10 Tips to Stop Yourself From “Losing It”

Do you have days where you just feel like you’re “losing it”?  Between stress at home, stress at work, and the added increased stress we’re all feeling over the financial crisis, sometimes it all seems to be a little too much to handle.  It’s normal to feel a little stressed out on any given day, especially when things don’t quite go as planned, but when things get to be too overwhelming, we need to take a time-out and re-evaluate how we live our lives so we can get though our day while maintaining our sanity.

In talking to other moms about how they best get through the difficult moments of their days, I have compiled a list of what I think are the ten best tips to help us deal with stress and to make us better able to cope with the occasional curve balls that are thrown our way.

10 Great Tips to Stop You From “Losing It”

Let the small things slide.  Not everything is really that important.  If your kids don’t pick their clothes up off the floor one day, the world won’t end.  Figure out what really matters and choose your battles.  The rest just isn’t worth ruffling feathers over.

Don’t set unrealistic goals.  That suggestion goes for yourself as well as others.  If you expect too much, then you always set yourself up for disappointment and become stressed-out.  Be realistic about how much of your project at work you can really expect to finish today or how well you really think your son is going to do on his math test. 

Learn to say ‘no’.   You will quickly learn that life will go on, even when you say ‘no’ to all of the requests made of you.  There are other people capable of doing the job and they will do it when they realize that you’re not always going to come through in every situation.  Your kids will learn to get over that they can’t go everywhere they want to go or get everything they want to get.  When you’re only doing the tasks you really want to, you will be more effective and less stressed.

Take time for yourself every day.  If you make yourself a priority, then it is easier to handle the other stressors in your life.  We’re so accustomed to doing for everyone else that sometimes we forget to focus on what we need, want and like.  Once you start to take some time for yourself, you’ll feel more fulfilled and that reduces stress.

Let yourself be a kid again.  Ever notice how easy it is for kids to laugh and to focus on what makes them happy?  As adults, we tend to lose some of that focus and sense that what makes us happy is important.  Take time to just let go and be spontaneous.  Do something fun and let yourself laugh!  Finger paint with the kids, swing on the swings in the park, or tell stupid jokes.  For a few minutes, just forget about all of the responsibilities you have as an adult and you’ll feel rejuvenated.

Keep a sense of humor.  Sometimes when things aren’t so great, you just have to look at things and see the funny side of them.  The saying that “laughter is the best medicine” rings true for many of us.  If you’re livid that the kids just tracked mud through the living room after playing outside, take a moment before screaming to laugh at how comical they look all covered in dirt (and then make them help you clean!).   The floor will still need to be cleaned, but your blood pressure will be lower!

Take time to exercise.  Not only does exercise keep you in good physical and mental shape, but it also produces endorphins that make you feel good and relieves stress.  A walk with a friend is a great way to take some time out to deal with a stressful situation.  A game of tennis allows you to release some of your aggression and anger. Yoga provides a great form of exercise and is a great stress reliever as well.

Eat healthy.  When your diet is well-balanced, you just plain feel better.  When we’re stressed, we tend to reach for comfort foods or foods that are not the best for us.  They may make us feel better in the short-term, but maintaining a healthy diet will make us feel better overall.  Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar when you are stressed, because they just make things worse.

Call a friend.  There’s nothing better than having a consoling ear to gripe to.  When things are going badly, find the friend that will most understand your situation, that you can count on for a good laugh or that helps you best put things in perspective, and give her a call. 

Take a time out.  When things are about to reach a breaking point, take a time out to regroup.  Just like we put kids in time out so they can calm down and think about what they’ve done, time outs can work wonders for us as well.  After a few minutes to walk away from a situation and reassess it, we think with a much clearer head.

We can’t always control all of the things that make our day stressful, but by following some of these stress-busting tips, we can hopefully limit the negative impact they have on our lives.  Our goal is simply to try to avoid ”losing it” too often and to maintain our sanity in this ever stressful world.