Stress-Reducing Tips for the Working Mama

Phew - I used to work myself into the ground. I simply thought I had to be “go-go-go” all the time.

If it wasn’t caring for my daughter, it was working on my business, cleaning the house or taking our dogs out.

I got to a point where I knew if I didn’t make any changes, I would simply break. I had a conversation with my husband and he told me something that I wish I could have realized months ago (but hindsight is always 20/20 am I right? 🤪)

He said: “You put so much pressure on yourself. It’s as if you think you will drop the ball… but the thing is, you never have. You always finish what you need to and everything always comes together like it should. Why are you always so stressed?”

That made me realize something needed to change. Here are the things I implemented that have given me a much better routine AND perspective around stress and how I can control it:

+ Morning Routine: I used to jump on my computer first thing in the morning and try to tackle a bunch of to-do’s. This worked for a little while until other things in my life started to take a back seat. I realized I was too tired by my daughter’s naptime to do a workout or have any “me time.” So I started prioritizing meditation, movement & hydration first thing in the morning. This was a GAME CHANGER. I now drink a full 12-16oz of water before I have coffee and it helps me so much - especially with my chronic headaches!

+ East to Follow Workout Routine: I follow the workouts & meditations in my friend (and client’s) programs - she has a variety of programs that include 10-20 minute workouts that fit perfectly into a busy routine including a Fit Pregnancy program, a Postpartum program for moms ready to get back into a routine and even a program called FitMama that has workouts you can do WITH your kids! If this sounds like what you need, you can use my affiliate link HERE - I do get a little bit of kickback & I appreciate your support!

Regardless of what you decide to do for movement, you NEED to make it a priority. Our bodies thrive on movement and there are SO many stress-reducing benefits that come along with it 🙌🏼

+ Getting Outside: Every few hours, whether it’s a work day or not, I get outside - cold or hot. Even if it’s just a few minutes of standing on our patio taking a few breaths - it makes a huge difference in my mood and stress levels. If I’m able to go for a walk or play at the river with my daughter, even better!

+ Having a Plan & Time Blocking: I’m a huge planner - and if you’re reading this, you likely are too - hah! I truly enjoy my To Do list and physically check things off when I get them done. I only write down the most important priorities of the day and I try not to overwhelm myself with too many things in one day. On a separate page of my planner, I have an ongoing list of tasks that are coming up or less important tasks that can be done anytime throughout the week. I don’t allow myself to look at this list, unless my daily main priorities are done. I’m such a visual person and if I see too many things on one day - it increases my stress! Since I’ve started doing my task list like this, I’ve noticed a huge change in my stress levels and honestly just feeling more accomplished because I actually check off everything important for that day.

+ Set Aside Time to Spend with Those you Love: This used to be my last priority and when I flopped my priorities to create time and space for playdates with good friends, evenings on the couch with my husband and even scheduled phone dates with my best friend and mom - it helped me realize how much I needed that FUN time. Whether it’s hanging out, riding bikes, hiking, playing tennis, etc - make time to spend with real people! We get so caught up in this virtual world, we sometimes forget to enjoy real life moments!

I hope this gives you a few tangible tips to help reduce your stress! Remember, you will always accomplish whatever NEEDS to get done - so be sure you are setting aside time for yourself and your well-being!