What are some of the things that you mothers (and dads) do to help with the stress from everyday living?
A hot bath does wonders for my temperament...
...especially if I get through it without interruption from a child who must show me the most recent most wonderful thing ever right away.
Hi!
I love to bake when I get stressed (by my self). I have had a lot of people tell me to take walks or exercise, but instead I also clean! I know that sounds silly since it stresses some people out, but it makes me feel better knowing my house is clean!
I hope this helps!
Exercise, alcohol, and sex...all three, in no particular order.
A looong hot shower.
i sing to my favourite songs...they almost are all from the 80s so I go back to lighter days of my life!!!
I make sure I get out at least one night a month and just have some Mommy time. I usually end up at Borders Book Store and enjoy a coffee and a good book, or I'll take a book to Panera and just enjoy the quiet.
play with my kids, sit in car alone, walk, write, cry, laugh, hide in the closet or bathroom, read my bible, listen to music, eat, sit by a river or lake, visit family/friends, hot bath, dance, stretch, close eyes and deep breathe, go to a mall and watch people walk by, travel, stay quiet for short periods, do nothing (no housework, no tv, nothing - my life has so many to-do's that literally doing nothing is a big stress reliever..and I try to do nothing away from home, lol)..is that enough! :-))
Exercise
Go for a walk if I can.
Talk on the phone to my girlfriends. Boy do they set me straight when I need it and are a great source of support.
looong showers, reading books, goin for a walk, sex (tehehe) and my "nerdy" one...I play World of Warcraft when the kids are sleeping o.0
getting to be alone. Doesn't matter what I am doing.
reading, Go for a walk, getting to do the grocery shopping without munchkins in tow, leaving early for work and stopping off to get a latte.
Solitude is an amazing stress reliever!
read, take a nap, punch a pillow (okay for worse days!), shower, garden, re-decorate, sweep the floor, go on a walk, bake cookies, watch a movie
my family knows when i go in the bathroom (obviously) or the bedroom and shut the door to leave me alone..long hot bath or bedroom by myself helps me
Knit! Watching reruns of the Big Bang Theory while I knit also helps :-)
Read, listen to my iTouch, chat with friends either through texting or facebook chatting, cuddling with my kids, watching cartoons, watching a good movie, sitting down cuddle up under a blanket and do nothing, take a nap......meditate
I SHOULD exercise, but I don't.
When I find the time, I read, I crochet, I make things from Polymer clay, listen to grown up music, and get out of the house alone every once in a while, even for time at the library, or a hair cut, or a grocery shopping trip alone.
Wine, tv, wine, the internet, and wine.
I agree with many of the ones listed below but I didn't see watching dumb TV. I like to watch something totally unecessary like reality TV- especailly anything on TLC- it's girl TV! Sometimes watching Super Nanny or something like that is actually stress relieving because I always feel like my kids are angels and I'm a wonderful Mom after watching the bratty little kids and clueless Mom's on that show!
Exercise - it really helps! Sometimes it helps to escape into a book, too. But for that I have to set the timer or all of a sudden the day is gone!
Aerobic exercise is the best stress reliever. When the body is experiencing stress we go back to the 'fight or flight' syndrom of the the cavemen. It causes an abundance of adrenline to build up in the body and while at first it gives us a rush of energy it will eventually cause us to feel tired. Exercise that increases the heartbeat and breathing will use up that extra adrenline resulting in calming us down. The cool thing is you get to pick your exercise. Anything from running to dancing works.
While many of the other suggestions you received help sitting and watching TV only allows the adrenline to build up and doesn't release it. A hot bath will relax you but not use that extra adrenline. The key is to use that extra adrenline then relax with a hot bath or shower and then knit, crochet, read and or watch TV.
I went through a divorce 30 years ago and stressed out in a major way. My doctor gave me a book on exercise and while I have always been the poster child for the I hate exercise group I found that grabbing some girlfriends and going out dancing, laughing and talking and maybe a little flirting helped a lot. If you are married grab your hubby find a place that has music you both like and go dancing, really let your hair down and have fun. If babysitters and money are an issue get some CDs and dance at home. If dancing isn't your thing go for a brisk walk, really pick up the pace. If these ideas don't work, look for some exercise DVDs ( I found some at Goodwill) pop them in and follow along. You will help yourself in so many ways. Your muscles, heart , lungs and mind will benefit from the exercise and you will show your kids that a seditary lifestyle is not a good thing.
Last suggestion: sign up the family for Martial Arts classes. You can focus your anger and frustration into your punching and kicking. Take that boss, bam kick the heavy bag etc. It really works.
The former poster child is now a Black Belt! MMMM feels soooo good.
Working out is my biggest one. I walk, take a weight lifting class at the Y, use the elliptical or the exercise bike. I like coffee and the newspaper to start the day. Reading helps me relax for bedtime. I like a glass of wine when I cook. I pet our new puppy or throw his toys for him. This is the weirdest one of all--sometimes I go in the bathroom, close the door and pluck my eyebrows!! They are high maintenance eyebrows and I find it kind of soothing. I'm also by myself (except for maybe the puppy). (-:
