10 Ways to Cope with Mom Stress
Figuring out how to cope with mom stress is essential to living a balanced life. Effective coping strategies can help you navigate the difficulties of motherhood. Here are 10 practical ways to cope with mom stress.
1. Recognize the signs of mom stress
First, one of the most essential ways to deal with motherhood stress is by recognizing there’s an issue in the first place. When you understand you’re stressed, you can learn how to manage it.
Common signs of mom stress include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Loss of appetite
- Inability to concentrate
By acknowledging your symptoms, you can take proactive steps to address them before they escalate into something much worse.
2. Carve out “mommy me-time” for self-care regularly
When dealing with mom stress, that analogy about putting on your oxygen mask first rings true.
Dedicating time for yourself every day – even just a few minutes – helps you recharge and improve your mood. Do you enjoy reading, working out, or taking a bath? Self-care for parents is essential for managing emotional well-being.
3. Establish a support system
Support is crucial for moms. Surround yourself with people who understand your challenges and can relate to the mom stress you experience. Friends, family, and other moms can offer you emotional support, practical help, and a sense of community that can get you through the tough days.
4. Set realistic expectations
Feel like you’re failing as a parent? Being realistic about what you can do and setting goals you can actually achieve will help you let go and accept your limitations. Ultimately, setting realistic goals and healthy expectations can allow you to slow down and focus on what truly matters.
5. Learn to delegate responsibilities
Being a good mom doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. Delegating tasks and responsibilities to others—your partner, older children, hired help—will reduce your workload so you have the time to take care of the things you need to do.
6. Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques
Practicing mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises for anxiety and stress helps you calm your mind and reduce stress.
“The proof is in the pudding regarding the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and all of the above. A mindful perspective is known to lower cortisol, our stress hormone, which decreases our stress experience and prevents disease and chronic stress in the body. An easy proactive breath practice or even a brief yoga session can do the trick. Mindfulness is a win-win for moms.”
– Talkspace therapist Elizabeth Keohan, LCSW-C
