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Hey working mom – with work, kids, hubby, and the dog to think about, it’s no wonder you need to reduce stress!  There’s no secret to stressing less.  But, you must be willing to make yourself a priority.  Here are 10 tips to help you reduce stress and enjoy your life:

1 – Exercise more.  I know it sounds counterproductive, but it works.  When you exercise you release endorphins, also know as “feel good hormones.” Those endorphins are responsible for helping to lift your mood and producing a calming effect overall.  For me, exercise has become my go-to for reducing stress.  If I want to reduce stress, I hit the pavement running, pop in a dance video, or lift some weights to sweat it out.  Trust – after a good sweat session, whatever you were stressed about is a distant memory.

 2 – Meditate.  No, you don’t have to sit for hours or chant if you don’t want to!  You can start by finding a comfortable, preferably, quiet space to sit or lie down.  My kids-free zone and go-to space is my closet.  Close your eyes and focus your attention on your breathing.  Try to focus on the process of inhaling and exhaling. You only need to do it for a few minutes to feel more relaxed.  The more you do it, the longer you’ll be able to focus.  To reduce stress, just take a few minutes to meditate before entering a stressful situation.

3 – LOL.  You can reduce stress by making a conscious decision to laugh out loud every day.  We all have that girlfriend that makes us laugh harder than any comedian ever could.  Keep her number on speed dial.  On your list of things to do, you need to have laughter at the top of the list.  Whether it’s my kids being naturally silly or a punch-line in my favorite sitcom, I get a daily dose of laughter.  I believe it when the Bible says, “laughter is good medicine.”  The more you laugh, the easier it is to let go of the stresses of the day.

4 – Journal your thoughts.  There are some things you will write on paper that you’ll never say out loud.  Because of that, journaling your thoughts is a great way to reduce stress.  You can journal in a notebook or you can get a guided journal.  If you’re stressed or worried about a problem, writing your thoughts allows you to process what you’re feeling.  There’s no right or wrong way to journal.  I just write like I’m writing a letter to myself or to God. 

5 – Make a to-do list. Ever lay in bed thinking about all you need to do at work the next day? Just knowing you have so much to get done between work and family can leave you feeling stressed.  Learn to reduce stress by making a list of what you need to do.  Before I leave work, I write my to-do list for the next day and post it.  Not only does it help me stay organized, but it keeps me from thinking about the job when I’m with my family.  Likewise, if you make a list before you go to sleep, you’re less likely to feel stressed about all you need to get done.  The real way to reduce stress – cross each task off the list once it’s done!

6 – Unplug.  Yeah, social media is great. But, it can be information overload.  And, once you get sucked in, you can waste more time than you expected.  Doesn’t it seem like everyone is living it up and having a ball? If you’re not careful, you can compare someone’s Instagram story with your real life.  So, just unplug for a while. Reduce stress by having a cut off time for your electronic devices. There are times when we turn off all electronics, including television, to just connect as a family.  Taking a break to unplug can be a great stress-reliever.

7 – Take a warm bath or shower.  I love a bubble bath!  You can easily reduce stress by taking a relaxing bath or shower. After a tough day at work and an hour of homework with my son, my favorite thing to do is light some candles and run a bubble bath.  Having a few minutes to myself in a tranquil setting is a great way to reduce stress.  Water has a calming effect.  So, if you’re not into bubble baths, you can still take a relaxing shower to help you get centered.  You can even elevate your experience by using scented candles and your favorite shower gel.

8 – Do something mindless. My guilty pleasure is watching drama-filled reality shows.  Since I try to stay drama free, watching someone else’s drama is a great stress reliever for me.  Whether it’s a game on your phone or catching up with the latest celebrity gossip, it’s good to have some mindless entertainment.  My job requires a lot of mental energy and it often leaves me mentally drained.  When I need to recharge, I try to do things that don’t require a lot of thought.  If you want to reduce stress, incorporate some mindless entertainment into weekly your routine.  

9 – Read for leisure.  Between reading for work and reading with my kids, I rarely have time to curl up with a good book.  But, when I do, it’s one of my favorite things! Reading for leisure is a great way to reduce stress.  When you read for pleasure, it allows you to escape what’s going on in your everyday life temporarily.  If I’m reading a James Patterson novel, I’m not thinking about my job or my bills because I’m too busy trying to figure out who did it and why.

