Tension headaches, tense muscles, poor sleep—the stress that often comes with life as a single parent can take its toll on our bodies—and on the way we see the world. I know it might seem incredibly simplistic, but learning how to relax can actually alter our perspectives and change the way the world looks.
Stress and tension are not the sole proprietorship of the single parent, but I think that since there is only one of us, we can get locked into a certain “stressed out” perspective. Have you ever noticed how the world just looks different when you are relaxed, well-rested, and happy? On days when you are feeling good, ordinary little annoyances don’t have any power—running late, money stress, misbehavior—all of those realities of family life are easier to cope with when you are in a relaxed mood. Feeling stressed and tense actually makes things worse. I know you have heard that there are benefits to stress and it does have the ability to motivate and galvanize us, but face it, most single parents are carrying way more than a healthy dose of stress and tension. Relax!
I find that if I take that warm bath, or put off difficult problems until the morning (after I’ve had a good night’s sleep) or take that long walk, everything starts to look different. As single parents, we don’t have another adult there to balance us out or help us work through a difficult situation; we have to rely on our own intuition and problem-solving. BUT, if we get too stuck in the tension and stress, we just can’t see the forest for the trees. Use some relaxation techniques, take a break, do something that makes you feel good for a change, and watch how your perspective becomes altered and things just look different!
Also: How Far Can You Really Stretch Before You Break?
Cherish Yourself First (Don’t Lose Yourself in Your Kids)