I can’t tell you how many moms tell me that they’re overwhelmed and stressed. Mom stress is a real thing, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a single mom, or a working mom, there are steps that you can take to decrease the stress in your life, even as a busy mom.
I remember when my children were young and I was stressed so much of the time. My mind was on the next thing I had to do rather than just enjoying the moment I was in. The stress built up and caused many of the symptoms that I’ll share in a moment. I knew some changes needed to be made in my life, and now I’d like to help you make these changes as well.
Signs of a Stressed Mom
What are some signs of stress in moms? Below are some symptoms you may experience as a stress response as you become more and more stressed by the tasks of motherhood. Whether you’re experiencing a few of these or all of these symptoms in your daily life, there is hope for moving beyond this season of motherhood.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I’m going to guess that you can identify with some of these symptoms. The amount of stress symptoms you feel can really vary. However, if you weren’t feeling stressed, you probably wouldn’t be reading this right now! Are you feeling any of these?
- Fatigue
- Easily irritated
- Feeling overwhelmed and helpless each day
- Negative thinking
- Decreased motivation
- Loss of enjoyment
- Not sleeping well
- Food cravings
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Changes in physical health as you become more run down
These symptoms not only affect you but really do affect those around you. If you’re not careful, stress will affect your relationship with your husband as well as damage your relationship with your children. Stress really builds up in your body as well, causing even physical symptoms.
How Can I Overcome Mother’s Stress?
There are many ways to overcome mom stress, but you need to be intentional about it. If you don’t change anything, nothing is sure to change. If you’re not careful, you will be dealing with chronic stress and higher levels of symptoms. However, by making even small changes, you will be able to decrease the stress in your life.
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I want to share some great ways to manage and even overcome the everyday stress in your life. These mom stress relief tips for moms will be sure to help. Just pick a couple at first to get you started with overcoming your mom stress. You don’t want to be more stressed by trying to decrease your stress! Are any of these things you’re already doing?
1. Meditate on God’s truths
By focusing on and meditating on what God says, you will be able to let your stress go. Cast your burdens on the Lord. Let Him take all that is weighing on you.
You will also need to overcome the lies that you are telling yourself with God’s truths. Perhaps you’re saying things like, “I’m such a failure!” “I can’t do this.” “Everyone else seems to be able to do this, so why can’t I?” Biblical affirmations can really help combat lies such as these with truth.
2. Ask for help
Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself and be super mom. Let your husband or other family members help. Teach your older children to do chores. Hire a mommy’s helper. Use a babysitting swap. Let your best friend help you clean. You can also get social support in a mom group or church group. Find others to give you the encouragement and support you need.
What does the Bible say about the role of a mother? To learn more about being a godly mother, check out these 10 characteristics of a good mother according to the Bible.
3. Recognize that you can only control certain things
Try writing a list of things you can control and a list of things outside of your control. Focus on the things you can do something about. This is so freeing! This will make a significant difference as you realize that it doesn’t do any good to worry about things outside of your control. Basically, remember that you can’t control what others think and do.
4. Simplify your life
Simplifying your life is a great way to reduce stress. There are many ways to simplify your life, so be sure to pick a few areas to focus on. By simplifying, you will be able to reduce high levels of stress in your life. Simplifying your life has many benefits besides reducing mom stress as well.
5. Take care of yourself
Please take care of yourself by taking care of your own needs. Get enough rest. Eat healthy food that’s real food, not processed. Go for a walk to get a few minutes of exercise. Get some sun. Drink more water. These are all great ways to take better care of your body, which will also help your stress levels. Many times as moms, we are so focused on taking care of everyone else that we forget to take some time for ourselves.
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6. Fix your expectations
You are not going to be a perfect mom. None of us are, trust me! Stay off the social media feeds and the comparison trap they breed. By changing your expectations, you will have less to stress you out.
Prioritize the things that help you live more intentionally. We tend to hold onto expectations or take part in activities that don’t really fit in with our priorities in life. Sometimes we do things just because that’s how we learned. Let go.
7. Stay connected with your husband
Your marriage is important, even in times of stress. It’s possible to stay connected, even when busy with little ones. Try some stay-at-home date ideas and spend quality time together. By having a good marriage, you will feel more like you’re not doing this motherhood thing on your own. You will feel like your husband is on your team.
8. Get a new perspective
Read some encouraging motherhood books or talk to other moms about handling the stresses of being a mom. By getting the perspective of older women, your own perspective can change. This different perspective can be inspiring along with helping you see the worth of what you’re doing. Other moms have faced similar situations to you and can help you through them.
9. Relax each day
By taking even a little time to relax each day, you will be able to de-stress and be better able to handle the busyness of the rest of your day. Have all your children have a quiet time or nap and enjoy some personal time with a favorite beverage while you read, pray, and unwind for a bit. If you can spend time outside for some fresh air, even better.
10. Start a gratitude journal
Choosing to focus on what you’re thankful for will help you have a better mindset. When you start a gratitude journal, you will begin to see the good instead of the things that stress you out. Let the negative thoughts go and focus on what is positive and good.
Mom Stress Recovery
Mom stress is real, but the good news is that as you put these mom stress relief tips into place, you will slowly recover and feel more at peace. Don’t expect drastic changes overnight with your mom stress recovery, but uour emotional health will improve, and the joy will come back. You will be calmer with your children, and you will enjoy motherhood again. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
Are you dealing with mom stress? What steps will you take to overcome it? I’d love to hear your comments below. Also, be sure to check out my other helpful content below
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