stress Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

How to Recognize and Handle Children’s Holiday Anxiety Now

Paula — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:01:25 +0000

Kids love Christmas, but they too feel stress and holiday anxiety at this time of year, especially if parents are stressed. If parents are stressed at Christmas, their children will most certainly pick up those feelings of holiday anxiety. So how do you make sure they are not overwhelmed by the season? These holiday stress management tips will help both parents and children recognize holiday anxiety and feel less stress, because helping kids cope is the best way to enjoy Christmas! How Do You Recognize Holiday Anxiety? Holiday Stress Management Tips for Kids and Parents Kid’s behaviours sometimes seem to come out of nowhere. One day they are riding a bike with no issues and the next day they refuse to get on one ever again. Sleeping through the night, and then suddenly up with nightmares for a week solid every evening. It’s exasperating and exhausting and frankly hard to figure out what triggers these things sometimes. Of course you can and should ask your child first, if they are verbal, what’s troubling them. See if they have any idea what is stressing them out. Sometimes kids can be insightful and identify a source of distress on their own. OR maybe not. If not then you need to put your detective hat on and try to figure out what, if anything, changed. So what are common signs of holiday stress in kids? Signs of holiday anxiety include: * Tears for seemingly minor reasons. * Nervous behaviors such as nail biting and hair twirling. * Physical complaints, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, etc. * Regression to younger behaviors: bed wetting, eating with hands. * Withdrawal from school friends or siblings. * Any behavior that your child does not normally do could be a sign of Christmas anxiety. Ten Holiday Anxiety Tips to Help Manage the Stress Use the holiday stress management tips most appropriate for your child. 1. Take Them Out of the Spotlight. Take children out of the spotlight during Christmas plays or performances at relative’s homes. Helping children cope with holiday stress involves knowing their personalities and limits. My kids used to do acting, so singing and dancing was part of that. One of our relatives used to always ask them to sign or dance or recite French on command after dinner or just for fun during the holidays. That wasn’t actually what the kids wanted often. So, we had to buffer and protect them from that sometimes. Our kids also went to French immersion so they were often asked to sing in French or speak in French. Not meant to be a mean spirited ask at all, but the kids needed down time too. There needs to be a balance. 2. Combine parties and get-togethers To reduce the time you spend partying. For instance, invite your aunt to a kid’s Christmas party. Combine birthdays sometimes with holiday parties if you need to. Don’t do so every year, but once in a blue moon you need to do so. 3. Stick with the routine as much as possible. When our children were small we lived and died by routine. Sound dramatic well maybe…but our children have some unique challenges and one has sensory processing disorder, along with other diagnoses. and another has anxiety disorder and routine was everything. Keep stressful holiday shopping and eating out to a minimum; start preparing for Christmas early to avoid holiday anxiety. 4. Ask your children what makes them feel better. Do they wind down with music, reading, spending time with you or playing with siblings? To help children calm down at Christmas, encourage them to do what they love and of course let them take breaks to do those things. 5. Eat well and hydrate. Make sure your children eat nutritious foods, drink lots of water, and get exercise. Reducing kid’s holiday stress looks similar to minimizing your own holiday anxiety. 6. Talk to your children about traditions and spirituality. If you believe, then focus on the real meaning of Christmas and trusting God. If you have traditions, explain why they’ve stayed in your family. 7. Bring a bit of home with you. Bring a favourite blanket or stuffed animal if you’re staying with family over the holidays. A bit of home will reduce your child’s holiday anxiety. We had an entire protocol for our one daughter, which was especially helpful and crucial, because she had Sensory Processing Disorder. Knowing she had her favourite items with her in a strange situation helped her keep control of her emotional state. 8. Cope with your own holiday anxiety. The less Christmas stress you feel, the more relaxed your children will be. Let go of your preconceived notions on what the holidays are supposed to look like and feel like. If your child struggles with anxiety on a regular basis and it interferes with their everyday routine you may need to seek medical help or assessment. 9. Volunteer. Maybe now is the time to take a moment and volunteer at a food bank, kid’s hospital or community centre. Find ways to give to your community; volunteering can sometimes relieve feelings of holiday anxiety. 10. Use humour Lighten the mood with funny movies, toboggan afternoons and cozy chats with hot chocolate. Humour is truthfully one of the only ways we manage here with high levels of stress on a regular basis. Enjoy! With a few strategies and precautions you can get through the holidays relatively unscathed. Who knows you might even enjoy a few quiet moments on your own. Don’t forget to take care of your own needs too. Self care for parents is important, and even more so where special needs are present.

