20 Ways to Manage Stress
Being a student or working parent can be difficult, especially when you have to manage multiple tasks. You give attention to your kids, to your work or studies, and to your house, but you often forget about taking care of yourself and your health. Here are 20 ways to manage the stress of parenting.
Connect with others. Spending quality time with family and friends.
Express your feelings. Letting stress and unresolved issues build up can have major consequences on your overall health. Get in the habit of communicating your feelings, so that you don’t explode or implode.
Accept help. Sometimes we let pride get in the way of accepting help. If you’re the hero in your relationships, allow others the chance to have this role as well. Share the cape!
Value the simple things (cooking, eating with family, board games with friends/family)
Take walks. Fresh air and movement can be very relaxing.
Music. Create a good playlist to get you through the day.
Exercise. The benefits of physical activity are enhanced mood, relaxation, and good health.
Stretch. Our muscles tighten throughout the day, and even more so when we’re stressed out. Stretching loosens your muscles and encourages deep breathing.
Spirituality. Having a spiritual life keeps you grounded and humble…a reminder that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Laughter. Life is a tragic comedy.
Choosing your battles. You can’t take on everything at once and stressors are out of your control. Figure out which problems necessary to deal with, and worth your time and energy.
Create routines. They allow you to feel in control of your life, especially when other things are out of your control
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness will help you get out of your problem focused mind and experience the present moment.
Resolve issues early. Don’t allow problems or tasks to build up and become overwhelming.
Set reasonable expectations. Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself or situations can lead to disappointment, resentment, and low self-esteem…and more stress than necessary.
Creative activities. Find something simple to keep your mind and body occupied at the same time.
Massage. Getting a massage an lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles, and increase the production of endorphines…one of your body’s natural feel good chemicals. It also produces feelings of care, comfort, and connection that we all need.
Rate your stress. Use a scale of 1-10 and assign a number to each stressor, based on the significance of the problem (10 being a catastrophe). You’ll find that some issues are lower on the scale and not congruent to the amount of stress you feel. Prioritize what you choose to deal with at the moment. Sometimes you’ll find that dealing with one problem will naturally remedy another.
Create a mantra. This is a short, clear, and positive affirmation, parable, or quote that reminds you that gets you through the day. Your mantra will challenge your self-critical voice, and remind you that you got this!
Express gratitude. Studies have shown that feeling gratitude has positive effects on brain chemistry and influences stress levels.
