Now I called this blog the Hectic Mum for one massive reason, before I had kids I was ‘mad busy’ ,now my life is beyond busy and Frantic Mum didn’t feel like I had any control! so Hectic seemed to cover not a minute to spare but in contol.   The statement I’m about to make isn’t the most insightful thing I’ve ever said but here goes, children can, more often than not, be extremely stressful and sometimes we all need just a few minutes to calm down, take a breather and collect our thoughts.

Now I know that the majority of you out there will be thinking “10minutes?!…I rarely get a free second, let alone 10 whole minutes” but I urge you to make free 10 minutes out of your day. I promise you it will make you happier, calmer and more focused!

I’ve listed some top tips I’ve collated from sites such as Active.com; as well as my own advice to help you sit back and de-stress, hope they help!

1. Have a ‘Galaxy’ moment. Chocolate releases endorphins in the brain which make you happier! (now that’s the best excuse I could come up with!)

2. If you’ve got a headache, when you’re in the shower grab your hair close to your scalp and tug it gently to release tension. Then rub your fingers in small circles over your entire head to stimulate blood flow, which in turn reduces pain and stress.
3. Do 10minutes of exercise outside such as taking the dog out for a walk - it helps to take your mind of a stressful situation and gets some fresh air into your lungs.
4. Listen to some relaxing music - listening to music is proven to reduce stress responses such as high blood pressure and elevated heart rate.
5. Acupressure – with your thumb and index finger, gently squeeze each of your fingers all over and use your thumb to rub each joint in a circular motion. Then hold each finger at its base and pull gently to stretch it. For extra benefits use a dab of lavender oil, which can relieve anxiety and headaches.
6. Speak to a friend - social support and a good old natter to your friends has been proven to lower stress.
7. Revel in evil giggles at Go Fug Yourself or browse YouTube for ridiculous videos such as the ones I wrote about in my previous post ‘You Tube faves’. Laughing fits are a surefire way to stamp out stress.
Here’s a new one I’ve found:

8. Sip a nice Shiraz (or any other red wine) to help you unwind: It contains antioxidants that mop up free radicals molecules that can damage cells and are often released when you’re under stress – however it doesn’t mean drink the whole bottle!
9. Snuggle with your kitty. Studies show that bonding with a pet even (believe it or not) a goldfish can help lower anxiety. How do you bond with a goldfish? Hmm don’t really want to know!
10. Stress makes chronic skin conditions like acne worse but honey can make them better. The bee’s pride and joy is a moisturizer, antioxidant, and antiviral all in one sticky package. Advice out there is to spread a thin layer on your face, leave for 10minutes and then wash off with warm water…however, I think I might just stick to putting it on my toast in the morning!
11. Keep a notepad and pencil bedside to write down any to-dos that are weighing on your mind - it will help you let go of anxious thoughts and allow you to sleep easier.
12. Go to Get The Label and treat yourself  (shopping always makes me feel better!)

Hectic Mum Top Tip: If the children are really driving you round the bend drop them off at Grandma’s!

Hope that helps! What are your top tips for reducing stress? Leave a comment and let me know.