6 Ways for Moms to Reduce Stress During Lockdown

Your family is great. You love them to bits and you’d do just about anything for them. They are your pride and joy, and in general, you like spending time with them.
But let’s just be real here for a second – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is a little too much.
We all know this quarantine is there for our own good, but when your kids have been running up the walls and screaming for three hours straight because they’re bored, all you want is just some damn peace and quiet.
Moms, we deserve a little rest. So, instead of driving ourselves crazy as we try to keep our family fed, clothed, healthy, and entertained, how about we extend the same kind of courtesy to ourselves by finding easy ways to reduce stress?
6 Ways for Moms to Reduce Stress During Lockdown
Ask for help

Here are three things you need to know right now: you deserve to ask for help, you should probably get some rest, and you’re not selfish for wanting to spend more time on yourself. Moms, don’t shoulder all of the burdens of running a household alone, especially not now that there’s more housework to be done than usual.
Even your children can help. To make them more enthusiastic, you can make it into a game for them. For example, you can organize a “cleaning competition,” where the person who makes their room the tidiest gets a special reward, like ice cream. Also, if you need to, have a calm conversation with your partner and tell them you need help. Help your family help you by stating your needs and desires.
Exercise your way to a good mood

Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress and stay healthy. Especially now that we can rarely leave our homes and we’re moving even less than before.
To make the best of your workout, turn it into a little self-care ritual. Pick out some cute yoga pants to wear, maybe put on a colorful top. Make a bangin’ playlist to listen to. Braid your hair, put on your sneakers, prepare a nice pre-workout snack. You can use some high stim pre-workout powder to boost your performance if you like, especially if you generally find yourself too tired to exercise. And there are some great online apps available to help you find the perfect at-home workout!
When you start working out, make sure you start with something that makes you feel good. And imagine how strong you’ll feel and how good you’ll look in just a few weeks, or a few months of consistent workouts.
Make a reading nook

A cozy sofa, a bookshelf full of exciting adventures, a fancy lamp next to it. You, sitting with a bunch of soft throw pillows to support your back. A cup of delicious coffee. Your favorite fuzzy slippers on your feet. All you need after all is a good novel: maybe a thriller, or a romantic story, or a good classic.
Let’s face it, our reality is more than a little stressful right now. So, why not escape it for a while by reading a good book and letting it take us on a fun adventure? If you want to make the experience even better, create a small reading nook for yourself and decorate it with pillows, candles, and houseplants.
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Do 5-minute meditation sessions

If you can spare more than five minutes, that’s great. But if you can’t, five minutes will do in a pinch, especially when your family starts driving you crazy and you just need a moment to center yourself.
Find a quiet corner (even the bathroom will do if you’ve nowhere else to go), and simply take time to breathe. Here’s how to do it: inhale slowly, hold your breath for three seconds, and then exhale slowly. Repeat. Do this with your eyes closed and remember that in those five minutes, all you have to do it breathe. You don’t have to do anything else, you don’t have to worry about anything else. This moment is just for you.
Put lipstick on

Of course, you don’t have to wear makeup when you’re home alone with your family, but the simple act of doing something to make yourself feel prettier can be very soothing. If you have no time, just put on a bit of cute pink lipstick. If you want to do more, add some mascara and concealer. It won’t take much time, but it will make you feel a bit more put together.
You can’t help anyone if you’re stressed and exhausted. Take care of yourself and find ways to reduce stress so you can be there for your family in a much better way!
Words by Sophia Smith