*How to avoid stress as a working mom is a guest post. If you are interested in having your writing hosted on A Modern Mom’s Life, please visit my Guest Posting page.*
Being a mom already involves a wide range of stressors, and adding a child to the mix makes things even more complicated. In fact, a working mom with two children has 40% more stress than a working woman with no children.
Fortunately, there are a few effective ways of managing work- and family-related stress and being your best self in the office and at home. Continue reading for more information about the best stress-relieving habits, and remember to make time for your own well-being while still fulfilling family and work obligations.
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Try these tips to avoid stress as a working mom:
Ask for Help
We all like to think that we can manage everything on our own, but there’s nothing wrong with asking other people in your life to help out when possible. Many working moms end up taking on a wide range of responsibilities at home, and you might not even realize that you’re overworking yourself.
While men are doing more housework than they did in the past, the division of labor is still far from equal. Let your partner or other family members know if you feel like you’re taking on too much, and don’t feel obligated to clean up after everyone else. Managing your home should be a team effort!
Focus on Self-care
Self-care is one of the most important strategies for busy working moms, but it can often be difficult to make enough time in the day for your own physical, mental, and emotional rest.
Meditation and other mindfulness techniques are extremely popular options for self-care, but even simpler things like a quick nap or short coffee break can help you recharge. Any of these activities will allow you to be at your best for the rest of the day. You might think that pushing yourself all day is the best way to get things done, but people who take more breaks are actually more productive.
Build Predictable Routines
Creating a clear and regular schedule is a great way to start feeling less overwhelmed by your work and family responsibilities. This makes each day predictable and helps you avoid forgetting anything important or accidentally creating any scheduling conflicts.
Making a schedule also allows you to set aside time for the things that are important to you. In addition to self-care, you can also schedule certain days for family time or time with your partner. Allotting time to these relationships ensures that you have time to focus on your personal life, too.
Related: Tips for Surviving a Busy Family Schedule
There’s no way to completely remove the stress that comes from being a working mom, but these tips will help you juggle your responsibilities more effectively and feel a little calmer at home and at work. It’s easy to put your own needs after those of people at work and in your family, but it’s equally important to focus on your own physical, mental, and emotional health.
Rae is a graduate of Tufts University with a combined International Relations and Chinese degree. After spending time living and working abroad in China, she returned to NYC to pursue her career and continue curating quality content. Rae is passionate about travel, food, and writing for Yumble.
I’d love to hear how you make it work as a working mom. I do many of the things Rae suggests above. Regular schedules are a life saver, and I pushed hard at work to get myself on a consistent schedule every week.
Taking time for myself also saves my sanity. Escaping from the living space to my bedroom to fold laundry quietly can help re-center me. Small moments over your jam-packed day will ease your sense of busyness. Pop over and read about how I survive as a working mom.
Jess
