15 Stress Busters for the Stay at Home Mom

According to the American Institute of Stress 95% of all doctor related visits are because of stress. Believe it or not but many stay at home moms have stress, even chronic stress. Unlike many people with jobs outside of the home the stay at home mom rarely gets to leave her job problems at the office. If you are a stay at home mom you probably know what I am talking about. Things at home that often cause stress are: chores, difficult children, a spouse and trying to live on one income. Many little things that just start to pile up on you sometimes cause stress, and you feel like the world is caving in on you. I encourage you to try out some of the stress busters listed below.

How to Get Rid of Stress Now:

1. Get Organized:
Plan and schedule your calendar, and make out a to do list. Don't rely on your memory because you are bound to forget something important. Clutter is stress. Organizing your daily activities can reduce your stress levels. And having things where they belong can save you time and money. You won't have to redo lost items or pay late fees.

2. Have a Laugh:
Have you laughed today? Everyday you need to find something to make you laugh, laughter releases tension. Read a funny email or find a daily joke website. Try to find something to laugh about in difficult situations. Dance a little jig; sing a silly song, or act like a kid again. As adults we have many responsibilities, remember when you were a kid and life was fun.

3. Positive Thinking:
Watch out for how you look and think about things. Is your cup half full or half empty? Accentuate any positive from the situation and learn from the negative. Visualize the positive happening to you. Surround yourself with positive optimistic people. Stop saying those negative things to yourself, and change them to a positive. You can do it!

4. Bubble Bath:
It doesn't matter if you use expensive bubble bath, or some shampoo or dish soap, the point is to take a relaxing bath. Get the water as hot as you can stand it and start adding the bubbles. Lock the door and lather up; let Calgon take you away. Suds yourself up and sit back and relax in the therapeutic heat. Close your eyes and for a few minutes forget about everything on the other side of the door.

5. Cup of Tea:
Have a cup of herbal tea - the health benefits are great. Try a cup of chamomile for its calming properties. Whatever kind of tea you have enjoy it and relax, and put your feet up. If you can't stand to drink tea then any kind of your favorite drink will do. Maybe you would enjoy a smoothie or a milkshake. Just sit back and forget your cares while you sip your favorite beverage.

6. Music:
Listening to your favorite CD can lighten your mood. Use music throughout your day if it helps calm you or pumps you up. Mp3 players can be found for as little as 10$ nowadays. Get some headphones and use them while you do work around the house. Or if you need, there are relaxation CD's you can listen to if you want to melt your mood.

7. Journal:
You could make a happy journal, and only record the best things that happen. Then when you are feeling stressed and down reading about the good times will make you feel better. Or you could use the journal to vent your anger and put your stress down on paper. Sometimes it just helps to write it down and get it out of your head.

8. Remember the Good Old Days:
Pull out the family photo albums or videos and kick back. Bringing back the memories of better times will bring a smile to your face. Remember the happier times when you were having fun. Plan out your next picture-taking event, like an outing or vacation. Having something to look forward can help alleviate stress.

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9. Hobbies:
Find or continue to spend time on a relaxing hobby. If there is something you like to do and it makes you feel good then make time for it. Anything that recharges you and keeps your thoughts off of your stress can be helpful. Some people use repetitive mindless tasks, something you can do without thinking. That might include bike riding, needlepoint, painting or the something of the like.

10. Have a Good Cry:
When is the last time you just let it all out? Go somewhere where you won't be interrupted and just let those tears flow. Sometimes holding it in makes us feel worse than if we let it go. After a good cry don't you feel relived and a sense of renewal with a new direction? You have now mourned for the problem and you can move forward. Shedding those tears can rejuvenate your body and mind.

11. Make Everyday Count:
If you have a dream, work towards your dream. Enjoy your family and let them know you care for them. Do something everyday that makes you proud. Find something today that makes you happy or gives you a smile. One day isn't much but they all add up to a lifetime. Make sure you are making it a great life by finding out what is really important to you.

12. Join the Club:
Join a club or local organization, or your favorite charity fund-raiser. You need the social contact and you can provide the group with your expertise or just by helping out with tasks. Maybe fun activities like a card club, bowling or bingo. Just being a part of a group makes us feel like we belong, and that is a good feeling. You will find like-minded people and friends.

13. Take Me Time:
Learn to say yes more, not to others but to yourself. Figure out what you want and say yes to you. Treat yourself with R.E.S.P.E.C.T. If you don't love and respect yourself it makes it awfully difficult to show the same to others. Praise yourself for accomplishing even just the littlest of things. Make a list of things that are positive about you, be generous, and look at the list when you feel you can't accomplish anything or are feeling down about yourself.

14. Take 10:
Take a ten minute break away from housework, away from kids, away from your stress. Sometimes just taking a short break can clear your mind and give you a fresh outlook. You might need 10 minutes of time to control yourself so you don't say or do something you would regret. If you can't take a short break count to 10 and then take 10 deep breaths and you will be a little more relaxed even though you can't fully get away from the stressful situation.

15. Have fun!
Go and do something just for you. You need to take care of your self so you can take care of others. Do something everyday for yourself, even if it is only for 10 minutes. Indulge in yourself and forget about your responsibilities. Stay at home moms often lose sight of themselves and are always doing things for everyone else. Stop worrying about things that need to get done, and take some time to just enjoy you. Just have a little fun it will do you wonders!

We can all handle a certain amount of stress, but when we get overloaded with stress, it lowers our ability to function. Stress actually takes the joy out of life. It saps our energy. In its extreme, stress can immobilize us. Stress can affect your relationships with your family and friends. You aren't much fun to be with when you're all stressed out. Instead, you can be grumpy, irritable, angry, impatient, distracted, jumpy, and impulsive. So do your self a favor and try out some of these stress busters for a healthier more relaxed you.

Source: American Institute of Stress, "Stress Reduction - AIS." Stress.org.