The pressure to have it all is unreal. Supermum is a term often banded around and means being able to balance everything well.
I have never intentionally prescribed to this term but I did think that something would click after becoming a mum where things would run smoothly and I was in the most incredible groove. The reality for me however is that each month is different.
One month I could be in my groove with meal preps and the next month it’s switched to keeping on top of the washing. I don’t think I’ve ever mastered both.
Let’s not forget the power in connections and partnerships as I share in The incredible power in partnership after having a baby Shout out to my husband! This can make raising a child a lot easier.
This month is stress awareness month so it’s important that as mums we recognise when we feel stressed, we have tools ready to alleviate it.
It’s time to ditch supermum and focus instead on well-being mum. After all, stress can impact every aspect of our lives.
Here are 5 ways to combat stress:
Take note of your stress symptoms
We all react differently to stress so it’s key to tune into what your typical symptoms are. Often, your blood pressure will rise, you may feel a bit dizzy or you’ll feel your heart pounding fast.
When I’m stressed I have difficulty sleeping, I’d often get headaches or lack motivation to do anything.
Tap into what happens when you’re next stressed and make a note of it.
Tune into what time of day you’re most stressed
As a busy mum, there will no doubt be particularly points of your day that you’ll feel most stressed. Can you identify them and make a plan to feel more prepared for them instead?
For example, I can get quite stressed with the nursery pick and then getting dinner ready. One thing I now plan is what she’ll be having earlier in the day. I also ensure I have a hard stop at work so I can make it in time preventing any unnecessary stress. Planning ahead can significantly reduce our stress.
Prioritise self-care by taking regular breaks
We can forget that as mums it’s so important to look after ourselves – mentally and physically. One example is by taking regular breaks throughout our day to decompress. It can be as simple as stretching, making a cup of tea or going for a walk.
If I feel stressed by a situation, I practice deep breaths or asking my husband to tap in to give me a break. I’ve found this to be really effective.
Related post: First pause. Next breathe. Now move
Shake it off with excercise
Exercise is brilliant to release those happy hormones and shake off the stress. It also doesn’t have to happen separately to when you’re with your children and therefore struggle to fit it in.
I personally have started to do yoga with my daughter so she can get used to me doing it. It takes twice as long but she also tries to mimic it now so it’s so cute.
Other ideas is running with the buggy, doing lunges or even going for a long walk. I was proud of my 1.5 hour walk. Get creative and don’t think you have to get to the gym or a class to do it, you can do it wherever you are. Don’t let that stop you plus you save money while you’re at it.
Build a village to support you
It does in my opinion take a village to raise a child. My fondest memories are growing up with so many cousins, aunties and uncles. I’d spend the summer holidays going from house to house. It was THE BEST. My mum had an incredible support network.
Today, many of us are far from family perhaps due to where our work has taken us or because of our own goals of where we’d wish to raise a family. Either way, it’s can be a lot harder without those immediate connections next door like it was for my mum when I was growing up.
Find a supportive mum group to share the worries and concerns. Tell your loved ones what help you need. Work and communicate with your partner.
These groups are key to reducing stress as they can support with looking after your children or a listening ear.
Related blog post: Find your tribe and watch yourself grow as a new mum
So what else do you do to tackle stress?