Stress Relief for Busy Parents

Today we wanted to talk about stress relief for busy parents.  This is an ever growing challenge so many parents face due to juggling so much between work, keeping a home, and caring for children.

It’s easy to see how so many parents become stressed so easily.  When you feel your stress level rise from zero to what feels like one hundred in a matter of minutes.  Do you you feel the tasks amounting and your children screaming for one thing or another? When you like you’re just running in place and the less you accomplish the more stressed you become. 

If this sounds like you, don’t worry we’ve all been there.  Despite you hearing “there’s light at the end of the tunnel” and not believing this statement….it really is true.  Just keep in mind that “this too shall pass.”  Despite how important this moment seems, it will be over soon.  Just remember to take lots of deep breaths and even cry if you need to now and again.  You don’t have to be superwoman or superman every moment of the day.  Every now and then you might just even need to hang your cape up so you can take a little break.

Our Tips on Stress Relief for Busy Parents

1. Let go of perfection.  The house doesn’t have to be spotless.  There can be dishes in the sink or laundry waiting to be washed.  Just start some tidying routines to help you isolate what things are difficult for you to complete.  Then you can get creative and figure out how you can accomplish those tasks too.  But for now just let go of the perfection. Your life, your children, you, and your home do not have to be perfect.
2. Plan ahead as much as you can.  Make sure to add all your appointments to your calendar as soon as you schedule them.  Pack lunches the night before.  Pick clothes out for you and the kids the night before.  All of these things will help your mornings be a little less stressful.   
3. Batch cook on the weekends or your days off.  Prepare a couple of main dishes that you can reheat for dinners or lunches throughout the week.  That way you are having to cook a lot less and will have healthy meals ready to eat instead of making convenient or unhealthy foods.
4. Go to bed as early as you can.  As soon as your children are in bed.  You should get to bed too.  For some it might not seem like much of difference but even 15 minutes can help you feel that much more rested the next day.
5. Take rests or naps if you are able.  On the weekends or your days off try to rest.  If you are extra tired then try to take a nap.  Just the same as going to bed early, taking a little rest will help and give you the energy to push through when you’re really feeling defeated.
6. Drink more water and less caffeine or alcohol.  Make sure you drink your recommended daily water serving and stay hydrated.  While it may seem appealing to drink a caffeinated drink or have an alcoholic beverage it will provide short-lived relief. Do not turn to these things to give you energy or relief stress. Instead find healthier alternatives to both give you energy and ease your stress.
7. Eat healthy.  This means eating regular meals and snacks throughout the day.  Pack a lunch so that you aren’t tempted to either skip lunch or grab something unhealthy.  Try to make healthy choices and plan ahead so that you can maintain a healthy diet despite your hectic schedule.
8. Take care of yourself.  We know this is easier said than done but remember if you don’t take care of you then you won’t be able to take care of your children.  So that you can put your best foot forward, make sure that you are taking care of you first.

Another thing to keep in mind is not to forget to ask for help.  Whether you have close family or friends nearby.  If not, then what other support networks do you have around you that you can lean on when life gets hectic.  When you’re so stressed that you don’t feel you have time to breathe, that’s when you need to ask for help.  You might even need to see your doctor if your stress level gets to the point that it’s unmanageable.  Just know you’re not alone and it’s okay to ask for help.

We’d love to hear what you think about this post. What do you do to manage stress when life gets crazy?  What has worked well for you?  Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for visiting Sunup to Sundown! We’ll be back soon with another recipe or update regarding our garden or our journey to become more self-reliant. Please subscribe, like or share this post with others who could benefit from it.