3 Surprising Hacks to Help You Stress Less as a Family
Raising kids in an age when parents seem to be pushing themselves to the limit can be tough
8 April 2019
Maebelle
All Credits: PA
As a parent, the busy bustle of modern life can easily take its toll. Because mums and dads are often busy with work, kids have club commitments left, right and centre, and there’s little help from (also busy and/or far away) family and friends, fun often comes second to chores, homework and life admin.
Rushed school runs, pressures from the office and general parental guilt can cause a world of stress. And it’s easy to let that bubble up inside.
But what exactly can you do? We asked the experts to give us their top tips…
1. Box the stress away
This might surprise you, but boxing can be a big stress-buster for the whole family. “Boxing is a really unique type of fitness, because it has such a huge element of mental strength, alongside physical training. This makes it amazing for getting rid of stress – you aren’t just using physical force, but you’re learning how to deal with mental challenges, train with others in the class as a team, and even evaluate and overcome opponents,” says Marcellus Baz BEM, founder and MD of Nottingham School of Boxing (nottinghamschoolofboxing.co.uk) and its sister organisation, Switch Up (switch-up.org.uk).
“It’s suitable for anyone, from any background or skill level – we start classes from age five,” he continues. “Boxing isn’t all about being in the ring, punching and being punched – its foundations are in discipline, being measured and controlled, which are really valuable skills and all tie to how you face and overcome stresses in life. The younger kids love activities like skipping and using the punch bags.
“Parents love knowing their kid is doing something that’s good for them physically, but also really good for their mental attitude – especially when they get into the teenage years.
“Boxing requires courage, confidence and dedication, which are amazing attributes for adults and children; mental strength definitely helps with dealing with everyday stress and wellbeing – it means you are both physically and emotionally strong.”
2. Try meditation
Full-on family meditation might seem a bit overwhelming, but it’s definitely worth a try. Dominique Antiglio, sophrologist, wellness expert and founder of dynamic meditation clinic BeSophro, recommends a very specific kind: “Sophrology involves a combination of relaxation, breathing, gentle body movement and visualisation techniques, to bring you into a state of ‘dynamic relaxation’, where the body is so calm that the heart rate lowers, yet the mind is clear and fully alert. This state immediately lowers stress levels more quickly and easily than other meditative practices, and over time, particularly during times of stress and overwhelm, the mind and body will naturally trigger this response to bring you back to a calmer state. Because it engages both the mind and body, it has greater immediate impact during times of stress and anger. The physical element is also ideal for young children, who may find sitting still for long periods of time difficult.”
You could also give ‘raisin meditation’ a go, says Eugene Farrell, AXA PPP healthcare’s resident psychological health expert. Before you begin, find a quiet spot where you can sit down and relax. Take a few deep breaths, then once you’re comfy, pick up a raisin and hold it in your hand.
Look at the raisin. Really concentrate. Let your eyes roam over the fruit and pick out all the details – the colour, areas of light and shade, any ridges or shine. Before moving on, you might want to close your eyes, as this can heighten your other senses and help you focus.
Touch the raisin. Feel its smallness in your palm. Explore the raisin’s texture with your fingers. Is the skin waxy? Are there any edges? It is soft or hard?
If you can, track the sensation of the raisin going into your tummy. Now take a moment to notice how your whole body feels.
When you are ready, start to awaken your mind. You might want to move the hands and feet a little, slowly open your eyes and take a few deep breaths. With the meditation exercise now complete, you can carry on with your day when you’re ready.
3. Pretend the word ‘stressed’ doesn’t exist
“The word ‘stress’ has become so prevalent in our lexicon in the past couple of decades, that it can’t help but impact our thinking,” says mum, wife and success coach, Cori Javid (corijavid.com). “Feeling ‘stressed’ can be a go-to response, even a habit that we build over time, and if you find yourself using the word ‘stressed’ a lot, each time, you are effectively reinforcing that habit in your mind. When you realise this, it is possible to become more intentional about how you’re describing your feelings, which in turn, can help you start to manage your emotional responses.”
Equally, when you use the words ‘stress’ or ‘stressed’ frequently, it can impact your family, as it becomes a regular part of the family vibe, she says.
“Try banishing the word from your household vocabulary for just a week and notice the difference it makes.”