Mom Time: 6 Steps to Relaxation
Relaxation is not a term typically used in conjunction with motherhood. Do you need a little "mom time"? Could you use a little emotional refueling? Most moms do. We're usually so busy scurrying around taking care of everyone else, that we don't take time to slow down and care for ourselves.
Mom time fills up our tanks so that we can give to our families and ourselves in equal measure. Don’t be opposed to sitting for fifteen minutes doing nothing. In the springtime, relaxing in a hammock under a tree is the perfect getaway from the pressures of the day. Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms. (It's one of my guilty pleasures...shhhhhhh!) We really do need to ditch the guilt when it comes to carving out time for ourselves.
Here are a 6 tips to help you relax:
1. Get up early if you have to. When you have kids, the day begins at a hurried pace. Once you hit the ground running, there is no stopping you. Waking 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time means quiet solitude to drink your coffee, read a book, meditate or listen to music. I totally did this when my kids were really young. I got up at 5am, just so I could sit with a cup of coffee and read a book. I remember it like it was yesterday. The book I read when my kids were tots was Wally Lamb's, "She's Come Undone".
2. Ask your significant other for help. Kids love their mothers but alone time spent with dad is vital, too. Let them bond with dad while you grab a quick massage, sit at the beach and watch the waves crash against the shore, go shopping for a new outfit or root around in the garden. Since the time is yours, do whatever you like.
3. Put some pep in your step. When you get a few minutes the last thing you want to do is exercise but getting a little physical activity in your day has far-reaching implications. Exercise helps you to think clearly and stretches the muscles. Also, stress will drain away as powerful endorphins are released into your system. Do jumping jacks during a television commercial, take a few quick spins around the block, hop on your bike or jog to the bus stop to pick up the kids.
4. Turn ordinary experiences into major events. When you take a bath, add scented candles, therapeutic-grade essential oils, quiet music and/or an inflatable bath pillow. You can even make your own therapeutic bath salts with our simple, four ingredient recipe. Your regular bath has now become a spa level experience. If watching movies is your thing, turn out the lights, pop some corn, grab a comfy blanket and curl up on the couch. Make the everyday ordinary into something special.
5. Be prepared. Fix lunches the night before. Iron clothes for the next day and place backpacks by the front door so kids can grab them on their way out. Let kids help with as much as they are capable of. It builds self-esteem. In fact, the preparation for the next day can be a family affair. Get everyone involved. The fewer things you have to do throughout the day, the calmer you will be with your family and not experience burnout.
6. Get enough vitamin "L". Laughter, that is! Laughing releases stress and can lift your spirits significantly. It also keeps the abs tight. That might save you a little time on tip #5! Get the whole family a daily supply of vitamin "L", but serve yourself, first!
You owe it to yourself to carve out some time to put yourself at the top of your "to do" list. It will serve the whole family well.
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Until next time,
Wendy Young, LMSW, BCD, is the founder of Kidlutions and co-author of BLOOM: 50 Things to Say, Think and Do with Anxious, Angry and Over-the-Top Kids, co-creator of BLOOM Brainsmarts, and creator of The Joyful Parent. She is the author of numerous workbooks and resources to help from the preschool through the teen years.
Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! You can also find her @thetenacioustherapist on Instagram, where she helps other therapists create a life they love. She'd love to see your smiling face there! Affiliate links may be used in this post. Please see our full disclaimer, located at the top of our page for more information.
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