Wanna Get Away? Stress Relief for Busy Mommies

As the nurturing mommies we are, sometimes we have difficulty making ourselves a priority.   Yet, the critical reality is that we must take care of our own well-being in order to take care of everyone else in our lives.

There’s a well-known analogy to being on an airplane when the oxygen masks come down.  You must first place the mask on yourself and then help those near you.  Helping everyone around you while you turn blue is not particularly effective or sustainable.   
 
Here is another life balance takeaway from the flight attendant opening speech:

Know your exits and have multiple options.

With so many external pressures and responsibilities, it’s only natural that we’ll have moments when we seriously question if we CAN do it all. The cup is not just full, but pouring over the edges and we’re not sure how to stop the overflow. 
 
We've all had those moments when the advice of “just meditate” may not cut it. You also know that going to the spa or even taking a walk is SO not happening anytime soon. 
 
“Exiting” by definition requires starting from the inside and going out. We’re talking about times when physically leaving the situation is just not possible. Rather, we need to depart the internal frustration, negativity, stress, depression or “I’m gonna lose it” feeling. 
 
Everyone has different strategies which work for them. And different things are effective in different situations. The important thing is that you know where your exits are before you actually need to use them. Notice you get the exit speech and double pointing fingers when the plane is still on solid ground. 
 
My assignment to you is to consciously think of five ways you can almost instantly change your view of the world, even when you can’t change your world. 
 
Here are my “exits”: 
 
1. Thinking of my happiest, funniest, goofiest memories. Sometimes the closest exit is behind us.

 
2. Asking, is this life or death? It may sound morbid, but sometimes this requires thinking of an actual “life or death” moment to create instant perspective. 
 
3. Asking for help. If you can't get out by yourself, call for assistance. When USAir Flight 1549 "landed" on the Hudson River recently, teamwork was a huge factor in the safe evacuation of everyone aboard. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. Even when I can't get someone to physically help me, just being able to vent and get support over the phone can be a life saver.

 
4. Counting to 10. Call me old fashioned but it works. I think of it as a 10-second meditation. 
 
5. Naming that tune. Yes, I actually sing. For some reason, “You & Me Against the World” by Helen Reddy always does the trick. Weird choice, I know. But I’ve been singing that song to feel better since it came out in 1974. For fire emergencies, I prefer "Disco Inferno." 
 
As a side note, singing also comes in handy when trying to grocery shop with two or more kids. Before entering the store, I threaten to launch into my loud personal rendition of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” at the first sign of any whining, fighting or begging. I’ve received many compliments over the excellent behavior of my children in public. 

Know your exits. When needed, get to the best exit as quickly as possible leaving all emotional baggage behind.