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How do You Manage Daily Stress?

Paula — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 12:11:17 +0000

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label. Life hands you lemons. Think quick, how do you deal with them? Do you make lemonade, or throw them at your friends? Do you worry about having too many lemons to weigh you down or decide an abundance of lemons is okay? Stress is a little like that, to me anyways. There’s no way to avoid daily stress or symptoms of stress really, but you can sort of balance it out. Build in daily activities like meditation, yoga, exercise and hydration. Take care of yourself, fuel your body with healthy foods and tackle the challenges as they come at you. Women in general are constantly faced with new pressures and responsibilities. It can be tricky trying to juggle work, healthy living, family and social life. In fact, one of the best speakers I ever heard on this topic was Arlene Dickinson of The Dragon’s Den who told a room full of female entrepreneurs that balance doesn’t exist when building a business. That resonated with me. Whether it’s business related, parenting exhaustion or personal struggles, it’s safe to say many women go through similar challenges. Daily stress is unavoidable. At some point you roll with the punches so to speak and also learn how to cope with the ups and downs of life. Sharing knowledge and experiences with other women is a powerful way to learn about health and well-being. I’ve put together a few facts about women’s health and the impact of daily stress on your body just to get the conversation started. A Focus on Women’s Health Many of us feel stressed from time to time. Did you know routine stress can take a toll on your body? If you’ve been having trouble with your digestion, frequent headaches, sleeplessness or just feeling irritable, stress may be the culprit. Assess your day-to-day routine to see if there are things you can do to reduce your daily stress levels, like carving out time that’s just for you or making a conscious choice to say “no” when you really don’t have the time for a new task. Is hair a big part of your personal identity? As you get older, you might find your hair is getting weaker. To help maintain the health of your hair, try a supplement like Priorin. Named the world’s best-selling nonprescription hair and beauty supplement in 2017, Priorin can help you achieve visibly fuller and stronger hair in as early as 12 weeks, so you can look and feel great. Did you know the common yeast infection is actually caused by some of the organisms present in the vagina? A weak immune system, pregnancy and oral birth-control pills are a few things that make women more prone to yeast infections (read more here). Though it might be common, it shouldn’t be left untreated. Canesten’s CanesOral Combi-Pak is a single-dose oral treatment that you can take anytime, anywhere and the external cream gives you fast relief of itching and burning. A basic pillar of your self-care is health monitoring and talking to your doctor about which tests and exams you will need at each new stage of life. Turning 50 soon? Here’s everything you need to know about health monitoring. Pap smears, breast exams, skin checks, dental check-ups and eye exams are examples of basic tests you should talk to your doctor about. Time Travel Daily stress doesn’t need to ruin your health. Build healthy activity and nutrition into every single day and when you need occasional support remember these tips. If you could go back in time and share one healthy-living tip with a younger you, what would it be? This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label. [1]Links, Rachael. 11Signs and Symptoms of Too Much Stress, 2018, January. Read more here

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Five Possible Effects of Stress

