7 Effective Mental Health Care Tips For Busy Mums

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From running the daily affairs of your home to ensuring you stay on top of your tasks at work, being a home can be quite the responsibility. This means you are always on the go, caring for your family and pursuing your career. However, this can take a toll on your mental and physical health. According to the Mental Health Foundation, approximately 68% of women experiencing mental health problems are mothers. This troubling statistic shows that it is important to find ways to effectively deal with stress and other components that can reduce the quality of your mental health. With that said, here are a few effective ways to take care of your mental health. 

1. Get the help you need

As a mum, you are usually tempted to do it all on your own. However, this can drain your mental health and cause you to express significant stress. This is why you shouldn’t be afraid to get your needed help. For example, if taking care of your children after school is too much for you, you can consider hiring a nanny to offer assistance while you are away. Additionally, you should consult a professional if you have trouble dealing with your responsibilities at home or balancing your work and home life. You shouldn’t be ashamed to get the help you need. Doing so would only jeopardise your mental health and leave you with unhealthy consequences.

2. Take on a hobby

A common thing you would hear among most mums is that they often do not have enough time to engage in a hobby they enjoy. If you can relate to this, you may be doing your mental health more harm than good. Hobbies help you improve your mental wellbeing in many ways. For example, doing an activity you enjoy, such as swimming, baking, or knitting, can help relieve stress, improve your mood, and prevent mental health disorders such as depression. Additionally, hobbies help you explore your creative side. According to experts, this allows you to expand the neural connections in your brain, which increases the production of happy hormones such as dopamine. Therefore, you should consider taking a few hours a week to indulge in activities you enjoy. You can also engage in activities you haven’t done before but would like to give it a try. If there are some hobbies you can engage in with your kids, get them involved. This is a win-win situation, allowing you to improve your mental health while you bond with your children.   

3. Practice self-care

There is a little guilt when you think about putting yourself first. However, you would need to do exactly that to be an effective mother, wife, boss, or employee. Prioritising self-care is vital for your mental health as it helps you manage stress, increases your energy, and lowers your chances of diseases. Fortunately, self-care practices don’t have to be elaborate, expensive, or time-consuming. For example, taking a nice warm bath, soaking your feet, or exercising are all self-care practices you should consider implementing. Meditation and other mindful exercises are also helpful.

4. Carve out some alone time

Another effective way of caring for your mental health as a busy mum is to give yourself some much-needed “me time.” Sometimes, you only need peace and quiet to unwind and maintain your mental health. However, this is easier said than done. In the midst of your responsibilities as a mum, how could you get some time alone? Fortunately, there are several innovative strategies you can explore to get some time alone to yourself. For example, you can take a holiday to another country or city to explore and spend time alone. You can also drop your children off with trusted family and friends to get some time to yourself. Or, you could cultivate a culture of quietness where everyone has to engage in a quiet activity. This would ensure peace of mind and give you the privacy to enjoy some alone time. 

5. Get enough sleep

According to experts, sleep plays a significant role in your mental health. Studies have shown that poor sleeping habits can make it difficult to deal with minor stresses you may encounter in your daily life. In worse scenarios, it can impact your ability to perceive the world around you. Therefore, as a busy mom, ensuring you get sufficient and good sleep is important. According to The Sleep Health Foundation, adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep. Getting anything less than that could be putting your mental health at risk. However, with your busy schedules at work and home, it seems good sleep is only wishful thinking. The truth is, getting good and sufficient sleep is quite challenging for several mums. For new mums, the anxiety of not hearing your baby cry during the night could keep you up. Perhaps your child is unwell, and you want to stay up to monitor them. Or, you just have difficulty falling asleep. Either way, you must find a way to ensure you get the rest you need each day. Consider introducing sleeping times for the family. Setting a dedicated time for sleep can help improve your sleep pattern and encourage you to get the required hours of sleep. You can also reconsider your before-bed preparations. For example, experts have advised that you avoid caffeine and alcohol and avoid heavy meals before bed. You can also take CBD products from reliable stores, such as the Real Cannabis Club, to help you de-stress before bed.

6. Keep a gratitude journal

As a busy mum, you may be so caught up in the motions of life that you do not get the chance to take it all in. Little wonder you are always in a bind when things don’t go as planned. However, this can change when you learn to practice gratitude. Practising gratitude means taking the time to appreciate the accomplishments and other things that may have happened in the day, no matter how big or small. A great way of doing this is through a gratitude journal. All you have to do is simply take note of things you are grateful for each day. You can also use gratitude journal prompts to inspire you and reflect on. 

7. Don’t compare yourself to other mums

It is only natural to occasionally look at what your fellow mums are up to for creative ideas or to keep up with the trends. However, when you are a busy mum, you can easily become overwhelmed with guilt seeing other mums spend more time with their children, being present, and doing other things you seem to fall short on. As the old saying goes, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Comparing yourself to other mums only causes negative effects on your mental health. This bad habit has often caused several mums to suffer from anxiety, depression, and self-criticism. 

It is important to remember that no one is perfect. Embracing your imperfections reduces the negative effects on your mental health and gives you the opportunity to make the necessary changes. You should also cultivate the habit of positive self-talk in moments when you feel like you are not being a “good mum.” Remind yourself that you are doing your best, that your family recognises and appreciates you, and that not all that glitters is gold! Setting realistic expectations can also help you feel good about yourself and prevent you from comparing yourself to others, as they are more achievable.