Peace is probably the one thing every busy mom craves, but doesn’t often get. So I’ve been doing a little research about how to find this “peace” (AKA less stress) and you may be surprised about what came up in my research.

The American Psychological Association (APA) did a study of more than 2,000 children and adults and what they found blew my mind.

-90% of kids say they know when their parents are stressed because they see them complaining or they don’t hang out with them.

-Many of these kids reported feeling sad, worried and frustrated

-33% of these little ones complained of stress-related headaches or stomach aches

But here’s the real kicker!

70% of parents say their stress and anxiety RARELY affects their kids!

This was a pretty in-dept study with lots of findings. So feel free to read the more technical details of it here! 

I knew that we were a pretty tense nation, but I don’t think I realized the huge affect our lack of peace has on our children.

But, then again, what does this have to do with you? You’re an amazing mom right?

I know you are. But what this research highlights so clearly is our (the parent’s) lack of awareness.

Sure we may know we’re feeling “something” but do we recognize it as stress? And if we do, do we fully understand the impact it has on our little ones?

Many of us moms have so much going on that we don’t even recognize just how stressed out and unbalanced we really are.

If you’re sleeping more or less than usual, are tense around the shoulders, neck and back and really REALLY want some chocolate cake, you just might be a little stressed!

So I’m going to give you the one piece of stress relieving advice that I give my students (and myself) ALL. THE. TIME.

The ONE stress relief tip that may just save your sanity!

Give yourself permission! 

You see as moms our tendency is to always do what NEEDS doing. Sometimes doing what everyone else needs, without giving ourselves permission to slow down and enjoy our own life.

No worries, you’re not the only one. All of us caregivers and nurturers fall into this trap at some point.

Hell, I’ll admit that I often fix breakfast and lunch for everyone in my house, and still walk out the door with my OWN stomach growling and no lunchbox to speak of.

Because I know busy moms neglect ourselves all the time, I created a free video all about my simple 3-step system to decreasing stress and taking great care of you everyday. No special tools, copious amounts of time or solitude needed. Feel free to get that video here!

The number one issue I see with my private yoga clients and students is NOT their ability to understand that taking care of themselves is important. But it’s their willingness to actually make time to do it.

A wonderful author, Elizabeth Gilbert (she wrote the novel Eat, Pray, Love), wrote about making whatever you do “sexy”.

What she meant was that if you look at what needs doing as a hot sexy, and even forbidden object of your affection then there’s nothing you won’t do to engage with it.

Gilbert likens these “must-dos” to lovers having an affair. They lie, make up excuses, skip meals, you name it all just to sneak away to have a 10 minute make out session with their lover.

This is how I want moms to think about self care!

But even more importantly I want you to give yourself permission to think about taking care of you like this.

Be a little obsessed about it. Sneak off to engage in it. 15 minutes to love on yourself is all you need sometimes. Know that you not only have permission but the RIGHT to treat yourself with kit gloves.

To get you started on your sneaky self-care journey, here are a few of my favorite stress relieving practices you can do in 15 minutes or less!

1. Listen to a few of your favorite songs and dance around the house or sing to them.
2. Take a 10-15 minute meditation break.
3. Eat your lunch in solitude and really enjoy it.
4. Read a great article or chapter of an interesting book
5. Daydream about the next tropical vacation you’d like to take
6. Write in your journal
7. Take a walk in the park.
8. Call a good girlfriend to catch up for a bit
9. Put on make-up and a nice outfit and feel as beautiful as you look.
10. Take a long-ish shower, just to enjoy the hot water on your body.

The point is mama, self-care is a practice that you should never feel ashamed about fitting into your day. And there are many simple things you can do every day to help you be the best mom, wife, woman etc you can be.

Could You Use More Energy, Focus and Peace In Your Mom Life?

Get my FREE video and learn my simple 3-step system to help you get all your must-do’s done without burning out. Click below to get it!