Everyone experiences stress at different levels, but how it’s managed is what counts. Stress is an inevitable part of life, so it helps when you find a way to deal with it. When you’re a parent especially, you can feel as though you’re being pulled in every direction. However, the good news is that there are everyday things that you can do to manage stress. You’ve got to be willing to change up your schedule a little, as well as be more conscious regarding how you manage your time. On that note, here are healthy ways that you can relieve stress as a parent.

Eat Happy Foods

Food can have a significant impact on how you function and how you feel, so get a list of happy foods that can help with stress levels. Pro-biotic rich foods, for instance, could help reduce your reactivity to sad moods by getting rid of your gut bacteria.

Some examples of probiotic-rich fermented foods are kimchi, kefir or sauerkraut. Alternatively, if you can’t keep up with finding ways to put these in your meals, try taking a probiotic supplement instead.

Another example of happy foods is your everyday fruits and veggies. When you consume a higher amount of produce, it helps boost your wellbeing and provide you with a greater sense of happiness. If you don’t have time to eat them every day, think about making it a family affair by making smoothies for the family before heading out in the morning.

Exercise

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but fitness or exercise is a great way to relieve stress levels. More specifically, exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. When you keep active, your body releases endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and in turn, reduce stress. There are many that you can engage in that are family friendly whether it be tennis, basketball, or swimming.

However, while exercising, beware of Tennis Elbow which is a condition caused by the overuse of the arm, forearm, and hand muscles that result in elbow pain. It can be treated with icing, physical therapy, and resting.

Meditate

Another fantastic way to relieve stress as a parent is to learn to meditate throughout the day. Seeing as your schedule probably moves at the speed of light, you don’t have to do it for long periods, as it’s more about quality than quantity. Some quick meditation tips are to start with just two minutes, do it the first thing in the morning, and not to focus too much on the details and the how. The idea is to clear your head and focus your thoughts to get rid of stress.

Have a Night Out

At times, the best anecdote for stress is a night out. Rally up your buddies and schedule a day to hang out and do things that help take all of your stress away. If you’ll be hosting the night out, think about having a poker night or trying something different like beer tasting. If all else fails, a good old games night in should do the trick.