Days of motherhood are not always filled with unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes the hard moments outweigh the good ones. We try to fulfill all of our children’s needs, but then anxiety or annoyance can easily take over throughout the day with every constant touch or frequent whine. So what should we do during the times we are overwhelmed?
Here are 5 things to do when you’re an anxious or annoyed mom:
1. Rest.
More than likely you’re not able to fall into a deep sleep, but you can cancel plans, put on a movie, change into comfy clothes, and REST! I often give myself a million and one reasons why rest isn’t something I can do. But if I want to show up as a better mama, I need to make this a more regular part of my life!
2. Speak truth.
Sometimes the hardest part of keeping a positive attitude is due to our thoughts. Only allow truthful words to enter into your mind. You ARE a good mom. You are EXACTLY who your children need. Their behavior is NOT always a reflection of your parenting. Remind yourself of these truths during times of tantrums and disobedience.
3. Exercise
You may not be able to go out for a long run or make it to the gym, but add in some kind of movement to get your endorphins going and guarantee you will feel better! Find a YouTube video exercise or turn up the music and start a dance party with your kids. Get creative with ways to exercise and notice how much better you begin to feel!
4. Unplug
Do you find yourself triggered by the perfect families you see on social media? Adorable children are posted all over your newsfeed while your children are acting out of control! To take away the automatic comparison social media brings, UNPLUG! It will bring you back to reality and also help control your thoughts.
5. Try again
One of the best parenting tips I received was the ability to try again. We implement “do overs” in our family when one of us loses control. “Would you like to try again?” and almost every time the answer is “YES!” This isn’t just for my kids, but this is also a way for me to have a do over when I reacted out of annoyance or anxiousness.
Next time you experience hard days, try one of the 5 things above to turn your day around!