Thursday, March 08, 2018

Mama Life || How To Unwind After A Stressful Day



One thing I've been really struggling with lately is stress. The day to day build up of clutter in the house again, the manic school mornings with a feisty toddler and all the usual every day stresses of family life all come into play.

I've been looking at ways to focus on reducing the stress after a crazy day and just thinking about the reasons behind it and how to combat it for a better tomorrow has really helped. For me, preparation is key to a lot of my stress. Knowing what I am doing the next day, having things like school uniforms/shoes/bags ready the night before and even thinking about my own outfit prior to getting ready really helps. 

I thought I'd share ten ways that you can reduce stress after 'one of those days', hopefully something will work for you.




How To Unwind After A Stressful Day - 10 Tips


Wrap up the stress - Whatever has happened during the day, you most probably can't change anything about it now, so you need to wrap it up and put it to bed for the day. It's hard to disengage your brain from thinking after the event, but do whatever you can to forget about it. You may need to send an email, make a phone call, whatever it is, get it done so you can move on and enjoy the rest of your day.

Write lists - Sometimes a good brain dump can work wonders for reducing stress. Write down what's causing you stress, what you can do to make life easier and anything 'to do' tomorrow for a better day. 

Talk about it - Talking to a friend, loved one or colleague about your day may just help you feel better. Let out your emotions, talk about why you've been stressed, ask for help if you need it and don't be afraid to talk it over and ask for advice. The good old 'problem shared is a problem halved' saying is a big cliche, but it is true that often sharing your woes can make them easier to deal with.

Get outside - A blast of fresh air and taking it all out on the pavements can really help to clear your head. Go for a walk, walk the dog, go running or simply sit in the garden for a breather. The outdoors can work wonders for reducing stress especially if part of that stress comes from within the home or family setting.




Take a nap - You really can't beat having a nap and if you get the opportunity to do so, grab it with both hands and go for it. Laying down, completely relaxing all your muscles, closing your eyes and switching off can really reset you after a manic day.

Listen to music - Music truly is medicine for the soul. Whether it's rocking out to some hardcore metal, dancing around the kitchen to some dance tracks or laying down with some classical favourites, pumping out some good music can take you to a completely different place, distract your mind enough to relax you and even give you energy to tackle the rest of the day.

Get in water - Hydrotherapy is known to help with relaxation. If you can't get to a pool, something as simple as a nice smelling bath can help clear your mind, ease tense muscles and help you unwind. Adding candles, music and maybe even a cheeky glass of wine all help to take your mind off the worries of the day. 




Watch a feel good movie - Films are great for transporting us to a different world entirely and we all have our firm favourites. Whether you need to cry it out with a soppy story or a high action thriller, pop on a movie that puts a smile on your face.

Get some love - I'm not talking about jumping in the sack (although that would help if it's an option), but simply having a cuddle, a massage, a snuggle with the kids or just sitting down with a pet can really help to bring your stress levels down.

Create a relaxing space - Setting can make a big difference to how you feel. You need to make sure you have at least one serene space that's clutter free and cosy with suitable lighting. You need to feel at home, safe and calm so always try and keep one room/corner clear for days like this for an instant de-stress.




Stress can have such a huge impact on not just how we feel, but also on our health and relationships. Living with stress can be such a struggle, so it's really important to try and keep on top of it, have plans in place and know what to do when it rears its ugly head.

Do you suffer with stress?