 10 – Nurture your soul.  As a working mom, it’s easy to worry about the health and well-being of everyone else.  It can be easy to forget to nurture yourself.  You can reduce stress by paying attention to what you need.  Make sure you are surrounding yourself with positivity.  Be aware of negative energy and avoid negativity.  If you have a co-worker who complains all the time, that’s probably not the person to have lunch with every day.  Every morning, I try to start my day by listening to a positive message or reading scripture or a daily devotional. Starting my day on a positive note, helps me to stay centered and keeps me from getting stressed over simple things.

You can easily reduce stress by making simple changes to your daily routine.  Follow these ten tips to stress less and continue to live your best life in balance.

Disclaimer: You should consult your physician or another health care professional before starting any fitness routine or making changes in your diet. Any health, fitness, or nutritional information offered is designed for educational purposes only.  Do not rely on this information as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While exercising, if you experience faintness, dizziness, pain, or shortness of breath, you should stop exercising immediately and seek professional medical assistance.

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Dear Working Mom,

Shopping. Cooking. Entertaining. Family.  The holidays can be stressful, but they don’t have to be.  You can beat the holiday stress and have a relaxed holiday season by following these five simple steps:

1- Do something for someone in need.  One of the best ways to avoid holiday stress is to remember why you’re grateful. No matter what challenges you are facing, someone would love to trade their problems for yours.  Each year, I make holiday gift bags for the homeless. It’s one of my favorite things to do because I know people really need it.  Find a cause you believe in or someone who really needs help.  Pay it forward!  If you go out to eat, look for a waiter or waitress to surprise with an extra-large tip.  Go to Wal-Mart and pay the balance on a layaway account of someone you don’t know.  Offer to babysit one afternoon for a mom in your inner circle.  See a single mom in a restaurant or grocery store and pay her bill.  Don’t underestimate the joy you can give and receive from helping others.

2 – Go giftless.  When we were dating, my husband and I stopped exchanging gifts on Christmas.  It was one of the best decisions we’ve made.  Buying gifts during the Christmas season can become stressful. For Tristan, I usually stick with one big gift and a couple of smaller items.  Since we’ve had kids, we rarely even buy gifts for our extended family.  With two families, it can become quite expensive and overwhelming.  In the absence of gifts, you can choose to focus on relationships and enjoying one another.  As an added benefit, you can avoid overspending!

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3 – Let them eat catered.  Working mom, don’t stress over cooking!  If you don’t like to cook or don’t have the time, order out.  Just make sure you place your order early.  You can even let the family have input on the menu and caterer.  It might be different for your family, but they will probably appreciate you being more relaxed.  I remember my grandmother being in the kitchen all day and night during the holidays.  While the food was always delicious, I don’t remember her having time to enjoy it.  She was usually exhausted from cooking for days! With someone else doing the cooking, you can enjoy your family without feeling overwhelmed.

4 – Prep everything beforehand.  I like to cook, so this works well for me.  If you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen the night before and all day on the holiday, preparation is key.  You can buy pre-cut veggies to save time.  Or, cut up them up two days before and seal tight in the fridge.  Clean and season any meats one to two days before and allow them to marinate in the refrigerator. Make your fillings for pies or casseroles and have them ready to pour into the pan.  Once it is all prepped, you can cook it the night before or the morning of without being stressed.

5 – Keep it simple. Don’t over complicate the holidays by trying to do too much.  You could whip out your fine China, but won’t that make more work for you?  Don’t feel the need to impress anyone.  If you’re having guests, have them bring a covered dish.  Ditch the traditional meal and do something fun and simple, like grilling.  Make your life easy and use paper products.  Avoid having to clean your house afterwards by eating outside (I live in South Florida).  Don’t stress out trying to create a perfect experience or image for someone else.  Stay in balance by keeping it simple.

Working mom, you may actually have time off from work – so,take advantage!  Be thankful for the opportunity to share with friends and family.  You can have a stress-free holiday season and continue to live your best life in balance by keeping things simple.

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