Whether you haven't had enough sleep, or you're tired of work, or your children are being such a pain in the head, having children can be really stressful. It gets more stressful if you have work outside of your home. It is never easy to be a parent. When you become one, it takes a lot of time, effort, and patience to handle and raise children. However, parents are also human beings-- they also get tired and experience tons of stress.
Stress can cause a lot of negative things in a person. To parents, your mental health might be at stake. According to Snowden McFall, a corporate trainer and stress expert who wrote the famous book titled "Stress Express: 15 Instant Stress Relievers," reveals that numerous studies have proved that stress, indeed, can cause medical conditions. A sharp 80% of doctor's visits that parents and adults do are because of stress, and this should be flagged in public for stress and mental health awareness for everybody.
Stress can be turned into a more complicated mental and physical issue if not addressed and relieved immediately, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stress can lead to a severe mental disorder, such as anxiety and depression that is associated with physical pain such as headaches and chest pains. If a parent is stressed, not only they are at risk but also their children. Parents are most likely unaware that their children can also develop stress if they see their parents are going through it. However, if they see their parents handle their stress in a more responsible way, children will also adapt to that and will somehow teach them how to handle and deal with their own stress effectively.
If you're one of those "stressed" parents who struggle to manage their stress, here are five ways that you can do to relieve it-- and it does not even cost you that much.
Get enough sleep.
This might sound ironic or impossible for parents, especially those who have newborns because sleep is being deprived of parents. According to McFall, if a person gets less than six hours of sleep, they tend to have a cognitive disadvantage. When you are sleep deprived, you tend to lose your temper more often, you become easily irritable and annoyed, and you can't think straight. It is important for parents to know how important sleep is just as much they tell their children how important sleep is to them.
Take a break from time to time.
Taking a vacation leave from work is a must. Parents are also human beings; they are not robots that you can just turn on and do everything. You can also go for a small getaway every other weekend with your family. Go to the beach or go on a hike. Taking a time off will do you good and will relieve your stress.
Do meditation.
It would be impossible for busy parents to get gym or yoga in their busy schedules, but meditating at least 10 minutes a day can be a big difference. You can download meditation apps on your phone and meditate before you go to work or before you go to sleep. This will ease your mind and take it off from other things.
Spend more time in nature.
If you have a huge lawn at your house, did you know that plants can relieve stress and anxiety? Seeing flowers bloom or seeing a nice pot of plant will relieve your stress. It is also fun to do gardening and can even be a fun stress reliever. If you want a more adventurous trip, you can go on a hike and spend time in nature , or a 30-minute walk to the park to breathe some fresh air would also do the trick.
Make time for yourself.
Aside from taking a vacation, even though you're a parent, you also need your "me" time. Make time for yourself that you find fun. Meet up with friends from time to time and take oof your mind off from home for a while. Having a good time and laugh with friends is the perfect antidote for stressed parents.
ALSO READ: 5 Meditation Apps Perfect for Parents
