Mom life is stressful…
I mean we’re juggling children … over booked schedules.. meals…chores around the house .. homeschooling (or helping kids with homework and school commitments) financial burdens .. lack of alone time
Then you add on the expectations we put on ourselves to get it all done and often times all on a lack of sleep ..
Add emotional roller coaster rides from our children who don’t quite understand their feelings yet and kids arguing.. it’s likely we’re gonna get stressed out and lose or cool!
I mean I feel stressed out just reading this! The amount of stress a mom experiences in a day can really wreak havoc on our bodies !
In fact, according to a 2022 study …The survey conducted by OnePoll of 2,028 American mothers found that 1 in 3 moms report feeling stressed at least five days a week.
The APA’s 2023 Stress in America survey finds women continue to report higher stress levels than men. Specifically, in APA’s October 2023 Stress in America survey, which included a nationally representative sample of more than 3,000 adults, women reported a higher average level of stress than men (5.3 versus 4.8 out of 10) and were more likely to rate their stress levels between an 8 and a 10 than men (27% versus 21%).
It’s obvious women are dealing with stress and it’s not getting any better. The pressures we put ourselves… expectations others put on women and the responsibility of raising children in today’s world is a lot for us women to handle. Our bodies can’t handle all this stress.
With stress being a common topic discussed on social media or in conversation you may heard comments of women struggling with high levels of cortisol .. you may be asking
What is cortisol ??
Well According to the women’s health institute(High Cortisol Levels the Stress Hormone Negative Effects – Women’s Health Network)
Cortisol is one of the body’s main stress hormones. When you are under stress and your body’s fight or flight response kicks in, cortisol quickly comes to your rescue, mobilizing carbohydrates and fat for instant energy. But even when you’re not in danger, cortisol hums along in the background assisting your body with key everyday functions.
It has a whole lot of effects on a women’s body and health .. but we will go into that in another post because I have lots to say on that.
Since we obviously know motherhood is stressful and has negative effects on our health I want to share
10 Simple ways moms can help reduce stress .. help combat those negative effects and feel a bit more peace in their motherhood journey
- Establish a Routine: Creating a daily schedule can provide structure and reduce feelings of chaos.
- Practice Deep Breathing: Taking slow deep breaths can activate the body’s relaxation response and help manage stress levels.
- Stay Active: Even short amounts of exercise can release endorphins and improve mood. Consider low impact/ low stress activities like walking, pilates or dancing.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities you enjoy, whether it’s reading, taking a bath, or chatting with a friend.
- Seek Support: Connect with other moms or friends for emotional support and to share experiences. If you’d like to join our Momplicity Facebook Community for more support from other moms just like you and me follow this link ➡️https://m.facebook.com/groups/1260166845375523/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF
- Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. Set achievable goals and be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned.
- Practice Mindfulness or time in prayer : These practices can help moms stay present and manage stress effectively.
- Get Enough Sleep: Prioritize sleep to ensure you’re well-rested, as lack of sleep can significantly contribute to stress.
- Set screen time boundaries : Constant exposure to news or social media can increase stress. Consider taking breaks .. like choosing a day or period of time to unplug from electronics. Setting boundaries and unfollow people who stress you out or that negatively affect your emotional state.
🍃Implementing even one or two of these strategies can make a significant difference in managing stress levels for moms. Again I always want to say to start slow when implementing new practices. Mom life is stressful and overwhelming and I don’t want you to feel like I’m telling you to add more to your plate . Pick one thing to start with and slowly incorporate that practice into your lifestyle as it becomes comfortable and easier to do then try adding in another practice. Even setting a reminder in your phone to go off every hour or so to stop and just take a few slow breaths is a great way to get in the habit of calming the body. Finding ways to manage stress is so important. Your body can only tolerate so much before it starts reacting in unpleasant ways so don’t wait until that happens to take action. I encourage you to start now and slowly work towards managing the stress of mom life.