The Stress of Being a Mom and How to Cope with It

Being a mother is a full-time, challenging, unpaid job. And if you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood, remember that you’re not alone.

According to a 2022 survey, a whopping 68% of moms experience anxiety, and 35% of those report their current anxiety levels as ‘moderate’ or ‘severe.’ Even more worryingly, poll results show that 73% of Millennial mothers hide their anxiety from their families, which is a surefire way to experience the effects of unmanaged stress.

Unfortunately, the simple fact of parenthood is that no magic pill can make it less demanding. But if you’re currently experiencing the stress of being a mom, here are a few tips on how to cope with it.

Prioritize Healthy Self-Care Habits

One of the most impactful things you can do to help yourself cope with the stress of motherhood is to prioritize self-care.

Parenthood inevitably comes with overwhelming situations — whether that’s a child getting sick, a big family trip, or just your tween realizing they forgot to do a school project that’s due in the morning. Any of these circumstances are guaranteed to deplete your energy levels. Nonetheless, you can rest assured that you’ll be better equipped to deal with them if you take proper care of yourself.

In addition to getting sufficient sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, and regularly working out, try to enrich your life with activities or hobbies that will charge your batteries instead of draining your already short reserve of energy. 

Whether you’re into hiking, reading, watching movies, or baking, try your best to make time for the things that bring you joy. Even as little as 30 minutes of emotional self-care a week will allow you to manage your stress levels. Plus, it will prevent you from becoming burned out due to not doing anything for yourself.

Learn How to Act in Stressful Situations

Coping with motherhood stress often comes down to continual self-care, but being a parent isn’t always equally demanding. In fact, throughout your motherhood journey, you’ll probably find yourself in emergency situations where you have things completely under control. And then, you’ll encounter a minor setback and feel like everything is falling apart. 

Yes, experiencing these situations is mind-boggling. But that’s the nature of life.

So, as you explore ways to cope with the stress of being a mom, don’t try wasting your time preparing for (or worrying about) the worst-case scenario. Instead, come up with strategies that will help you handle overwhelming situations as they come up. 

In addition to getting your basics right — having a protocol that will help in stressful situations or taking a first aid class — also do your best to learn how to mentally decompress when you feel overwhelmed.

For example, something as simple as doing a breathing exercise during a stressful situation can be super effective at helping you calm down when feeling anxious. Plus, learning how to recognize the effects of acute stress on your body can be a huge plus in preventing yourself from becoming overwhelmed — especially if you know that you don’t cope well in emergencies.

Try to Reflect on the Upside

Motherhood comes with a countless number of challenges. But at the end of the day, it’s a hugely rewarding job — possibly the best one in the world (yes, even despite the long work hours and zero compensation). So, if you feel like you’re struggling to deal with stressful situations, perhaps you could try to experiment with changing up your perspective. 

Yes, pulling an all-nighter with your kid and helping them finish a school project the night before it’s due is a pain in the back. But it’s also an important bonding opportunity that will teach them they can rely on their mom to be there for them. Driving your children to and from practice while juggling a million other chores is exhausting. Still, it’s also a great way to support your children in pursuing their dreams — especially if you can turn the commute into a satisfying chat or an all-out car karaoke party.

In Closing

There’s no shortcut to becoming a great mom. And no magic wand can take away all the stress from being a parent. But the truth is, the stress of motherhood is something you can cope with as long as you have a few tricks up your sleeve. 

Don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Do your best to develop strategies for dealing with acute stress. Try to look at things from a positive perspective whenever you can. And, of course, don’t hesitate to ask for help — whether from those in your immediate surroundings or to seek out a professional who can help you develop stress-management techniques that will work for your unique needs.

By Sarah Kaminski