Most moms will tell you that there simply isn’t enough time for some “me” time. As a mom, you might even feel guilty to crave for time for yourself. But you don’t have to! We need to take care of ourselves so that we can better care for our family. This isn’t the concept most of us have adopted, and certainly the one that doesn’t come naturally for many of us, myself included. Yet to stop and smell the roses once in a while really does make a difference. It can be as easy as refreshing ourselves, like having a facial or pedicure.
One easy way to pamper yourself is to give yourself an instant makeover. Bring out your favorite dress and pair of shoes, spritz on some perfume, style your hair with your favorite hair accessories (hopefully they’re No Slippy Hair Clippy®!) and for a few minutes, just sit back, relax and do nothing! (Is that even possible?!) Maybe take 5 minutes to take a walk outside and just breathe in some fresh air…it’s only 5 minutes, but that 5 minutes can make all the difference.
Here are some more suggestions from Parents Connect:
Take some time out for yourself at least once a month. Just once in a long month, leave your little one to grandma or to a dozen other relatives who think you have the cutest baby on earth. Or make a deal with your husband—once a month, one takes the baby out for the evening while the other will relish having the house to himself/herself.
Turn your bathroom into a spa. Enjoy a long bath. Invest in some expensive salt, oil, or bubble bath, light some aromatic candles and play relaxing music. Nothing beats a relaxing, warm soak.
Splurge on some inexpensive indulgence. Body lotion that’s worth $20 may be too much, but at the end of the day, it's still just $20. And you totally deserve it! You’ll be surprised how special one little purchase can make you feel.
Make it all about you and make it a habit. It’s not being selfish to take a break every now and then. Your body needs it! Besides, your little tot is going to grow up real fast and you will need strength for the years to come. Replenish yourself whenever you get a chance!
Showing posts with label stress management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress management. Show all posts
Friday, August 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Balance Your Life
Parenting is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. But even though the challenges seem to call for superhuman powers, you are not super woman. Believe it or not, it’s okay to take a break and ask for help every now and then!
This week, we’re offering some tips on how to take care of yourself. After all, you want to feel your best to be able to give your family the best. So when you are beginning to feel like you’re the poster child for stress, give yourself an instant style boost by clipping on a cute flower! It’s amazing how a flower in the hair can brighten up your day!
No Slippy® offers many style options that perfectly complement busy lifestyles. Our hair accessories are guaranteed non-slip, so once you put them on, you never have to worry about your hair, or if your clip is going to stay in. Why not vacuum in style, or grocery shop! You can even match your little girl, and do a Mommy and Me style while out and about!
Here are some more tips from Parents Connect to get some balance in your life:
You can't solve every problem. Your life spins out of balance when you spend too much time trying to fix unfixable problems. When you inevitably fail to fix the unfixable, you get even more frustrated and try harder to keep things from going off track. It is important to realize when some problems are simply unsolvable. Know what you can change, and what you cannot. It’s easier said than done, but it does help with the stress.
Go with the flow. When you emotionally resist life’s ups and downs, you can end up blaming yourself over circumstances you cannot control. So next time you're stuck in traffic, or the dishes are piled a mile high in the sink, or the kids decide to choir their tantrums in unison, tell yourself, “This all will pass” and take three deep breaths, and exhale out slowly. It won’t magically make things better, but it will help put yourself in a calmer place.
Play some music. Numerous studies have suggested that music does wonders for stimulating the human brain. Listening to music or singing a song activates the right and left sides of your brain and helps you feel less stressed.
Work out. Getting active might be the least of our priorities when we are stressed out, but it really does work wonders! It also uses both sides of your brain, so when you exercise, you’re actually making yourself stronger both physically and mentally. Even a short walk with the stroller, and putting yourself in a different place or different surroundings can be helpful.
It’s going to be okay. The truth is, we can't control everything, and maybe that’s a good thing! The ups and downs are all part of life. We need to trust letting go of the things we cannot change or do anything about. Sometimes, it’s breaking it down into smaller focused goals, one task at a time, one day at a time, one minute at a time, that can ease those overwhelmed feelings.
