Stress Buster Strategies - #1
Stress Buster Strategies - # 1
"My mornings are a disaster," complained one of my coaching clients." I have to wake my child up at least 5 times, and then he dawdles eating breakfast, brushing his teeth, and getting dressed. By the time I drop him off, I am exhausted, and it is not even 9 o'clock!" she continued.
Do you have segments of the day where you feel like you are just slugging through or that drive you crazy? Most people do. This not only saps your self-esteem and energy but also usually stresses out relationships.
Since this is Mental Health Week, we are addressing the minimization of stress for both you and your family. Stress affects us all. A little stress is OK -- some stress is actually beneficial -- too much stress can wear you down and make you sick, both mentally and physically.
As in the example above, parents frequently try the same method of dealing with the problem over and over again. But you don't have to repeat needless "Ground Hog Day" like scenarios until you are depleted.
One stress busting idea is called segment intention. There are 3 steps:
Step 1. You view your day and break it into segments. Then you ask yourself, "How do you feel during that segment?" If it is not how you want to feel, find some way to revamp it. Here are several segments of the day that you may want to review and revise the way you navigate
them.
Waking up
Getting the family out the door
Arriving home from school/work
Dinner time
Homework
Bedtime
Step 2. Schedule a family meeting around the segment you want to improve, making sure you only work on one at a time. Introduce the topic like this: "I noticed that we have power struggles in the morning on school days. I don't like to nag you and I am sure you don't like to be nagged. Let's brainstorm some ways to handle this situation in a way that works for all of us. What ideas do you have?"
Note: If your child is too young for a family meeting, do this with your spouse, care givers, or friends.
In the case above, one solution might be to carpool with his best friend. Or maybe something is going on at school that he wants to avoid i.e. a difficult class and this needs to be addressed.
During the brainstorming session, make sure that you have fun, that no one blames anyone, and you focus only on solutions (this is a great character building tool for your children to learn).
Step 3. Once you have found a solution, agree to try it for a week and then revisit the issue to see if it is working for everyone or does it need some modifications. Know that this is a process. Sometimes you find immediate solutions. Other times the situation making need tweaking.
Parenting Practice: Choose one segment of the day you want to improve on (more than one will just add MORE stress to your life!) Schedule a family meeting and brainstorm a solution. Then head on over to our Facebook page and share your results and get ideas from the results of others.
If your family is ready to understand how to be free of the worry boss, and have a more peaceful, fun, and adventurous life, please jump in and sign up for this course.
The new edition of the "Redirecting Children's Behavior" book is now out! Click here to order your copy on Amazon or Kindle.There are a ton of new materials to help you discipline in a way that connects you and your child during an altercation. Wouldn't you rather that than you and your child walking away feeling empty, frustrated or angry?
If this message today spoke to you today, share with me or your friends how it affected you and follow us on our social media!
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