7 Relaxation Techniques for Moms
7 Relaxation Techniques for Moms
If you want one of the most stressful jobs on the planet, be a mother for a day. To kick it up a notch, as famous chef Emeril Lagasse says, then mompreneurs know that a hectic schedule and being pressed for deadlines is the way most days go.
Mompreneurs need to be reminded that being overworked and stressed will not make them more productive.
What is needed is a handful of relaxation methods that can be your stress relief in the course of a day. Working at home doesn’t have to be the most stressful venture that so many mothers working at home find it to be.
Here are 7 Relaxation Techniques for Work from Home Moms
Find a happy retreat
This can be done mentally or physically. Some may find that this retreat time will have to be used sparingly with little ones running amok. Nonetheless, finding a place to retreat from the chaos where you can just “be” for a few minutes will help gather your thoughts.
Can’t get away? Then try one of many “guided imagery” techniques you can find online. This is a way to mentally retreat by using tranquil images you can conjure up anywhere.
Take regular vacations
Perhaps this is not possible at the outset, but make it a goal to take a regular vacation. Plan well in advance for financial as well as business reasons, but having regular downtime will work wonders.
Take a breather
Literally. Learn some breathing techniques to slow your breathing and take deeper breaths when you need relief. This will combat the urge to pant, which is usually a sign of stress or even anger. 3-5 long, slow, deep breaths will help combat stress and help you relax.
Laugh
“Laughter is the best medicine” sometimes. It might help you to watch a funny video online that is only a few minutes long, or to keep a bookmarked website where you can flip through a few short laughs when needed.
Mood music
Walk to the beat of a different drummer by changing the sound in your environment. Set the mood with the music you listen to, and consider surround sound with your favorite relaxing tunes.
Take the kids for a little stroll
This works great if you have a house dog, where you know your dog will want to get out to use the bathroom or get some exercise. Take your kids if you can for a stroll around your block, to a park, etc.
Making sure you do this regularly will help decompress your stressful situation.
Make a pot of Chamomile tea
Chamomile, or lavender-infused teas, will help you to relax a bit. Take a few minutes to boil the water and have a calming ritual of enjoying a cup. The tea itself soothes, but the entire ritual can be quite relaxing.
Whether work-from-home moms and mompreneurs have it “all figured out” or not when they begin their home-based businesses, one thing is guaranteed: workplace stress is real. Having your kids around and the housekeeping that piles up, it’s stressful.
Mompreneurs need to be reminded that being overworked and stressed will not make them more productive. Share on X
Don’t let stress get the better of you! Work-from-Home Moms can burn out much easier than typical entrepreneurs because the stress comes at you from so many angles simultaneously – but hang in there: you can do this.
If you need more ideas on how to avoid work-at-home mom blues & burnout, be sure to check out this invaluable article by clicking HERE.
I hope you have enjoyed today’s blog post, written by my special guest, Christina Martin, of YouRelaunched. For more information about Christina, please visit her website.
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Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Our kids were already grown up by the time I started my business, but some of my younger colleagues find it helpful to have their kids go to day care a couple of times a week, so they can have some scheduled time with no interruptions while still reaping the benefits of being around their children most of the time.
My kids were mostly grown when I started my business as well. But before that I worked part-time. A couple days a week when they were young. This allowed us time (days) together, but also we experiences time away from each other – Me at work and them in either daycare or preschool. It did allow me to focus on work while I was there.
My heart really goes out to all Moms right now, and especially those trying to balance caring for children and working from home. It is hard enough to work from home when the children are at school or camp, but especially challenging when they are home, in your workspace. It is important to acknowledge the extra stress this presents, and to be mindful about proactively alleviating it. I love all of these tips, and can say the breathing one is actually pretty powerful. Now that the weather is improving, getting out for a walk can do a world of good for everyone’s mood. I’ve even heard that maybe Vitamin D helps our immunity, so it is a double benefit!
I agree Seana. Through this trying time I have thought how lucky I am that I am not trying to work from home while as care for my kids and helping them with schooling. It’s impossible to be good at it all, all the time, so giving yourself a break and just stopping to breathe is a good idea.
These are excellent suggestions for everyone – especially right now when so many of us are stuck at home. I’m continually telling my clients (most of whom are used to working in an office environment) how important it is to take breaks in order to boost your productivity. Thanks for sharing, Janet!
Breaks are important for better productivity. People don’t realize that if they regularly work in an office, because there are built in breaks in their workday. But not when working from home. Good advice Gina.
I did find that stress was a big part of my day when the kids were little, and I was starting my business. Handing the kids over to my husband when he returned from work helped a lot. I do find that deep breathing, going for a walk in nature, and dancing in the house helped a lot. And the kids liked to participate, which helped them exsert energy. It was a win-win!
When my kids were young I choose to work part-time, a couple days a week which allowed days together and other days apart. My kids actually loved their daycare provider and their preschool, so they’d be excited to go. I’d also be excited to go to work and be a productive grown up too.
Great list! I am a mompreneur and find that two things help me stay sane: 10 minutes of meditation using the Calm app and taking a short walk (by myself) while listening to an audiobook.
Hi Melissa. I just started meditating in the mornings. My kids are grown, so I’m not focusing on practicing it for stress relief, but instead a way to focus on my day. It’s helping me get through this trying time. I love listening to podcasts, but I can’t say that they are relaxing to me.
Just watching the video and that soothing music made me feel calm. I remember the early days of starting my business while raising our daughters. A lot was going on. I also remember a lot of laughter and sweet moments together. But having some time to destress was also essential and still is. I admit that it’s easier now that our girls are adults to carve out more “me time.” But it is vital at any age to find those things, even small things, like sipping a cup of tea, that help us return to a calmer, more open state of being. For me, meditating, doing yoga, taking walks in nature, and writing are a few of the ways I nurture my wellbeing.
Yes, that is one good thing about being an empty-nester. There is more time for yourself. I have recently taken up mediation and painting to calm my mind.
Guided imagery can truly bring me to a different world, albeit temporary. I have various travel related pictures hung up on my wall in the office. When I need a break, I would “travel” to those places. It helps me relax and reenergize.
Never thought of guided imagery to relax at work. I’m glad it works for you. I find it hard to unplug.
At least once a week, I get up before the rest of the house. When we were in a “normal” routine, I did this every weekday. I do a devotional every morning and it’s nice to have quiet time to myself. I always feel more relaxed when I start the day this way. And I’m more productive.
I have recently started mediating in the morning. It does help relax me and then i’m more productive. Glad you have found something that works for you.