Paula — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 11:33:49 +0000

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label. Life is fast-paced and stress is unavoidable from time to time. Many of us worry about work, school, money, love – even the pressure to destress can become a stressor. April is National Stress Awareness month. To mark the occasion, I’m sharing common signs of stress you may have never heard of! Five Possible Effects of Stress It can affect your hair growth Many factors can impact healthy hair including stress. If your hair could use some support, a nutritional supplement like Priorin can help improve hair growth and combat effects of stress. It has been shown to provide fuller, thicker and stronger hair in as early as 12 weeks, so you know you aren’t tossing your money away on a quick-fix product. It can cause bathroom trouble Both constipation and diarrhea are common signifiers of stress, but just because it’s common doesn’t mean you need to grin and tolerate it. Drinking lots of water and eating high fiber foods are good first steps. If you’re experiencing occasional constipation, a mild laxative can help get your body back to its normal rhythm. RestoraLAX is an osmotic laxative that works with water to help soften stools. Check out this summary chart to find out which laxative is right for you. Visit their website today for a trial offer. It can make you breakout Skin conditions like acne, itchy skin or rashes can be related to an inflammatory response caused by stress. Your skin is an immediate stress perceiver, which basically means it’s on the frontline and absorbs effects of stress quickly. Take time to pamper and care for your skin when you’re going through a stressful period. Try a DIY face mask for some low-cost luxurious pampering you can do at home. It can increase your chances for a yeast infection Many women are prone to yeast infections when they’re experiencing stress or major life changes, like planning a wedding, losing a job or moving to a new home. Around 75 per cent of women will experience a yeast infection at least once in their lives, while many may have recurrent yeast infections. Luckily treatment for a yeast infection is readily available. Some treatments, like CanesOral Combi-Pak, are single-dose oral treatments that can be taken anytime and anywhere. The Combi-Pak also comes with an external cream for fast relief. It can literally make you sick If you often get colds and flus, your stress levels may be to blame. Your brain and immune system are in constant communication, which means that a psychological change can cause physical symptoms. Diet is an important factor in bolstering your immune system, so take extra care to get the vitamins and nutrients you need. Combat Effects of Stress with Healthy Routines Occasional stress is a normal part of life, but negative effects of stress can impact your body so any effort to reduce stress is worth your time. Talk to your doctor about ways you can help manage stress, like a change in diet, increased exercise and relaxation techniques. Do you ever feel like stress is taking over your life? Tell me some of the ways you cope with day-to-day stress. This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

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Stay Healthy this Summer – 8 Tips to be Your Best

Paula — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:21:28 +0000

Stay healthy this summer so you can enjoy more sunny days. The warm weather is finally here so why would you want to waste it with being sick? Being sick is rotten in any season, so anything we can do to keep illness at bay is always welcome. Staying healthy is the name of the game every month. It just means making a few different choices in the summer months. Stay Healthy with These 8 Tips It’s important that we remember to take care of ourselves even when the weather is warm. We often think of sickness in conjunction with the cold months, but you can still get sick when the weather is warm. And it’s not just viruses and colds that we have to look out for, it’s also allergies. In fact some of the worst illnesses I have ever had have been during August (which stinks). In fact pneumonia struck me twice in August and shingles did too one year. With everything around us that can make us sick, it’s important to fight back and fight back hard. Vitamin C No matter the season, I always supplement with vitamin C. This vitamin offers a huge boost to the immune system, allowing the body to fight off colds and other gross stuff. It’s the first line of defense against pretty much everything that will try to make you sick. Water, Water, Water Whether you read a post on how to have more energy or how to lose weight or, like this one, how to stay healthy, water should always be in the list. Water is key to each and every bodily function, including our immune system. Our bodies are made of over 75% water. When we aren’t properly hydrated, nothing works as well as it should. That includes our immune system in addition to metabolism and a host of other bodily functions. Exercise Exercise is so important to helping you stay healthy. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly or more healthy all the way around, including in their immune systems. It doesn’t have to be a Crossfit, work out so hard you can’t walk session. Just a stroll down the street counts and helps! Sleep The importance of sleep cannot be overstated. Sleep plays a huge role in staying healthy. Sleep not only recharges the body, it also repairs it. While most of us only get around 6 hours of sleep a night, studies show that we should be getting that magic 8 hour number. If you aren’t getting enough sleep you’re opening yourself up to sickness. This is one area I need to get better at right away. Limit Stress This tip has made its way into several different posts on ways to stay healthy. That’s because stress is a killer. Studies have shown that stress actually shortens our life spans. It also makes us more prone to sickness. So, what can you do about that? Remember to take time to exercise and do all the above then find something relaxing like Yoga, or swimming, or even walks or take a break to read a book. In fact limiting stress is hard and stressful in itself, but taking care of yourself and giving yourself breaks can help you lead a less stressful summer. Watch Pollen Counts If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you can stay healthy by watching the pollen count reports. Limit your out time outdoors when your allergen triggers are high and see your doctor about a good allergy medication. Wear Sunscreen Protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen regularly and as directed. Sunburn is not only uncomfortable, it’s also dangerous. Just one sunburn can double your chances of developing skin cancer. Watch the Heat After a season of gray and blah, we all want to get outside and stay outside. But remember to be careful! Even when we stay properly hydrated, excessive heat can be harmful. When the sun is beating down and the mercury rises into the really hot weather, look for shade and other ways to stay cool. And remember, sometimes it’s better to just stay inside. Stay Healthy to Enjoy Summer Summer is here, so stay healthy and enjoy it! Getting sick when the weather is wonderful stinks. These tips can help you stay healthy and keep you outside and doing what you love while the warm weather is here.

