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Finally! Good reasons not to feel guilty for hiding out in your bedroom with your secret chocolate stash.
With all the responsibilities moms juggle, it’s important that you decompress now and then, do something for yourself and remember who you are.
Whether it’s becoming a taxi service for the children to and from music and sports lessons, cooking up a (healthy-but-also-tasty) dinner or helping children with a last-minute science project, being a mom is a 24/7 commitment. After all, there’s no time clock to punch at the end of a “mom” day, and there’s no overtime pay for staying up all night with a sick child.
Those “mom” responsibilities really add up. According to Salary.com, the average stay-at-home mom in 2014 juggled 96.5 hours of work per week and took on about $118,905 worth of duties, including childcare, cooking and cleaning throughout the year.
With all the responsibilities moms face, feeling overwhelmed comes with a territory. According to a 2012 Gallup poll, stay-at-home moms are more likely to feel depressed, worried, sad, stressed or angry than employed moms and employed women without children.
It’s more important than ever before to sit down, exhale and take a break. Here are a few simple ways you can get the R&R you deserve.
1. Shut the door
Sometimes, getting out of the house is impossible. On occasions like that, it’s time to shut the bedroom door and take a few minutes to enjoy the (hopefully quiet) alone time. Don’t feel guilty. Enjoy it!
2. Send the kids next door
Find a friend who has kids of her own—or who wouldn’t mind taking your kids for a few hours one day. A quick nap or a long phone call with a sister or best friend might be just the relief you need. Just don’t forget to return the favor to your friend.
3. Exercise
Not only does a trip to the gym give you some time to clear your head, it can also relieve those feelings of stress and depression. In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, studies show regular exercise works as well as medication for some people with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Lacing up those sneakers may be better for you than you realized.
4. Do something for yourself
Sure, being a mom makes it impossible to avoid stress altogether, but it’s perfectly plausible to escape it now and then. In fact, every mother should take a break to do something for herself. Put the other priorities aside for a bit and give you the you-time you need.
5. Get outside
Whether it’s with or without the children (hopefully without), getting outside can go a long way in preserving mom’s sanity. According to Prevention, spending just five minutes walking outdoors can boost mood and self-esteem.
6. Treat yourself
Whether it’s taking an hour out of the week for a much-needed manicure or splurging on those soft, luxurious bed sheets (and praying the children allow for a full night’s sleep), you should feel perfectly justified pampering yourself now and then.
As joyful as child rearing can be, motherhood can also be daunting. A little break or treat now and then might be just what the doctor ordered.
For deserved indulgence, a set of Cariloha bamboo sheets (available at www.Cariloha.com) will give you that much-needed nap in natural luxury.