Everyone will always tell you that whilst being a parent is stressful, it is so rewarding that you can live with it, something I fervently disagree with. Yes, being a parent is stressful and yes, the rewards far outweigh the problems but that doesn’t mean that you should simply accept being stressed out, on the contrary in fact.
The world is a stressful place and everyone needs to deal with this stress in some way, and being a parent is no different. And so, if you are a parent and want to alleviate the stress, here are some ways in which you can do it.
Meditation
Meditation is a great tool because with just 10 or 15 minutes each day, you can considerably reduce your stress levels. The key to mediation is to sit down somewhere quiet in a comfortable position, spend the next 10 or 15 minutes trying to clear your mind as you take a series of deep breaths. Don’t worry if you can’t get into it right away, most people can’t but if you stick with it then within a week you will be switching off, zoning out and calming yourself down.
Sharing is Caring
If you are the only parent who feels the stress because of the amount of time which you have with your kids then it is time to speak to your partner about sharing the load. Even just being without the kids for a couple of hours each week can do wonders for your stress levels.
Exercise
Exercise is not just awesome in terms of keeping yourself in shape, it can also be a wonderful stress management tool. Now, as a parent you may not be able to dedicate an hour per day to exercising but making 30 minutes every 2 days to do a fitness video or go for a run, can really help to bring your stress levels down.
Sleep
Being able to sleep as a parent is very difficult, not only are you always busy looking after the kids, but even when they are in bed, the worrying is enough to keep you awake. Sleep however, is vital in terms of keeping your stress levels down and if you can get into a nightly routine of sleeping at least 7 hours, you will be doing yourself a great favor.
Positivity
People will say that laughter is the best medicine and they are really on the money with this. The key to your happiness and your levels of stress, are a positive attitude. It can be easy to get wound up when things don;t go to plan but if you can approach them with a positive mindset and the kind of attitude which can shrug off issues, you will be far less stressed. We can all change our character if we want and if you are not a naturally positive person, you can become one, with just a little bit of effort on your part.
Parenting isn’t easy but you can take measures to reduce how stressful it is.