Every parent can feel on the brink. Combine this with a high-stress job, commutes that take longer than they should, and a lot of tantrums, and it can all easily push us over the edge. We must recognise that stress is something that stops us from being better parents. This is why we've got to build in unwinding tactics. What are the 3 best tools here?
By Team Savant
Image: Kirk Cameron
Stepping Away
The first and most important tool is to recognise when it's all getting too much. You need to step away, and you may tell yourself that the home is going to collapse without you, but spending a Saturday night on a rooftop bar with friends is not just going to get you out of your home but it will ensure that you are recharging yourself in a different way.
Being sociable is so important to our sense of self, and if you spend a lot of time at home and your children are pretty much the only people you have regular contact with, you've got to expand your social circle and remember that stepping away is pivotal for your mental health.
Exercise Your Stresses Away
Research has shown us countless times that exercise is perfect for maintaining our stress levels. If you are constantly on the brink because you are not necessarily sleeping great or your children have had back-to-back illnesses, you might think that exercising is going to be too much for you to cope with. It's about making sure you choose an activity you enjoy rather than thinking you need to strength-train yourself into the ground.
A lot of people swear by exercising as a way to unwind and get the stress out, but as parents are torn in a number of different directions, you have to choose the optimum amount. This could mean going out for a walk to get your cardiovascular system going, or it could be venturing out to the garage and taking out any aggression on a punching bag. Whatever works for you, the endorphins will also work!
Focusing on Quality Rest
Some parents go to bed at midnight and wake up at 6 am feeling fresh as a daisy, but do those parents actually have children that sleep through the night? If your children are not great sleepers, this can contribute to your sense of being frazzled, in which case, you've got to prioritise good quality rest, no matter how early you go to bed!
It's also a good idea to wake up before your child does, meaning you will have a bit of time to yourself in silence, which can do a lot to keep you feeling more peaceful. If your child goes to sleep around 7pm, what's wrong with getting into bed and just relaxing for a bit so you can power down? Some people still believe they have to burn the candle at both ends, but the more you do this, the more frazzled you will be.
It is vital that you look after yourself, and ensuring you do some of these unwinding tactics to keep yourself afloat will make all the difference. Stress is not productive in the slightest, so make sure that you tackle this at every turn.