Practical Tips to Ease Mom Anxiety

Stop comparing yourself with other mothers. When I was a new mom, I used to think that mothers who wore makeup and dress well have their shit together. I felt terrible for not dressing up. When I heard other mothers talk about their memorable trips with their kids, I felt awful not providing more experiences for my kids. It wasn't easy to stop comparing myself, but I learned to let go of expectations over time. I tell myself that I'm doing my best with the resources I have, and that's enough for my kids.

Reframe your thoughts. Reframing is a positive way to look at things. I learned it from my Neuro-Linguistics Programming training. What you say to yourself can change the way you look at things. Instead of telling yourself, "I'm afraid that cars might hit my child". Say, "I trust my child will be safe." Or "I'm worried that I'm not doing enough" Say, "I'm doing my best". Learning to reframe your thoughts from a negative one to a positive one can help with anxiety. 

Limit media intake. It doesn't matter if you are reading the news or scrolling on social media. It's essential to limit your daily media intake. It can take one news report or social media debate to get us riled up and start spiralling down towards anxiety. Also, try to avoid watching the news first thing in the morning or before going to bed. It affects how you feel for the rest of the day, and vice versa, affects your ability to wind down and sleep.

Go outside in nature. Studies have shown the benefits of being in nature, and it's a great stress reliever. Being outdoors, breathing fresh air and enjoying the scenery can do wonders for your body, mind and soul. It helps you get out of your head and focus on the beauty around you. There is a Japanese term called "shinrin-yoku", or forest bathing, and it's spending time under a canopy of trees or immersing oneself in the forest. Research has shown it does wonders for the immune system and lowers anxiety and stress. 

Practice mindfulness. A lot of anxiety happens when we project into the future. We worry about what-ifs. While it's good to plan for the future, you can't always prepare for worst-case scenarios, and you can't control what happens. By focusing on the here and now, you can ease your anxiety. Meditation is a useful tool to help us be more focused and present in life. When you are fully present, for example, when you're playing with your kids, you're not worrying about the future. There are many meditation apps that you can use, such as Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer. Start with 5 minutes of meditation a few times a week, and slowly move to 10 minutes every day.

Get support and help. Talking to a friend or partner, sharing your worries, and talking aloud might make you feel less anxious. However, if you notice your anxiety levels are getting harder to manage, perhaps working with an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) coach can help you feel more in control and less anxious. NLP works on rewiring your brain on a subconscious level that breaks old thought patterns, allowing you to break free from anxious thoughts and feel more at ease.