yourself – Stress can be one of the biggest factors in someones health and so it goes without saying that if you look after yourself then you are half way there By this I mean eating the right things, not drinking too much alcohol. All the things we know we should be doing but perhaps don’t do all the time.
5. Habits – Finally sometimes just changing one habit out of your day can be the thing that really helps reduce your stress levels. It could be getting up 10 minutes earlier to avoid the stress of the journey to work. It might be going out for a walk with your dog first thing to clear the cobwebs. One habit can make the all the difference to a new and improved less stressful lifestyle.
Stress is a big factor these days for everyone, but sometimes just changing the most simplest of things can have the greatest effects. As it’s national stress awareness month perhaps make one change yourself today.
Thanks for reading
The L’s Mum