Every mom knows that being a mom is a 24 hour, 7 days of the week, 365 days of the year calling. Although, as a mom your day is filled with many different jobs, cook, nurse, teacher, and homemaker, just to name a few, there is no other job that is more rewarding. That being said, it can be one of the most stressful jobs as well. Taking the time to deal with stress, effectively, can make a huge difference in your life, health, and your family’s lives.

“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.” – Robert Eliot

Here are 7 tips for dealing with stress as a mom.

1. Get enough sleep each night:

It is so important to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night when it comes to the ability to deal with stress. When you are tired and fatigued everything is harder to deal with, and small things seem like a big deal.  If you struggle with lack of sleep, then use natural sleep aid if necessary.

2. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals:

Just like when you don’t have enough sleep, if you haven’t eaten enough or just eaten junk food, you don’t have the fuel your body needs. When you are hungry, it is easy to snap at people and make you feel overwhelmed.

3. Make exercise a part of your day:

Exercise is a vital component of your health and wellbeing. You will feel stronger, and have a sense of accomplishment as you are able to do more. Also, the endorphins your body releases when you exercise will help you feel better.

4. Take time out to relax:

Taking time out to relax is so important because it helps you maintain balance and not push yourself too far. If you are so extremely tired and don’t allow yourself to rest you will not be able to deal with stress. This is especially true when you are taking care of your kids and they aren’t co-operating with you.

[bctt tweet=”“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris #quote #quotetoliveby #relax #motivation”]

5. Don’t take on more than you can handle:

It’s easier said than done, but knowing when to say “no” will help you deal with the stress you can’t avoid. Sometimes you might feel like you can handle everything, but it’s important to know your limitations. If you have young kids at home, and the teacher of your older child asks you to accompany them on a field trip, don’t feel like you have to say yes. You have to balance all of your responsibilities, so don’t let anyone pressure you into doing more than you can handle.

6. Talk it out:

Having someone to talk to about the stress and pressure you feel is a tremendous help. If you have a family member or friend who has been through it already, they can be a great person to ask advice or ideas from.

7. Don’t stress the small stuff:

At the end of the day, stressing over every little thing is just causing you unnecessary grief. Things get broken, kids argue or fight with each other, milk or juice gets spilled, it’s is all a part of being a mom and learning how to choose your battles.

If you take care of yourself physically and have a positive mindset, you can deal with the stresses of being a mom effectively. Getting enough sleep, eating well-balanced meals, exercising, and taking time out to relax are important for homeostasis in everyone. It just makes sense, that you’ll be able to handle the stresses of life better if you feel better overall.

How do you handle stress as a mom?