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Adult Coloring Books for Gifting #ValentinesDay

Paula — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:15:22 +0000

Adult coloring books are suddenly incredibly hot. I get it. I had a Hallmark one here recently and I had some fun chilling out and simply coloring for a bit. Coloring is a super relaxing activity. My one daughter has had coloring books with mandalas in them for several years. Those are not necessarily exclusively adult coloring books. Have you ever picked up an adult coloring book and wondered if you should get one? Do you have anxiety or trouble relaxing at all? They can be excellent tools for both children and adults to help calm down. When my kids were younger I had a home day care and I would often color with kids when they were playing. It’s surprising how often they would start telling me all about their school day or all about their bottled up feelings. I have seen this work really well with kids so I have no doubt that adult coloring books have amazing potential to help you unwind too. Eight Adult Coloring Books – Unicorns Are Jerks: a coloring book exposing the cold, hard, sparkly truth Animals – Stress Relief Coloring Book Color the Psalms: An Adult Coloring Book for Your Soul (Color the Bible) Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns Creative Coloring Inspirations: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy! Doctor Who Coloring Book Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book “Today Is Going To Be A Great Day” Inspirational Adult Coloring Book

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Operation Banish High Blood Pressure Week One Checkup #health #fitness

Paula — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 15:50:07 +0000

This is a check in along the way to tackling my high blood pressure issue that developed just this past year. High blood pressure is not something to be taken lightly and out can be deadly. I am committed to fixing the problem as I need to stick around longterm and be healthy for myself and my family. Follow along as I try to change this growing health concern. At the start of 2014, I was busy, getting ready for a major move to our new house, managing multiple accounts and a growing business and parenting some wonderful, but challenging kids. Somehow I still found time to work out on average three times a week. I look back at that and I am amazed and proud but frankly when the move was over and life started to settled down that’s when my exercise habits began to change and I placed work plus kid’s doctor’s and therapy appointments all at the top of the list. Where did that leave me? Well, at the end of 2014 I am less healthy than I was at the start and I have developed high blood pressure which is upsetting. At the end of 2014 I am struggling to get to the gym ever. I am certain I have gained weight from poor eating and sitting at a computer all day every day. I am not happy with that. My goal this year was growth and I have managed to grow and I have met the challenges along the way. But last September the doctor advised me I had high blood pressure. I figured it was a one off. So we just promised to monitor that. We trudged along and I travelled increasingly more often and kept up with demand at my business Thrifty Mom Media social media consulting. October passed and after a major trip with World Vision Canada I still had high blood pressure. Then two weeks ago when we got our flu shots the high blood pressure reading was indeed still there. It was higher than ever. So three months and no change. That meant it was now on me to change it. But how? The last 10 days I have tried to change my habits. I mentioned that back here in a post about what I needed to do to fix this high blood pressure issue. So this is my first check in. I need you to hold me accountable for what I say I will do to fix this. If I strive for a healthy lifestyle here, it’s because I have a family that needs. In fact, my Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, will