Stress management for moms

In this week’s Texas Health Resources/Go Red for Women post, a Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB cardiac rehabilitation manager shares stress management tips from American Heart Association.

You’re running around trying to get from Point A to Point B as fast as you can, breaking a sweat, and trying to get it all done before your timer runs out. Sounds like you could be training for a marathon when, in fact, you’re just trying to balance your normal life all while getting your kids prepped and ready for their new school year. As a mom, you’re pulled in numerous directions – your husband, family, kids and even the pets are shouting your name and demanding your full attention as you juggle all sorts of tasks on a daily basis. With school starting, you can add carpools, afterschool activities and sick days back to your to do list again. The other thing you can add to your list is stress. It may not seem like a big deal now, and you think you can cope with it, but it can affect your heart health.

According to the American Heart Association, stress is your body’s response to change and is a very individual thing. So individual, in fact, that depending on your lifestyle habits and your stress levels, it can actually cause health problems for you in the long run unless you know how to manage it.

“Stress comes in all shapes and forms,” said Pat Paprocki, RN, cardiac rehabilitation manager at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB. “It can make you feel angry, excited, afraid or helpless and can even make it hard for you to get a well deserved night of rest. Stress can even lead to bad habits including smoking, overeating, drinking and even drug abuse. Even though you may not feel it right away, your body suffers from it.”   

The American Heart Association recommends some tips to help curb your stress:

• Take 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, breathe deeply and think of a peaceful picture.
• Try to learn to accept things you can’t change.  You don’t have to solve all of life’s problems, so try to talk out your troubles and look for the good instead of the bad in situations.
• Engage in physical activity regularly.  Do what you enjoy – walk, swim, ride a bike or jog to get your big muscles going.  Letting go of the tension in your body will help you feel better.
• Limit alcohol, don’t overeat and don’t smoke.
• Think ahead about what may upset you.  For example, spend less time with people who bother you or avoid rush hour traffic.
• Think about problems and try to solve them.
• Change how you respond to difficult situations – be positive and not negative.
• Learn to say “no”.  Don’t promise too much.
• Give yourself enough time to get things done.

So, sit back, apply these tips and relax. Even if your life is moving 90 miles an hour, all day, every day; your heart health and overall well-being will thank you and so will your family.