This week, we’re offering some tips on how to take care of yourself. After all, you want to feel your best to be able to give your family the best. So when you are beginning to feel like you’re the poster child for stress, give yourself an instant style boost by clipping on a cute flower! It’s amazing how a flower in the hair can brighten up your day!
No Slippy® offers many style options that perfectly complement busy lifestyles. Our hair accessories are guaranteed non-slip, so once you put them on, you never have to worry about your hair, or if your clip is going to stay in. Why not vacuum in style, or grocery shop! You can even match your little girl, and do a Mommy and Me style while out and about!
Here are some more tips from Parents Connect to get some balance in your life:
You can't solve every problem. Your life spins out of balance when you spend too much time trying to fix unfixable problems. When you inevitably fail to fix the unfixable, you get even more frustrated and try harder to keep things from going off track. It is important to realize when some problems are simply unsolvable. Know what you can change, and what you cannot. It’s easier said than done, but it does help with the stress.
Go with the flow. When you emotionally resist life’s ups and downs, you can end up blaming yourself over circumstances you cannot control. So next time you're stuck in traffic, or the dishes are piled a mile high in the sink, or the kids decide to choir their tantrums in unison, tell yourself, “This all will pass” and take three deep breaths, and exhale out slowly. It won’t magically make things better, but it will help put yourself in a calmer place.
Play some music. Numerous studies have suggested that music does wonders for stimulating the human brain. Listening to music or singing a song activates the right and left sides of your brain and helps you feel less stressed.
Work out. Getting active might be the least of our priorities when we are stressed out, but it really does work wonders! It also uses both sides of your brain, so when you exercise, you’re actually making yourself stronger both physically and mentally. Even a short walk with the stroller, and putting yourself in a different place or different surroundings can be helpful.
It’s going to be okay. The truth is, we can't control everything, and maybe that’s a good thing! The ups and downs are all part of life. We need to trust letting go of the things we cannot change or do anything about. Sometimes, it’s breaking it down into smaller focused goals, one task at a time, one day at a time, one minute at a time, that can ease those overwhelmed feelings.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Suffering from Parental Burnout? Here’s How to Cope
Parenting is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the world. In most jobs, once you spot the signs of burnout, you know that it's time to re-evaluate whether or not the job is right for you. Obviously, with parenting, that is not an option!
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Parental burnout is actually common. Working all day and then coming home to keep the house organized AND tending to your children’s needs is a lot of work. Just like anything that you devote your best efforts to, it can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. In fact, most of the signs of parental burnout are similar to those of any other job burnout. Daniel Buccino, a director of the Baltimore Psychotherapy Institute, agrees that it's probably the hardest job you'll ever have.
According to Robin F. Goodman, PhD., Director of the A Caring Hand, Billy Esposito Foundation Bereavement Center, parental burnout is often linked to the desire to be a good parent. But if you are in chronic stress, it will make it increasingly difficult to be the best parent that you can be.
It is a common dilemma, but it doesn't have to be the norm for you. Here are some tips to help you address parental burnout:
Pacing is key. View parenting as a marathon, not a sprint. You need to pace yourself. Not everything has to be done all at once.
Find a support group. It's not always easy to admit that we need help but for the sake of your sanity, it’s okay to call on family and friends for support.
Realistic expectations. Keep the expectations of yourself as a parent, and those of your children reasonable and manageable.
Don’t compare. Don’t aspire to be somebody you’re not. It’s very unlikely that your neighbor is Super Mom is real life.
“Me” Time. Believe it or not, you do need that vacation. It’s actually good for your over-all well-being when you take a break every now and then. If you really cannot afford to go anywhere, then at least make sure to take a few minutes or a few hours of rest each day.
Distractions. Especially for parents of little ones, sometimes a little time out helps. If your daughter loves to play dress-up, then you can get her some fancy hair accessories to style her hair with so she can pretend to be a princess. If your active boy fantasizes about riding a spaceship, then you can get him toy space shuttles for him to play with. When the little ones are occupied with something, it gives you a little freedom to relax.
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