GIDEON OAKES/ Scroll
Frazzled mother Gwen Blad feeds her 7 ½ month old baby Mason.

De-stressing her stressful life

Compiled by Stephanie Fantasia GAG01001@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

After arriving home from her time-consuming and chaotic adventure of chasing her toddler around the grocery store, Mom quickly puts the groceries away while her 2-year-old neatly nestles a marble in his left nostril when she’s not looking.

So many things can go wrong in a mom’s busy life. With super market visits and routine trips to the doctor’s office, how can she alleviate some of her daily stress?

Exercise
By getting regular exercise, moms can boost their body’s endorphin levels and ultimately relieve stress. Whether setting aside time to hit the local gym or merely running on the treadmill at home, the effects exercise have on the body can contribute to a more healthy and happy life.

Sleep
Sleep deprivation is one of the leading causes of stress in moms. Many moms are not able to sleep in after their children wake, but they can coordinate naps with their little ones. Instead of using this spare time to clean, moms should get some much-deserved rest and let the mess wait until dads can help (sorry dads).

Say no
Helping others is great, but not when sanity is at stake. With so many day-to-day “mom responsibilities” to accomplish, taking on too many small favors can become a big problem. By cordially declining any additional chores that have the potential to put moms over the top, they can take a little more time for themselves.

Confide in others
Moms should talk to other moms because they have the ability and knowledge to understand the struggles many mothers face each day. By vocalizing concerns and stresses to those who may be experiencing some of the same ordeals, moms can relieve some of their tension and possibly even receive some valuable advice and make friends.

Make lists 
Checklists can help moms keep their very busy agendas organized. They are a great way to successfully prioritize and get things done in a more efficient manner, and even offer a miniature adrenaline rush as moms make those gratifying check marks as each task is completed.

Get fresh air
For a mom who stays at home with her children, being cooped up in the house all the time might get a little dull. Fresh air is a stress-relief remedy. Taking time to get out of the house and take a short walk can offer a whole new perspective and also a refreshing, cool breeze.

Eat a healthy diet
Eating healthy, balanced meals can help moms keep in shape and be more prepared to face what each day may have in store for them. Unhealthy diets can contribute to exhaustion and make it more difficult for them to chase their little ones as needed.

Take shortcuts
Moms are often busy so cutting some corners along the way can be an acceptable way to save some precious time and energy. By making minor changes such as serving dinner on paper plates or ordering out, moms can have more time for those greater moments in life.