Stress Reduction

How is the stress level in your life? We all have stresses in our lives that come and go and some periods in your life are worse than others. If you are struggling with jobs and finances and worrying about the economy, like many people, this period of time can be an especially stressful one for you. Other times, there will be issues with kids, or struggles with family members, or serious health problems to deal with. The list is endless and the stress can be unrelenting.

When the outside world is crazy, that is the time that you need a calm environment in your home even more than ever. Home needs to be your refuge, your place to relax and recharge your batteries to get out there and deal with everything the next day. But if your home is chaotic and disorganized, it deprives you and your family of that needed tranquility.

This doesn't mean that your home needs to be absolutely perfect, or that it needs to look like something right out of a magazine. If anything, homes like that make me a little bit edgy. I'm always worried that I'm going to mess something up, or forget and leave something out of order. But if your counters and floors are clear from clutter and your living areas aren't full of uncompleted projects screaming at you all the time, you will feel a wonderful sense of calm.

Be sure to schedule some time in every day to do something for yourself. Even if it's just 10 minutes to leaf through a magazine, do a quick Yoga workout, or take a little cat nap, it will do a lot to minimize your stress level and recharge your batteries.

I think Moms especially feel guilty about taking these little moments, but really who is going to mind. If you went through your family and took a poll on the matter and asked them - do you think Mom has the right to a few minutes for herself everyday? They'd probably shrug their shoulders and say - sure, why not? So THEY aren't the ones putting the pressure on us, WE are the ones doing it to ourselves. OK Moms, so loosen up a little! The world is NOT going to go to pieces if you take a few minutes here and there to take care of yourself.