9 Ways to Dial Back Your Stress Levels and Watch Your Family and Business Thrive
You made it. Another day over and you’re still standing — just.The household is finally asleep. There is milk in the fridge and clean underwear for another day.Business is okay although you feel behind as usual. Maybe this will be the week you make some headway.Then again there’s that networking lunch and the school concert.And actually if the little one’s cough turns into anything worse, frankly it’s game over for the week.Hmmm it’s probably about now you give yourself a slap on the wrist and tell yourself to buck up. That this is what you signed up for and you can cope. Stress is part of the deal, you tell yourself, and we all live with it...Well, there is some truth in that — stress is unavoidable. But surrendering to it is exhausting and disheartening. Not to mention bad for your physical and mental health.
Share the Load or Offload
Stress can negatively impact your immune system, your cognitive functioning and your relationships.Don’t see it as something to put up with. Do what you do best — take it on! Take it on as a project, like fixing up the nursery or starting your blog.Master stress and you, your family and your business will flourish.Being CEO of a business and a household is taxing. You are one person facing limited resources and unlimited chaos.To be the kind of mother you want to be, and sustain a viable business, you cannot do it all.
9 Ways to Dial Back Your Stress
1. Delegate
Use a virtual assistant. If she is the right VA she will be responsive to your needs as they increase, decrease or change.Having someone skilled and on-call frees you up to grow your business and your kids.
2. Consult experts
Seek out expert advice.Don’t go it alone and sacrifice sleep or sanity trying to fathom a solution to a problem that someone else could help you with.Worried about your child? See their teacher, your doctor or your wise mom friend. Got a work dilemma? Ask your coach, an experienced peer or a suitable online forum.
3. Outsource
Consider what you can or ought to outsource.Do the cost-benefit analysis. If you don’t mind doing the ironing or the bookkeeping go for it. But if they eat away at your soul or your precious family and business development time consider paying someone else to do it.
Undo Brain Overload
Your working memory is finite. Respect its limits or expect malfunction. You’ll forget things, struggle to think straight or have moments of panic.Systems, schedules and deliveries free up headspace. Whatever suits your own personal style and situation set it up.
4. Schedule things that you want or need to happen
Create recurring events in your calendar. Invoicing, haircuts, date nights. You can always delay or reschedule but there they are — in your calendar instead of in the back of your mind niggling away.
5. Get regular food and grocery deliveries
Check out what is available for delivery where you live.Weekly milk and bread brought to your door means fewer dashes to the convenience store and no morning panic over kids’ breakfasts or school lunches.Online supermarket shopping (instead of in person with children in toe) saves your sanity as well as time and money (less impulse buys, less treats to appease kids).If you can have healthy meals delivered too, you will ease the pressure of relentless cooking and the guilt that comes with fast food.
6. Develop routines, and more routines
Have routines for almost everything.Have a routine for the family to get out the door each morning, and to prepare for bed each night. Have one for managing your emails and for producing your newsletter.You will save yourself from reinventing the wheel, you will manage family and customer expectations and reduce daily stress levels.Freed-up headspace is good for creativity and spontaneity. That means more spur-of-the-moment hugs and knock-out blog post ideas.
Unload and Recharge
To keep your business and your family afloat, you must stay afloat yourself!It is easy to get caught up with day-to-day pressures, and to rush around on auto-pilot barely stopping to draw breath.Maybe it will be the odd virus or bung neck that will slow you down but it could be burnout, anxiety or maladaptive coping behaviours, like increased alcohol consumption.Look after yourself. Nurture yourself, as you do others, so that you can do and be your best.
7. Participate in groups
Join groups — mothers’ groups, business mastermind groups, online special interest groups.You know that company is good for you. But more than that you actually need to guard against isolation which is a common contributor to stress and its related risks, including depression and anxiety.Sign up for any supportive group where you can step off the daily treadmill to reflect, recharge or refocus.
8. Have a guide on the side
You need and deserve to have someone who will listen to you. Someone who is wise and who is outside of your immediate circle — mentor, coach, peer or friend. All four or more, even better.Again this is about extracting yourself from your busy days to slow down, sigh and wonder aloud. To be heard and understood, to be offered feedback and guidance.
9. Stop, look and listen
Take time out. No screens or devices — this is about tuning in, not tuning out.You may feel like it is squandering precious time. But it is the opposite. Yoga, meditation, prayer or being in nature will help restore you. They will bolster your focus, productivity and resilience.
Check In
In moderation stress can be a positive force in life. It can motivate you and keep you alert. But — for the sake of your family, your business, yourself — it’s important you monitor and master it.Take a moment right now to check in. Is stress pushing you to be your best, or is it getting the better of you?
I’d like to hear from you in the comments: How do you lighten your load and relieve the stress you feel? Which of the above steps will bring some ease to your days this week?