One of the important things to learn about life is that it is all about maintaining equilibrium. Even Newton’s third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If there are innumerable joys of bringing a child into this world, it is also true that parents have to work hard and overcome various challenges to keep things moving smoothly. Moms are a harried lot, as they have to work 24/7 to provide for the needs of their child. This is especially true during the first few years after childbirth. The situation can be even more challenging in case of single moms or if there are two or more kids in the family.
However, parenting was never a job that you can quit midway. Another way to look at it is that the joys of parenting are too great to be missed. The time you spend with your child makes for everlasting memories that will last a lifetime. It’s true that motherhood can get tough at times, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, you need to think and work smartly. Here are some things that can help.
#1 Take a break:
Being stranded at home all the time can make you depressed, irritable, or anxious. It can have other negative psychological outcomes that can drain your energy levels and make you feel overwhelmed. To avoid these, you just need to take a break from your routine schedule. You can leave your child at a daycare center or you can hire a babysitter. Just a few hours of ‘me time’ every week can do wonders for your overall health, happiness, and general well-being. It will also help bring back the focus, allowing you to nurture your child with greater enthusiasm, love, and care.
#2 Plan your day:
Effective planning can solve a lot of problems that you may face on an everyday basis. For example, after you have put your child to bed, you can get the things ready for the meals that you will be preparing the next day. If you are planning grocery shopping, you can prepare a list of all the things you will need. If you need to get things done, you can schedule it at a time when your child may be sleeping or engaged in other activities such as watching television, playing games, etc. Effective planning can help distribute your tasks evenly throughout the day and prevent the possibility of everything happening all at once.
#3 Focus on a healthy diet:
You need to check if motherhood is making you feel overwhelmed or is it just the deficiency of some essential nutrients. In many cases, the latter may be true. To feel energetic and brimming with energy all day long, you will need a healthy diet. Lack of adequate vitamins and minerals can make you feel fatigued and depressed. If you are surviving on unwholesome food, it will tire you easily and can make you feel overwhelmed. Nutrients that are necessary for energy and stamina include B group vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. You will also need a good supply of complex carbs, proteins, and healthy fats. Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grain-based foods, nuts and seeds, dairy products, poultry, meat, etc. You can also choose vitamin and mineral supplements available in the market.
#4 Ask your partner to help:
Research studies have revealed that parents who share the responsibility of tending to the needs of their child are much happier, as compared to relationships where moms are required to do everything. When tasks are shared, it reduces the load on moms and they have more energy for other essential things in life. Research has also revealed that parents who share responsibilities experience an improved sex life. This can be crucial in maintaininga healthy relationship, as love and romance usually start to diminish after the birth of a child. Sharing responsibilities also helps strengthen familial bonds, as everyone is aware of the challenges that each member is facing on an everyday basis.
#5 Stop blaming yourself:
Parenting is a long-drawn process and there are bound to be some mistakes along the way. However, you need not blame yourself, as mistakes can always be rectified. Even the best parents make mistakes and it’s quite normal. The focus should be on identifying the mistakes and resolving them so that it does not have a negative impact on your child. For example, there may have been a day when you may have felt overwhelmed and shouted at your kid. It could also be the day when you may have let your child gorge on junk food or increased their screen time in order to get some important work done. In such cases, you may end up feeling guilty. However, the right approach would be to focus on avoiding such things rather than blaming yourself for what happened.
#6 Buy some tools:
Wonder woman had quite a few things such as Lasso of Truth, Magic sword, bracelets of victory, body armor, etc. that she used to win her battles and save the world. As a mom, you too can surround yourself with some innovative tools that can assist you in various tasks and do it more accurately and reliably. Some of the popular products currently available include baby shusher, pocket nanny, baby heart rate and oxygen monitor, room temperature monitor and alarm, CCTV cameras (internet viewing), etc.
#7 Get some exercise:
If you want to boost your energy levels, it’s recommended that you get some exercise. Just 20-30 minutes of exercise, 5 times a week, will keep you brimming with energy. Exercise will also eliminate the negativities that you may have beenexperiencing. You can opt for high-intensity workouts such as calisthenics or aerobics or choose milder options such as yoga.If there is someone who can look after your child for some time, then you can also go out for a quick round of jogging, running, cycling, etc.
Sharing your experiences with your significant other or a close friend can also help release a lot of your pent-up emotions. You can also talk to other moms to know how they dealt with the challenges that they faced while raising their child. Motherhood can be tough, but with the right approach and strategies, you can always make it work in the best possible way.
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