remind me fast if I am losing control of diet and exercise. My stomach tells me what I am doing wrong by giving me extreme abdominal pain at times. Trust me, I do what I can to avoid that. Check in every ten days: First check in – I started chronicling my diet intake daily. Food journals are challenging for me, but I found a great app on the phone (My Fitness Pal) that keeps me motivated to eat better. I have stopped using salt. Because honestly there’s enough salt in food to begin with. I have dramatically cut processed foods out. That said I permit myself deli meats occasionally. And I allowed a family celebration at a restaurant this weekend because I need to have some breaks and incentives to do well the rest of the week. I am monitoring bread because it seems to be high in sodium. Note that I am reading labels a lot more and I am shocked at what salt is added to and what it’s not added to. Dairy seems to be pretty good. Fruits and vegetables are great of course (but because of the Crohn’s I have always been limited in what I can eat for vegetables so I need some help in that department.) The goal here has to be to add smoothies regularly. I ate a banana raw the first day I revamped my diet and I was not well. The gut pain from a raw banana was excruciating for me. My Fitness Pal app is working well for me. I don’t hate logging my food and exercise in there. Buying all of my food raw and making meals with my Hamilton Beach crockpot is working, I think. EXERCISE: I exercised a couple of times and I walked daily, but it’s not even close to enough and I know it. My goal was three times a week and I am only making it into the gym once a week. That has to change. I am going to cut myself some slack here and also remind me that I am doing well with walking. Even when it is freezing out I always walk 1.5 ams every single day. The tool I love that helps me with this is my Misfit Shine. It is an exercise and sleep tracker that I wear on my arm every single day and it tells me when I hit my exercise goals so I kind of love that it motivates me. I have had this since the summer and I know I walk more because of it. Also it’s waterproof so it stays on all the time and I can swim with it on to. Awesome little gadget. Last night I went to bed at 11 p.m. and the night before that I went at 10 p.m. so I am getting a bit better. One of the kids is almost done her group therapy work so that will create a morning free again and less stress for me and more opportunity to workout. Thank goodness. Her therapy and doctor’s appointments are really hard to manage. I cut my caffeine dramatically in the last ten days also. Now, I am drinking only two cups of coffee every morning. That is it. I am super proud of that because I am a coffee-a-holic. Instead, I opt for water and herbal tea. Yeah me! Here is what I pledged to tackle when I started this journey December 1. 1. Low sodium diet. 2. Watch weight and maybe drop 5 to 10 pounds. 3. Increase physical activity. Exercise more. 4. Monitor and fix stress in my life. 5. Get better at taking breaks. Stop working 15 hour days. 6. Less caffeine. (It’s hard to say cut back on caffeine because I think you all know I love my coffee.) 7. Food journal. I started one today after I tweeted that I have high blood pressure. 8. More yummy home cooked items. 9. Oh yeah and that estrogen I take because I was prescribed it when I had a hysterectomy has now been reevaluated. Cut in half and the goal will be to taper off I think. But I will do that with doctor’s help. So to recap I am doing well on 1, 6,7, 8 and 9. I need to do better on 2,3, 4 and 5. I am pleased with the work I have done on my diet and I will work hard on some of the other points this next ten days ( but as we head right into Christmas that will be challenging.) This post is not sponsored but it contains one affiliate link. Have you ever had high blood pressure? What did you change and how did it work? Do you have any tools that help you stay healthy?

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