5 Ways to Manage Stress with a Neverending To-Do List

A parent’s job is never done. The minute a task is finished or responsibility fulfilled, there’s a new one to take its place.

It can be enough to drive one insane. But moms – and dads too  – wouldn’t last long if they threw in the towel over being overwhelmed.

With that said, stress impacts everyone sooner or later. Overwhelmed parents will need to find ways to manage and cope to succeed.

While there’s no silver bullet secret to managing stress and anxiety, the following tips and suggestions should go a long way in helping moms and days make it through their busy schedules without losing their minds:

Stay healthy

We know it sounds like adding another burden to your laundry list of tasks and responsibilities, but staying healthy should always be a top priority. After all, who would take care of your kids and your house if you’re too unwell to do so yourself? Whether it’s getting more exercise, eating better meals, or remembering to take your OCD medications every day, committing yourself to better health and wellness will go a long way in helping manage stress. If you think you could do better at staying healthy, talk to your doctor about coming up with a game plan to get started as soon as possible. Additionally, you should also not delay your dental visits. It may not look obvious at first glance, but dental consultation with an expert like this Dentist in decatur could be a way to reduce stress. Why? It’s a form of self-care. When you feel like you have time for yourself, that you’re taking care of yourself, it may lower your stress level.

Remember to laugh

It sounds like something you’d see hand-painted on a wooden plank and hung up in somebody’s kitchen, but “remember to laugh” is a cliche for a reason. Don’t believe me? Then what about another old adage: “laughter is the best medicine.” The bottom line is that people who know when to lighten up and laugh it off tend to manage their stress better than those who take themselves too seriously. There’s a time and a place for everything, and laughter certainly doesn’t make stress disappear, but when you’re having one of those days where nothing seems to be going right, a good chuckle can be enough to maintain your sanity – at least for another 24 hours.

Drink enough water

Most people don’t realize how much dehydration alters our mental well-being. Generally speaking, dehydration causes fatigue, mental fog, and irritability. The next time you start feeling overwhelmed with the daily grind of work and home, think about whether or not you’ve had anything to drink recently. If it’s been a while, pour yourself a nice cold glass of filtered tap water and drink every last drop. Watch yourself transform from a tired and grouchy curmudgeon to a kind and energized saint. Like laughter, water isn’t some golden ticket way to escape stress. But when the to-do list seems endless and you find yourself on the go all day, stopping to rehydrate can be a significant gamechanger.

Talk to someone

Whether it’s a partner, parent, or best friend, you need someone to talk to about the stress you experience as a busy parent. They may be able to offer helpful solutions, or perhaps they’ll simply sit back and listen. But talking to someone about stress can be a therapeutic experience. Just remember to return the favor when they feel hopelessly overwhelmed.

Recognize the signs of burnout

Stressed-out parents snap when the weight of their responsibilities becomes unbearable. It’s essential for moms and dads to spot the signs of impending parental burnout and act accordingly. No amount of to-dos is worth sacrificing your sanity. While losing your temper due to stress may seem like a temporary experience to you, the negative example it sets can last a lifetime for your kids. With this in mind, make a point to recognize when taking a break is no longer optional.

A parent’s job is never over. As a result, things can seem overwhelming at times. But successful parenting doesn’t come down to what you do when things are going great; it’s how you handle it when things are going bad. While the list of to-dos never seems to end, it gets easier if you focus on one task at a time. And to do that, you must find effective ways to manage stress. We hope some of the ones mentioned above do the trick. From one parent to another – good luck!