The Mommy Diaries - Deal with Stress like he does!

Hi Girls,

Work this week seems to have taken a toll on me, why is it so hard to make things seem easy?

I googled all types of stress relief to see what I could find to help and I am so so sure some of you feel like this also, so read on and I hope you guys can get something out of this also 

xx A

Sweat It Out

Throwing yourself on the sofa with a glass of wine when the kids have finally gone to bed might seem like the go-to solution to a bad day, or any day for that matter but think like a guy and go for a run instead. "Not only does exercise dissipate the amount of adrenaline in the body, but it also releases endorphins" (the body's natural happy pills) says psychologist Suzy Green of the Positive Psychology Institute.

Be Selfish

If you are anything like me you sometimes feel like you're drowning with work and need some "me" time? I (we) need to just take it and not feel guilty. Men tend to create strong boundaries and don't try to do everything at once, says psychologist Rachel Upperton from Master Your Mind. If they feel they need time out, they'll take it. Forget your worries and organise some (guilt-free) "you" time, Go to the Day Spa (unfortunately this is my work), retail therapy is amazing (even just looking) or just meet some friends for a coffee, whatever relaxes you is good.

Get A Hobby 

If men are stressed in one aspect of their lives, they usually have another aspect they can turn to, whether it's golf, music or building useless objects in the shed. And it's usually something they are good at. "Men don't put all their eggs in one basket," explains Upperton. Having a hobby that you're good at not only boosts your self-esteem, it also gives you a sense of control and competence during those stressful times.Ha ha hence why I have become a blogger, it actually relaxes me.

Laugh At Yourself

"Men are better able to take the piss out of themselves, which is really empowering," says Upperton. "It allows them to step back and look at things objectively." Plus, a joke with the boys at the pub creates a stress-relieving distraction. So, if you're feeling under the pump, try learning to relax a little (easy for me to say) and don't laugh those of you who know me! The key is to not take things too personally. Another bonus, laughing releases the same feelgood endorphins as exercise.

And something they can learn from us...Research shows that when stress strikes, instead of suppressing it, women are twice as likely as men to reach out to others to lighten the load. We can thank our reproductive hormones for this trait and it's a good one to have. "Instead of talking about their stress, men tend to keep it bottled up, which can lead to a distorted view of the stress," Upperton explains. So remember, when it comes to stress and anxiety – it's better out than in.