As moms, co-workers, neighbors, students, and humans, we find ourselves constantly comparing ourselves to others. We find ourselves feeling guilty if we can’t be there for every class party, sporting event, and family dinner. There’s no doubt we all want to feel like Super-Mom every day of our lives and when we can’t, we become the stressed-out mom. It’s a cycle that can feel suffocating! So, how do you beat it? Know when it’s time to take a time-out and have some time for yourself. You may not have enough time for a full spa day or even a pedicure, but we have some quick fixes that will help you avoid becoming a full-time stressed-out mom.
Love Yourself First
You are human. You make mistakes, things come up, life happens. These are all things you’ve heard before, but have you ever seriously listened? If you tried to be the picture perfect mom, you’d be trying without success for the rest of your life. The standards we hold ourselves to, most of the time, are not realistic and shouldn’t be our priority. You can’t be a super-mom and super-employee at the same time – and that’s okay! Show the same compassion you have for others, to yourself. Forgive yourself more often and don’t let your thoughts start to spiral.
The Golden Rule
So, as moms, we all relate the struggle of life. Sometimes we have a few cocktails after work before going straight home. Maybe sometimes you have a mini-meltdown in public because you’re at your witts end. So, instead of making other moms feel bad about their choices, offer a helping hand. Instead of glaring at someone across the room, one smile can change someone’s entire day or even week! We’re so used to being judged harshly, we’ve started to accept that doing it to others is okay, too. Just like no one knows the ins and outs of your daily life, we don’t know about others’ either. Try to be a positive impact on others lives instead of contributing to their struggles.
Live Your Life
As a first-time parent, your child’s life is all-consuming. We don’t want to focus on anything except our kiddos, which is totally understandable. However, you may get to your child’s sixth birthday before you have a minute or two to take some time for yourself. More than likely, at that time you may be afraid it’s more work than it’s worth. But the journey of self-discovery is absolutely worth it! Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you’re only a mom, and you deserve the chance to live your life, too. Whether you want to buy a new book every week or take a cooking class, invest some time in yourself. Don’t wait until your kiddos are out of the house to commit some time to yourself.
No Means No
The biggest obstacle in a mother’s life is time, am I right? Our budgets and schedules are the top contributors to being a stressed-out mom. By the time bedtime rolls around, we are maxed out and just want to go to sleep. So when our kids are fully wired and asking a million questions, it’s always easier to say yes, instead of no. We don’t want to argue and then feel guilty about upsetting our kiddos. But it’s being a yes-man isn’t any better. It may take you some time to master the word no, but once you do, you’ll be much happier. You can’t make everyone happy all the time, and it’s important to recognize that.
Remember You Have a Voice
This ties everything together. Find your voice to say no, to love yourself, to live your own life, and to be kind to others. Don’t let this era of social media and high expectations diminish your voice. There’s nothing more powerful than a woman who has something to say!
Being a stressed-out mom isn’t good for anyone. It’s not good for you, good for your family, or good for your community. You won’t be able to keep it under wraps all the time, but these tips should help you to level you out more often. How do you keep yourself from becoming constantly stressed-out? Leave your comments below!
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