Are you a working mom? Or are you the friend, daughter, partner or son of one? Well. Then we’d suggest you read this.
Let’s be honest – being a mother is a full-time job. Regardless of how old your kids are, you are going to always have responsibilities to tend to at home. Whether that’s housework, meals, bath time, playtime, doctor’s appointments or playdates, which means it’s important to know the tips for coping with stress that will help you make it through the week with your sanity intact.
There are mouths to feed, faces to wash, school lunches to pack and homes to be done – even if you can’t remember anything from grade school mathematics, the fact of the matter is that the onus is on you to be everything and more for your family. And frankly, you must be exhausted. Who can blame you?
Well, it’s about time you took a little time out for yourself. And reading this blog is a great place to start. Here, we are putting you and your mental wellbeing first. We are prioritising your happiness. Are you ready?
Our tips for coping with stress as a working mom
Set boundaries
As a working mom, you are likely to be juggling between several roles at any given time. You’re a worker, a partner, a mother, a friend and for each role, you want to give nothing less than your best. Which might leave you feeling as though you can never say ‘no’.
However, always saying ‘yes’ will leave you burnt out, rundown and to be honest, a little fed up. Setting healthy boundaries starts with assessing your relationships with others. Your first clue is often based on the feeling you get if your boundaries are violated or abused.
If you start to feel resentful of people asking too much of you and you find yourself saying ‘yes’ to things to avoid disappointing others, then you need to start setting some boundaries. For example, your son’s schoolteacher has asked you to bake cookies for the next soccer match, and you just don’t have the time nor the energy to do that right now.
All you have to do is tune into your feelings, establish your emotions towards this task you have been asked to do and then be direct in your answer. You could offer to buy some cookies instead of baking them or simply just say ‘no’ you don’t have the time. It’s really that easy.
Be direct with those whom you feel are asking too much of you and disconnect from any feelings of guilt over saying ‘no’. Give yourself permission to do things that make you happy, even if that means eating the cookies you baked and watching your favourite series. Self-care is a major priority.
Do things with your kids that bring you closer and make you happy
Whilst setting boundaries can often feel like you are stepping down from your running to be ‘mother of the year’, you need to understand that when you are burnt out and unhappy, your kids and those close to you will suffer from your emotional state as a result.
Read this: 3 Signs of ADHD in Kids & How to Manage It
When you are happy, fulfilled and rested, this will only improve your relationships with others. Which brings us to the next point, find things to do with your kids and your partner that bring you joy. This could entail cooking a family meal together, throwing a spontaneous sing-along dance party in the lounge or going on a picnic in the park together.
By saying no to the things you don’t want to do, you free up time to do things that will bring you and your family closer. Life seems to fly by when we are juggling between work and our personal lives, which is why it is so important to prioritise quality time with the people we love. Try to make this a weekly ‘date’ where you set aside time to spend with your family to help bring you closer.
Discover: How to increase your serotonin levels & 5 benefits
Take some time off for yourself
Now that you have established how to set boundaries and how to prioritise quality time with your family, now it’s time to look inwards and take some time out for yourself. As a working mom, you might find that your needs always come last.
Which is why setting time out for yourself is so vital. Fitting time for yourself into a busy schedule isn’t easy, but there are some time management tricks you can use to help. Book a massage, read a book, listen to music, have a bath, go for a walk, enrol in a weekly yoga or dance class.
Do things that bring you joy and peace so that you can go about your day with a spring in your step, as opposed to the usual aches and pains of everyday life. Of course, some days will be harder than others to find time for yourself, but even if you can just dedicate 10 minutes a day to doing something that calms your mind and gives your thoughts a break for a little bit, this can and will make the world of difference.
From all of us at Oneplan, Happy Mother’s Day!
Your Health Insurance Family,
Oneplan
