It’s Stress Awareness month! If you haven’t seen my post here about Stress Awareness month and the stress awareness takeover, then go and check it out so that you can see what is going on!
After a couple of years of doing the parenting thing, I realised I had lost my sense of self. Blogging has helped me meet some epic humans (parents and non parents alike), and helped me created blogs and vlogs as we both crash through his formative years that we can look back at when the Small becomes Taller than me (I think this will be about aged 8!)
Do you suffer with stress frequently or occasionally?
Occasionally. I’m far too good at ignoring things and letting it all get to a head before I start to react to a situation/ environment.
What sort of things cause you stress?
At home, I get stressed at the feeling of being the only adult in the house. Why should i feel anxious about coming home, and knowing that none of the mundane household jobs will have been done.
I have suffered with work related stress before, but I am now really fortunate that I work for a company that totally gets the ‘work life balance’
Does anything in particular make stress worse for you?
A big trigger for me, is that people assume i do nothing. My employer is amazing and i am at school pick up every day, which comes with the assumption i only work 10-2. The reality is a bust a gut once the Small is in bed, and whilst I love my job and it’s flexibility I still have to fit everything in without letting anything suffer.
Does stress have an impact on your physical health?
It can do. When i am feeling particularly low,i really don’t want to put in anymore effort than needed. and you get stuck on the roundabout. you feel low because you are tired, but don’t want to do anything.
What do you do to alleviate stress?
take a moment. I use the headspace app to help me focus and stop having tech in my bedroom. A few days of re focus can help to re set the balance and make manageable plans to move forward.
Do you think more needs to be done to raise awareness of what causes stress and the impact it has on us and those around us? If yes, what would you do or like to see done?
Most certainly. It is easy for everyone to jump onto a buzz word, but whether a parent or not, we need to acknowledge that people don’t necessarily understand that they need to take a breath and that it’s ok. As a new mother, i received no information around identifying feelings of stress or anxiety, or how my world would completely change with trying to manage the demands of a job and being a parent.
Do you have any tips for anyone dealing with stress?
Similar to question 5. Acknowledge when you are feeling out of sorts/ low/ anxious and do something for yourself. It can be to read a book, take a walk or go and have a cuppa with your best mate. Most importantly, if you ever feel like you’re drowning, please, please find someone who can help you move forward.
