This post was sponsored by Cambria Winery as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Are you one of those parents that try so hard to not over-schedule your family but still find yourself scrambling to get your kids where they are supposed to be on time? Yeah, me too. I limit my kids to one sport or activity at a time. But I’m still so busy during the week.
Moms are busy. It’s a hallmark of modern motherhood. How many times have you said or heard the words, “I’ve been so busy,” with inflections ranging from apologetic to proud? But how does “busy” affect your life and health?
Being busy results in stress. Do you find yourself yelling more, easily irritated, or generally cranky during the busiest of seasons?
We just finished the first week of school. Since we did literally nothing this summer, it hit me particularly hard. My kids were so excited to go back to school and see their friends. We were bombarded with new medical forms to fill out, school drop off and pick up, and doctor’s appointments galore last week.
As excited as I am for a few hours of uninterrupted work time during the day, I pay for that time in stress during other times of the day.
Time to relax is scarce during this season of life but necessary. Take ten minutes to recharge. It might not seem like much but will do wonders for your mood and family life, especially after a tough week.
How to practice self-care for moms during busy seasons
Recognize when your mood and behavior is telling you to take a break.
It’s harder than it sounds. The easiest way to recognize the signs of stress is to enlist help. You can speak to a friend during a calm and peaceful time as ask them to gently tell you when you start acting frazzled. This method doesn’t work for everyone. When I am stressed out, I am touchier than usual and easily offended!
The method that works best for me is a quick daily self assessment. I use a bullet journal. An easy check list of my daily mood and emotions tells me when I need to step back. I can’t impulsively unfriend a piece of paper, but I can throw it against the wall if I need to without offending anyone but my husband who would hear it think I’ve lost my mind.
Relax with a good glass of wine and relaxing music
Who cares if it’s the middle of the day. A glass of wine and relaxing music can completely reset your day and lower your stress levels. Just don’t drink it by your laptop. Spilling a glass of wine on your laptop will do the opposite of relax you. Trust me, I learned that first hand.
If you are looking for a new brand of wine to try, check out Cambria’s Benchbreak Pinot Noir or Cambria’s Benchbreak Chardonnay. These wines are estate grown and bottled and clearly express the flavors of California’s Santa Maria Valley.
Cambria challenged a talented musician to pair their new wines with music and the result is perfection. This is a new way to experience and encourage conversation around wine. After years of children’s songs, listening to beautifully composed music while enjoying a glass of Pinot is a treat worth repeating.
You can find Cambria’s Benchbreak wines at these locations near you.
Get your blood flowing
Last, but not least, get up and get moving. Yes, this one sucks. Most of you would probably prefer to be stressed. I get it. I love working out but when I get busy it’s the first thing I ditch. But this is when it is most important. Physical activity isn’t just healthy. It releases endorphins that make you feel better emotionally. I asked my daughter, who has no problem pushing me, to help with this. While my son practices on the field, she pushes me to walk around the field with her. It’s not much but even that small amount of exercise lets me clear my mind and get back on track.
Moms are so busy taking care of others that they forget themselves. By taking care of yourself, you are taking care of those you love. A happy healthy mom makes all the difference at home.
What is your favorite way to relax after a trying week?
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