Although roles within society have shifted, many of us still feel the pressures of being a modern, busy woman. Whether you’re balancing family with work, or work with pleasure (or all of the above), it can be easy to lose yourself among the madness. If you want to be the best you can be, you have to remember to take time to recharge and destress. But with the world asking you for more how can you possibly find the time?  

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For other Stress-busting tips for women read on for the below guest post by Chloe of Nyxie’s Nook, a blog focussing on Mental Health Awareness, Recovery and Wellness.

Here are Chloe’s 8 stress busting tips and ways to recharge your cup.

1. Take Deep Breathes

It might sound silly but by simply taking five minutes to be with your breathing we can help defuse stress before it gets too much. You may be running late, the kids may be screaming but simply stop, close your eyes, and take a deep inhale. Every time I walk into my therapists office the first thing she asks me is ‘have you been breathing correctly?’ I used to think surely I can do that right, but no! It’s surprising how many of us rush through life and never take the time to enjoy deep, uninterrupted breaths.

Deep breathing has been proven to be one of the most effective ways of lowering stress within the body. When you take deep breaths it signals your brain to slow down and relax. In turn, your brain messages your body and suddenly you’ll find your shoulders dropping, your jaw unclenching  and your stomach relaxing. Your heart rate will decrease, breathing will become steadier and even your blood pressure will start to drop!

Breathing exercises are easy for anyone to learn. Check out this article over on my own blog to get started.

2. Find some alone time

When you’re a working mum it can’t be easy to find time for yourself. As a childless woman, I even find it hard to get some space between my day job, working from home, and spending time with my loved ones. Sometimes all I want is to relax on the couch with a good documentary, my phone on silent and my partner tucked away in his office.

With little ones running around it can be difficult, but here is where you utilise those precious moments in the shower, bath, or even on the loo. Make sure your kids are safe with an adult or asleep, and then head to your happy place. Use the breathing techniques above to get that little extra boost of self-care. Above all else don’t feel guilty about needing your time. If you’re not at your best, then how can you possibly give the best to anyone else. That includes your kids. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup!

3. Learn to say NO!

No is not a dirty word. You don’t need to be the YES MAN all the time! NO is a word I have so much difficulty saying to people. I said yes to everything because I was afraid of offending people, but I learned the hard way that NO is just two little letters. As long as you cause no harm, using this little word shouldn’t hold the weight that it seems to have gained. How the other person takes your response is on them, not you, and if they’re offended by your use of the word NO then it’s for them to sit with.⠀

Say NO to that extra shift at work or that extra assignment. Don’t be afraid to say NO to your kids or even your partner if what their asking for is unrealistic and unachievable for you. You’re not there to please everyone and you’re not responsible for other people’s feelings, actions or thoughts.

4. Enlist help.

Never, ever be ashamed to ask for help. Whether it’s in the office, at home, or with family, having the ability to ask for help is an amazing thing. Women in my life have a habit of being martyrs. They’d die for the job, their kids, their family without so much as thinking of asking for help from anyone else. What has it gotten them? Stress and lots of it.

Ask your partner to help you out with chores, or your mother in law to keep the kids. If you’re feeling brave you can even ask a neighbour for help or the boss for flexi-time. There’s nothing wrong or weak about asking for help, and it’s about time we realised it!

5. Get some gentle exercise

The last thing you want to add to your schedule is running a mile or going to the gym. But you can add exercise to your daily routine without so much as putting on a bra. Although yoga isn’t for everyone, it’s fairly simple to do some stretches at home using online sources for guidance. Better yet? The kids can even join in the fun.

Yoga is more than just postures and stretches. We connect our breathing up with the movement of our bodies, and the swift, gentle progression from one post to the next is dictated by our breath. It teaches us to take things slow, listen to our bodies and has even been proven to reduce anxiety.

For more information on yoga you can check out this article over on my own blog. I discuss some of the top benefits of yoga and why you should try it. Even if it’s just the once.

6. Plan ahead and keep organised

Planning ahead is possibly one of the most important pieces of advice for any busy person no matter their gender, marital status of parental responsibilities. Life becomes so much easier when we’re organised and ready to go without hesitation. Although sometimes things can happen out of the blue, they are always easier to manage when we have all our other ducks in a row.

Plan out your meals for the week ahead or even meal prep if you have the time! If you don’t wear a uniform to work, lay out your clothes the night before to save those extra few moments in the morning. You can even grab yourself a diary and keep a brief account of your plans for each day. This can either be done the night before or, if you’re feeling extra organised, the week before. I always find that my most productive days are those that have been prepared in advance. Without a clearly laid out structure I always find myself becoming overwhelmed and eventually giving up without so much as one thing crossed off my list.

Set boundaries

We all have a different level of tolerance when it comes to stress. While one person may be able to balance a full time job, a family and several hobbies, others simply find it too hectic. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Much like our bodies, our minds all work differently. We can adjust ourselves to become more tolerant and flexible over time, but let’s not over do it just to impress the boss. You are who you are and if you can only manage one thing at a time, then so be it. Get to know your own limits and stick with them! Much like learning to say no we also need to learn when enough is enough.

Boundaries also refer to how we interact and allow others to interact with us. If your mother is always on your heels, kindly ask her to step off. If she refuses, then feel no shame in taking the initiative and backing away from her. The same applies to toxic friends, in-laws and even colleagues. Look after yourself, your body and your mind and the rest should swiftly follow.

8. Remember your stress management techniques

No matter how stressed or overwhelmed you become it’s not going to go away if you don’t actively participate in stress management. It can be easy to forget self-care among the chaos. When the kids are screaming, the boss is being demanding and the work just keeps mounting. It can be so easy to stop looking after yourself. But the moment you take your foot off the self-care pedal, is the moment you welcome further stress into your life.

We hope you’ve found these stress busting tips helpful.

BIO:

Nyxie’s Nook is a blog focusing on mental health awareness, eating disorder recovery, wellness, and self-development. The blog was started in March 2019 in a bid to raise awareness for mental illness such as Anorexia Nervosa and Anxiety, two such disorders Chloe suffers from. However, what started out as a hobby, quickly turned into something much, much more!

Nyxie’s Nook has become a place to talk about all mental health issues and the struggles that come along with recovery. Chloe covers a variety of subjects ranging from general wellness right up to more specific recovery related content. She not only aims to cater to those in recovery but to people in all walks of life so check out her blogs and social media to find out more.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nyxtrix

Twitter: www.twitter.com/nyxiesnook