How to Handle Stress As a Single Parent

Being a parent is very, very stressful. When you top that with work, family and chores around the house - after a while you feel as if you could just crawl into bed and never get up. Being a single parent is even more stressful. Often times, it feels as if there is no one else in the whole world that can help alleviate some of your load or help you to avoid so much stress. This article discusses some of the ways that you can handle stress as a single parent and get through the tougher times.

ME Time

Everyone, especially single parents, need me time. This is very important for keeping your stress level low and keeping you happy. However, most single parents feel as if there isn't one single minute during the day that they can steal just for themselves. The key is to make some. If you don't do it, you will keep devoting 24 hours a day to everyone else and none to you. Hire a sitter to take the kids for a few hours each week and go see a movie. Leave the kids at a family member's house on a weekend night and enjoy the time you need. Whether you go out and remember what it's like to be a person and not just a parent or you lie on the couch and watch movies - it's still YOUR time.

Laugh

There are probably few times during your day when you feel like laughing. However, laughing is just plain out good for you. Laugh with your kids, watch some comedy - do something to make yourself laugh. It's amazing how much stress you shed when you're giggling to the point that you're crying! If you can't find something to make yourself laugh - make your kids laugh. Make funny faces at them or tickle them until they laugh. Soon, you'll end up rolling in your own laughter as well!

Calming Techniques

Stress is very bad for your heart, your body and can actually make you physically sick. Try a few calming techniques next time you find yourself wound to the point of snapping. For instance, close your eyes and breathe very slowly and deeply. Count to ten in your mind and see the numbers in your mind's eye. By the time you get to 10, you will have evened your breathing and begun to calm down. Another thing you can do is imagine something that is comforting to you - whether it's a hammock in the yard or a crackling fireplace. Imagine it until you see it clearly, smell the smells, hear the sounds and more - you will calm yourself down so that you can move on.

Stress is terrible - it is definitely a silent killer and it's important to find something which reduces the stress in our lives. Each time you feel yourself becoming stressed, try one of the techniques in this article to calm yourself down until you are able to continue without the stress. Good luck.

Source : Danielle L. Taylor (EzineArticles)

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Tips to Relax for Single Parents

Life as a single parent can be emotionally, mentally and physically draining. They have to handle work, household chores and children all the same time. They have to play the roles of both ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ single-handedly. Here are some tips to plan your schedule, take out some time to relax, manage everything and remain sane for single parents:

· Stop being bogged down with guilt and regret for things you are not able to do.
· Before going to bed at night, plan the next day.
· In the morning, first review your priorities and do things likewise.
· You may have to compromise with some things and learn to prioritize. Perhaps, doing laundry is more important than mopping and sweeping one day or visiting the school of children may override your visit to the bank on another day.
· Paperless desk fills you with positive thoughts, so avoid clutter and throw anything you can. Try to see a paper, work on it immediately and get it out of your way or just file it away, if it’s for future.
· Skills used for office management prove handy at home too. Clean workplace and three folders labeled ‘Urgent’, ‘ASAP’ and ‘To be Filed’ will make your life much more easier.
· Good filing system will ensure that you don’t have to spend hours looking for some paper later on in the long run. Labeled manila file folders should be kept in a file cabinet with drawers.
· A small tape recorder with headphones can allow you to schedule anything that comes to your mind while driving or cooking. You can do planning, make appointments and listen to songs and even novels too.
· Ask for help from other family members, neighbors and friends or whoever is willing to help and let the kids help too.
· Set alarms for everything and concentrate on only one thing for a set period of time. When the alarm rings, move on to another task and leave the task at hand for another day.
· Set about half an hour in the evening just for your child and let him or her know that at this time he or she can get your undivided attention. If necessary, turn off the mobile and keep the phone off the hook, so there are no distractions.
· Set about 20 minutes for just yourself too and do whatever makes you feel better such as relax, scream, exercise, cry or laugh. Teach the child not to interrupt you at that time and you may make somebody see young children for just that time. The timer may tell the child, when he can speak to you again.
· Things or fulfilling child’s every wish and whim cannot replace the missing parent ever. Over-compensation the children may just spoil them and they may turn selfish and may try to control you.
· Once a month, ask someone to baby-sit your child while you can try and do all the short errands and odd jobs on the appointed day.
· Things do get out of control sometimes and you can take time to just relax or think over things while you are waiting in traffic or queues.
· If you are too tired or stressed, do not feel ashamed of putting off things or procrastinating.
· Writing up notes, addresses and phone numbers on a small diary or small cards that can be put in file will keep you from losing them.
· On weekends, just relax and enjoy time with your child. Get all work done on weekdays itself.
· Share work and time with your kids and try to do it now such as cleaning kid’s room and get older kids help to cook and then go on a fun trip together.

Source: Parenting (iloveindia)

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