This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our affiliate disclosure. This site is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnose or treatment. Please see our medical disclaimer.
We all have stress in our lives. As a new mama, this is something that I am realizing more and more each day. Whether it’s stressing about what’s going on with your baby, what’s going on with your family, world events, local events, or just internal daily monologue everyone has stress in their lives. There are lots of different ways that you can relieve stress. I’m going to share 10 of my most favorite ways.
Exercise – Get Up and Move
The first way is one that most people don’t like to recognize and that’s exercise. Exercise can seem like a chore to many people. What a lot of people don’t realize is that when you exercise it actually releases endorphins in your brain that can help you feel better. When you’re done exercising you feel more relaxed and it can actually help to sleep at night too. Whether it’s just a 10-minute walk around the block or some intense cardio or weight lifting sessions, exercise is a benefit to your daily routine and relieving stress in your life.
Diet – Food Counts
Along with exercise, diet is important too. What you put into your body does have an effect on how your body feels. We can use an example of a car.
If you were to put really good gas in the car, take it for oil changes on schedule, and take it to the mechanic regularly, it will run optionally and for a good long while. If you put crap gas into the car, don’t do maintenance, or any of the routine things a car needs, it’s not gonna run so good and will not last as long.
Same thing with your body. If you put fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and proteins, nuts and not so much sugar, simple carbs, or fat, your body‘s going to run better and last longer compared to if you put in junk food, sweets, and soda pop in.
Water – Hydration
What goes along with what you put in your body is also water. Your body is 98% water. If you deprive your body of water it does not function. You can die of dehydration in three days but you can go weeks without food. Water is the fundamental compound of human life.
It’s best to drink half your weight in ounces of water a day to maintain proper hydration. What I do is every time I get up to go pee is I fill up a large glass of water and I drink it. This helps me stay hydrated.
If you are someone that doesn’t like bland water or just doesn’t like the taste of your water, you can always add simple things to help. Sliced fruits like strawberries, cucumbers, and any citrus Work wonderful. Likewise, you can also add frozen fruits to water. Not only will this give you a flavor boost, but it will also help keep your water cool which is a bonus in those hot summer months.
Time off – Give Yourself a Break
Another way to help you distress is to take time off from life. You may have a little one that requires you to call in a baby sitter, friend, or family member to watch your little one for an hour or a day. Any amount of time can be used to help you distress and relax.
Even if it is just asking your significant other to watch the baby for an hour can have amazing results for helping you relax. Any help will make it so that you do not have to worry about your little one (which I know is it a constant job) and you are able to just relax and unwind.
Relax – Just Do It
What does it take for someone to relax? Well, that’s going to be different for each person. You’re going to want to do things that help you relax.
For me, it’s some quiet time, some relaxing music, maybe a little meditation or yoga. It could also be taking a bath with bubbles, a candle, and an episode of my favorite TV show on my tablet. Whatever you do to relax is up to you and as long as it safe for you and your little one – then have at!
Music – Good Vibrations
One of the biggest ways to help you relax is through music. Everyone has their own forms of music that they jive to, and I get that. However, it has been shown that slower tempos have a more relaxing quality to them then faster tempos in music.
So whether you put on a piece of classical music, or the latest meditation music craze, music can help you relax even if it is just in the background and not something you’re focusing on. Your brain and body will still hear it and respond accordingly.
Hobbies – The Fun Stuff
I don’t think a lot of people realize a way of relaxing is through your hobbies. As a mom, I found that I have let a lot of my hobbies fall by the wayside. While this was to be expected when I had a new baby, it was not something that I wanted to keep up.
As I am slowly starting to pick them back up I am starting to feel genuinely happy and relaxed again. Hobbies help me explore parts of myself that I enjoy. It is important to restart these hobbies as soon as you’re able to even if it’s just on a smaller scale. This helps keep you in touch with you and helps keep you relaxed.
Family Time – It’s the Little Things
Some of the best relaxation times are actually when you spend time with your family. Family can be a major stress point in anyone’s life so it’s important to engage in activities with your family that is relaxing for everyone.
Whether that’s going to the park, going to a local amusement area like a water slide or family fun center, or just spending the day together doing stuff you enjoy like hiking, watching movies together, or going swimming. It’s important that you do things as a family with your family.
You may not be the only one who is stressed. If you have other children in the family who are older they might be stressed too and need ways to relax. If they don’t have or don’t know ways to do that it’s up to you to help. Not that we want this to turn into a chore but it’s just something for you to consider.
Socialization – Friends and Family
Friends are a great way to relax and distress. If you know people who are also new mamas or dadas or in similar circumstances to yours all the better. They will be able to relate to what you’re going through and might even have tips, tricks, or helpful comments that can help you in your situation.
Even if it’s just IMing someone through Facebook messenger or video Snapchat to keep in contact, socializing is a very important piece of relaxing. Whether people want to admit it or not, we humans are social creatures. We have thrived and succeeded in our environment for thousands of years because we rely on community and other people to help us through things and with things. So it’s best you don’t overlook it and keep in contact with others.
Treat Yourself – You Deserve It
Another great way to help you relax is to treat yourself. Whether that to a scrumptious meal that you don’t get very often or it’s purchasing something or just something as simple as painting your toenails or even going to get a pedicure. It’s important that you do nice things for yourself.
You are an important person.
You cannot take care of other people if you’re not first taken care of yourself.
Suggested Resources & Reading
Per FTC regulations, I can make a small commission off of qualified purchases from some of the links on this page. This does not cost you anything extra.The prices are exactly the same whether you purchase through my link or a non-affiliate link. If you would like to learn more, please click HERE. Thank you 🙂
If you are interested in starting your own blog to make money, CLICK HERE to learn about this great opportunity!
