Nicole Dean
How stressed are you really? Take this quiz to find out. Mark as
many of the items below that you identify with.
_ Calgon! Take me away! What would you give for a vacation right
now? If you named a body part, then you're feeling too stressed.
_ I've fallen and I can't get up. Is this how you feel in the
morning when the alarm goes off?
_ Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz...oh what a relief it is. Are you
experiencing stomach aches, headaches, or other physical signs
of stress?
_ Take my kids, please! Are you enjoying your children, or are
you ready to sell them on eBay?
_ To the Moon, Alice! Is your love life giving you warm fuzzies
or cold pricklies?
_ I can't believe I ate the whole thing! Are you overeating to
try to feel better about yourself?
How'd you score?
1-2 - Not too bad. You're feeling kind of overwhelmed, but it
looks like you're handling things fairly well. Take some extra
time for yourself during the holidays to stay in balance.
3-4 - You're walking a fine line right now. Add another stressor
to your life and you risk heading toward big time stress. It's
time to tackle it now.
5 - 6 - Uhhh.... You'd better keep reading.
Stress Reeks Havoc Even low levels of stress can exacerbate or
possibly cause these physical illnesses: Heart Disease, Stroke,
Susceptibility to Infections, Gastrointestinal Problems,
Diabetes, Muscular and Joint Pain, Headaches and Migraines As
well as these psychological conditions: Memory and Concentration
Difficulties, Sleep Disturbances and Depression
And, yes, some days I feel like I'm suffering from all of those!
That's when my body is trying to tell me, "Nicole - you're way
out of balance!"
So, if you're just not feeling as well as you should, then
really reassess your stress levels and visualize what that
stress is doing to your health.
Spending Time on Yourself is NOT Selfish. Working Yourself Sick
Is.
I know, I know. You've heard it 100 times before and you'll hear
it another 100 times. You know why? Because it's true. You need
to have balance in your life. And, believe me, I battle this on
this a daily basis, so I know it's hard to find balance when you
are driven to succeed at being a WAHM. But, even when your 'to
do' list seems insurmountable, you still need to take care of
your health (both physical and emotional).
But, you know what? You can do it. Start by choosing a hobby.
Scrapbooking, guitar playing, belly dancing, reading, pampering,
wood working, gardening, poker. Just find something outside your
work that makes you happy.
Yadda yadda. I can hear you brushing me off. Hang on a second
and keep reading....
Think of the example you are setting for your children. If you
have little interests outside of being a WAHM and are feeling
stressed and unhappy, your children will follow in your
footsteps.
Strive to treat yourself as you'd hope your children would treat
themselves. You're teaching them every day how to grow up to be
happy adults, but the words will mean nothing if the example
isn't there. Try to have a night out with your sweetie or with
some girlfriends every few weeks. They deserve a happy Mommy.
Meds: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Doctor-prescribed medication and self-medication are two methods
of stress management.
Neither of these options is good or bad. Just like everything in
life - take it in moderation. If you enjoy an glass of wine
after a long stressful day, then enjoy it guilt free. (cheers!)
If your doctor prescribes a medication that you need to get
through a difficult time, then by all means you do what is best
for you.
Or, if you enjoy herbal remedies, teas and aromatherapy for
relaxation, then go for it!
However, one of the common effects of stress is over-medicating
or self-medicating. So, if you find yourself relying heavily on
alcohol or medication (either doctor prescribed or
self-prescribed) or you begin taking illegal drugs, then talk to
your doctor about it as soon as possible. You deserve to enjoy
your life - not miss out on it.
Sometimes we have to be Sneaky
Sometimes the best thing for your business is to get away from
it for a bit. Seriously, I have my best inspiration when I'm NOT
at my computer - which is a little scary since my businesses are
online.
Treat yourself to 15 minutes to yourself - even if you have to
tell your husband you're having 'bathroom issues' in order to
get undisturbed time. (shhhh... I've done this.) I wonder how
surprised my husband would be to find me sitting on the floor of
the bathroom wrapped in a blanket, reading a book? I know, it's
too much information, but I'm trying to show just how important
it is to have that time to yourself. I'm not promoting deception
in marriage, but if you have to stretch your time in the
bathroom, don't feel guilty about enjoying the freedom.
So, make an effort today to start stealing moments of happiness.
Life is not a dress rehearsal, enjoy every second that you can!
About the author:
Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane mom behind
http://www.ShowMomtheMoney.com - a fun and informative resource
for Work at Home Moms. She invites you to sign up for her free
ShowMomtheMoney 101 Tutorial at
http://www.showmomthemoney.com/free-tutorial.htm * This article
was originally published in the WC
http://www.showmomthemoney.com/wc.htm *
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