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Many busy parents often feel guilty when they feel tired, stressed, or fail to tick tasks off their to-do list. However, you must realize you’re not a robot, which is why you must forgive yourself for leaving dishes in the sink or when wishing for a little alone time.
Parenting is a full-time job, and you owe it yourself to take a break to relax your mind and body. Here are four top tips to help parents de-stress.
- Stick to a Strict Bedtime Routine
A strict children’s bedtime routine is beneficial for both you and your little ones. It will not only help them to develop a healthy sleeping pattern each day, but it will allow you to enjoy a little downtime once they are in bed for the night.
Don’t spend your spare time cleaning up after your kids. If they’re old enough to complete various chores, get your children involved in the clean-up process once they’ve finished dinner to teach them responsibility. Once they are fast asleep, you can embark on an activity that helps you relax and brings you joy. For example, it could provide a perfect opportunity to read a good book, call a friend, or watch a feel-good movie.
- Enjoy a Well-Deserved Pamper
Balancing raising kids with a career and household chores can place great pressure on the body. Allow all the stress to melt away by making time to pamper your body from head to toe. For example, you could treat yourself to a hot and cool stone massage from an award-winning beauty salon Oxford, which will relax your muscles. Also, you could feel a little more human with a restorative skin treatment.
- Drink a Cup of Tea
There’s a reason Brits reach for a cup of tea during a crisis. According to a study, people who started drinking tea had lower cortisol levels in the body after six weeks compared to those who drank a placebo hot drink. They experienced less stress each day. Drinking a hot beverage could support good mental health, as it requires you to slow down and focus on the act of drinking. So, the next time you feel stress or tense, enjoy a cup of tea to decompress.
- Breathe
Both new and experienced parents can struggle with stress and anxiety. If you struggle with various worries or negative feelings, you should sit in a quiet spot and focus on taking long, deep breaths. It might help to exhale longer than you inhale. For example, close your eyes and inhale for five seconds and then exhale for seven. It will cause your heart rate to slow down and trigger a chemical change in the brain that will help you relax.
Stress and parenting don’t need to go together. While tension, anxiety, and fatigue may creep up from time to time, you must look for ways to combat it, such as making time for deep breathing or enjoying a much deserved pamper session.
