Although you know that you should be resting with your feet up, life usually gets in the way. There are other children to take care of, work to get done and a house to clean. This leads to stress, something all expectant moms need to avoid as much as possible.
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So, between setting up the office lunch catering at work or running the kids to soccer practice, how do you find that much-needed time to rest and unwind? Follow these tips to help you de-stress:
Order your groceries online
Grocery shopping is a necessary evil, but it doesn't have to be a physical trial on top of it. With the help of your local grocery store or companies like InstaCart, you can now shop at your leisure with the help of your computer and have them delivered. The even better news is that if your apartment complex offers refrigerated lockers, you can potentially use click and collect groceries. This means you can go get your groceries when you're ready, and not have to stress about being home at a specific time.
Learn how to say no
One of the hardest things to learn for some people is how to say no. For example, you have a whole day of nothing planned out, distraction-free. You settle down with your mug of herbal tea to read a good book, then the phone rings. Your neighbor wants to know if you can keep the kids for just a couple of hours while she runs to the next town for something.
It's just a couple of hours, right? You can always rest later, right? You know that's not going to happen! That is time that you can't get back and you need to learn to say no. While you don't have to say no all of the time, having some valuable "me" time is what's going to make sure that you and your baby are as stress-free as possible.
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Whether it's washing the dishes or putting together the baby's crib, asking for help is perfectly normal and you shouldn't feel bad about it at all. It's also important to remember that there are chores that you won't be able to do as you move further along into your pregnancy. Get someone to change the cat litter for you from the beginning and as you get bigger, ask someone to take care of the mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming as well. Taking a break from these activities while you can will help reduce your stress levels significantly. Knowing you don't have to do everything yourself is a great relief.
Finding the time to rest when you're expecting is important for you and your unborn child. The trick is to follow some tips to get you started. Learning to say no and maximizing your "me" time will be a big help.
Read More:
Prenatal Yoga for Stress Relief
Stress Can Keep You From Getting Pregnant
The Effects of Stress on Fertility