If you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve had one of those days: the kids are misbehaving, the laundry pile is an overwhelming mountain and you’re trying to keep it all together without losing your mind. Or perhaps you’ve had a whole week of sleepless nights or chaotic school runs and you’re now at breaking point? While parenting certainly has its rewarding moments, it also comes with a fair amount of stress. Learning how to deal with this stress is important for preventing burnout, as well as preventing many other health issues.
But just what is the best way to handle this stress? While there are many effective ways to calm oneself down, they are not all healthy or productive in the long run. This post takes a look at some of the stress relief methods to avoid as a parent and some of the better suited stress management solutions.
The worst ways to destress as a parent
Alcohol or drugs
De-stressing with a pint of beer or a glass (or bottle) of wine is one of the most common ways that mums destress. But it’s often not the healthiest. Relying on alcohol to destress can make you dependent on it. If you’re drinking loads every night, you could also end up with hangovers that add to the exhaustion, while also putting yourself at risk of developing long-term negative health effects. Relying on drugs can be just as bad – with certain hard drugs posing even greater dangers. Know when to get professional addiction support if you have already developed a dependency.
Comfort eating
Some parents snack on food to de-stress. This may not be unhealthy if you’re sticking to healthy foods like fruit and nuts. But if you’re regularly indulging in chocolate bars, packets of crisps or tubs of ice cream to get through the day, it’s going to have negative effects in the long run. Stop relying on comfort eating before you start to see noticeable weight gain. If it’s too late for that and you’re struggling to beat the cravings, consider looking into support groups or using weight loss apps, while exploring different healthy snacks.
Lashing out others
Stress can cause many of us to become snappy. However, taking out your anger on others only leads to breakdowns in relationships, which will add to the stress. It’s particularly important to not take your anger out on your kids, but you also shouldn’t lash out at your partner or colleagues or friends. Bite your tongue and explore other ways to let out that stress.
Bottling it up and powering through
One of the worst ways to deal with stress is avoidance. Trying to bottle it all up will lead to deep feelings of hopelessness and will likely end in burnout. There may be times when you need to power through, but eventually you will need a release – don’t keep telling everyone you’re fine, as you won’t be able to hide it forever.
The best ways to destress as a parent
Hobbies and interests
Being able to immerse yourself in hobbies and interests at the end of a long day is important for maintaining a sense of self. You are more than a parent! Think about what brings you joy. This could be anything from knitting to practising a musical instrument to playing tennis to bingeing movies. Some hobbies and interests may require arranging childcare or encouraging a partner to take over. You deserve this time away to practise your hobbies. Just make sure to schedule this hobby time in – this will not only ensure that you can get childcare but will give you something to look forward to.
Exercise
Exercise is a popular source of stress relief for many people that can release endorphins and make us feel better about ourselves. This could include anything from a morning jog to an at-home HIIT session. As with hobbies and interests, workouts may require arranging childcare. If you know that exercise will help you destress, don’t be afraid to schedule workouts and get someone to look after the kids – even 20 minutes is better than nothing. Going to the gym may be harder, although there are some gyms that have creches.
Meditation
Meditation is a stress relief method that you can try at almost any time. You only need 5 minutes – ideally alone (escape to the bathroom if you need to). Close your eyes, breathe in and out slowly and try to focus on the bigger picture. This can help you to get rid of any negative feelings, while also helping you to reduce your heart rate and blood pressure. Longer meditative activities may also be possible to enjoy at the end of the day when the kids are in bed. This could include having a long relaxing bath or listening to music.
Socialising with supportive friends
Socialising with people that care about you is another great way to relieve stress. We all need people that we can vent to. Plan to meet up with friends or simply talk over the phone. In-person meetups are typically better – this could include meeting out somewhere, getting them to meet at your place or meeting at their home. In some cases, you may be able to take the kids, however it’s also important to occasionally have kid-free evenings or days out with friends.
Know when to look beyond self-medication
Sometimes we all need extra support when dealing with stress. While friends and family may be able to help, not all of us have a strong support network, or may feel that there are certain things we cannot easily talk about. Seeking out a therapist could help you to vent more freely. Alternatively, it could be a chance to learn stress relief techniques or solve relationship issues you may be having with your kids or partner. There is also medication that you can have prescribed for anxiety and depression if you feel that you are really mentally struggling, however a professional will need to assess you first and determine whether you truly need these meds.
Comments are closed.