Raising children has always inherently included stress, there’s just no way around it. When they started crawling, you quickly ensured that the house was childproof and you’ve been worried about them to one degree or another quite often ever since.
Now, with virtual learning, quarantines, and other stressors coupled with your own hectic work and home life, at times your stress levels may be higher than ever. As a busy parent, it’s important that you take care of yourself both physically and mentally, so dealing with stress in a healthy manner is imperative.
Take the time to implement any of the tips today, and tonight you could be unwinding better than ever before.
1. Music Soothes the Soul
According to the findings of the workshop “Music and the Brain: Research Across the Lifespan” convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, music can reduce stress.
While it certainly doesn’t hurt to listen to some calming music on the drive home, taking 15-mins to half an hour to plug in the headphones and listening to some soothing tunes can set you on the path toward a perfect mood.
If music really isn’t your thing, a white noise or sound machine may be more your style.
2. 3 Products to Help You Decompress
From essential oils to ultra-expensive massage chairs, there are a lot of products out there that you may want to check into and we wanted to point out a few.
- With studies showing the positive effects of CBD against stress, a CBD vape kit can definitely come in handy.
- There has been a good bit of hype lately for the CalmiGo Smart Calming Companion, a product that helps you adapt your breathing and naturally quiet your four senses.
- A decent massage is always a good way to reduce stress and the MagicHands truShiatsu Neck & Back Massager can definitely come in handy.
3. Learn How to Meditate
You can find a lot of free videos available on the subject, digital books, and professional courses available on transcendental meditation. With free time being few and far between for most parents, learning how to utilize short sessions of meditation can be invaluable.
For starters, you can practice breathing and focusing exercises. Draw in a deep breath, hold it for several moments and as you slowly exhale, focus on the negativity and stress of the day leaving your body. Do this as needed up to 10 times, shutting out the world and focusing solely on your breathing and what is leaving your body.
With a little practice, you’ll likely be rather surprised at how well it works.
4. Embargo the Outside World
Unplugging from the negativity of news broadcasts and websites, Reddit, Twitter, and other platforms for an hour or so each evening is definitely a good idea. Spend half an hour on a long walk or go for a swim. Work on a cool custom puzzle.
Detaching from social media and ignoring the local and world news for a set amount of time each night is a great best practice for parents and one they can include their children in as well.
5 Supplements to Consider
There are several supplements that are known to promote stress reduction and here’s a quick look at some of the more common ones:
- Ashwagandha – an herb used to treat stress in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Green tea – there are promising signs that it increases serotonin levels and promotes lower stress levels.
- Kava kava – a psychoactive member of the pepper family that is used to treat mild cases of both stress and anxiety.
- Lemon balm – a member of the mint family that has received some attention for its potential to help counter anxiety.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – One study with 1,200 people showed that participants experienced up to a 20% reduction in anxiety symptoms with this supplement.
Finding alternative, quick, and easy ways to lower your stress levels can definitely be beneficial, especially for parents that need to unwind as efficiently as possible. If the kids or life itself is raising your anxiety and stress, implement some of the tips above to see if they help.
