Most families work hard to keep up with their overcommitted schedules. Juggling home, work, and school doesn’t leave much free time to connect and chill as a family. Worse, because we’re constantly running at full throttle, when life throws us a simple challenge (the washer machine continues to eat socks and we haven’t a clue where to find them!) we lose it and succumb to the pressure.
Here are some easy-to-implement stress busters that will allow your family to flourish when life tries to get the best of you.
1. Keep calm and slow down
One reason families are super stressed is that we move at such a fast pace. We hurry from one activity and obligation to the next, barely making time to stop and share a meal . It seems obvious, but sometimes we forget that an effective and easy way to combat stress is to slow down and shift gears from panicked to peaceful.
When my kids were younger, I would charge out of bed each morning, barking orders while I ran from kid to kid getting them fed and dressed for school. By the time the bus rolled into our neighborhood, we were all frazzled and miserable. Even the dog was wound up.
As parents, we set the tone for how our household responds to pressure.
As parents, we set the tone for how our household responds to pressure. My kids were feeding off my anxiety each morning, so they were nervous wrecks each day. I realized I needed to shift gears from harried to calm—fast.
I started with my voice. Instead of riling them up in a loud, excited tone, I greeted them in a quieter, gentler voice. I also got into the habit of moving more slowly while getting them ready, which had an unexpected bonus—it was particularly helpful for keeping our lively dog more relaxed. When I implemented a strong morning routine, it eliminated the frantic scurry. Everything was organized in advance.
Be mindful of the pace you keep. Slow it down, and you’ll cause a peaceful ripple effect for the rest of the household to follow.
RELATED: 5 Mindfulness Habits for Better Parenting
2. Chew on it
A favorite way for many families to release pent up...
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