Do you feel as though you are constantly dealing with stress as a parent? Maybe you feel as though you just can’t catch a break and want to do something about it. Either way, now is the time for you to do something positive for yourself. If you take steps now then you should find that you are able to make things better for yourself while also paving the way for a brighter future.
Source: Pexels
Reach Out
The first thing you need to do is try and reach out. Even if it’s a phone call to a parenting helpline, you do need to reach out for help if you can. Parenting becomes a lot easier when you have friends or family working by your side to give you the help you need. If you find yourself feeling somewhat isolated or if you find that you are overwhelmed then this is not an indication of personal failing. Parenting is overwhelming, but having a solid support network is often the best way for you to combat this. If you don’t live near friends and family or if you don’t have any relatives who can help you when you need it then this is understandable. One way for you to work around this would be for you to sign up with a local parenting group or for you to enroll in a parent class. If you can do this then you will soon find that it becomes easier for you to get the result you want as well as the support you need to feel better about yourself.
Ratio Your Exposure
You also need to ration your exposure to any negative exposure and media. It is very natural for you to look for patterns in things. If you have a temperamental or even a defiant child who is highly strung then you may find yourself knowing that the next move is going to be a negative one. This might not be the case, but it is helpful for you to identify potential threats so you can deal with them when you feel overwhelmed or not able to cope with the situation. Stress makes you zero in on all of the bad stuff, but it doesn’t have to be this way. You may even find that your beliefs are all self-fulfilling too, and if you assume the worst then you can almost guarantee that it will happen. Under certain conditions, you may find that you just need to switch it off. Avoid exposing yourself to things that you know to be negative and make sure that you take the time to switch off any media you may find disturbing. On top of this, you need to take a new route to work if you find that it is full of stressors.
Focus on the Good
It is also good for you to focus on the good things that are happening to you. You may have seen time and time again how negative messages can send your stress signals way higher than they need to be, but it is possible for you to induce a good mood by surrounding yourself with positivity. Take the time to seek out pleasant social interactions and also pay attention to how happy your child is. If you can, seize the moment and make sure that you show them plenty of affection too. Reflect on all of the good, happy memories you might have, and even take some time for yourself. If you don’t have a lot of time to focus on self-care then this is understandable, especially if you are a busy parent. With that in mind, one thing you can do about it is simply give yourself five minutes from time to time. It may be that you download a game or that you do a crossword. When you do things like this, and when you give yourself those five minutes, you will soon find that you end up feeling better about yourself and even the negative things end up being reframed in a more positive light.
If you can keep things like this in mind when the time comes for you to try and deal with situations or when you are surrounded by stress, you will notice a huge improvement in your mood and this can work in your favor. If you need some help then remember it is out there and that there are things you can do to start focusing on yourself more. If you can do this then you are bound to see an improvement overall.
Leave a Reply