Two-thirds of British people take their holidays between July and August, following the end of the school year. However, school holidays can also mark the start of six stressful weeks for parents. Organising additional childcare, entertaining bored kids and having a house full of other people’s children can send even the calmest of parents over the edge. So, to help ease tension and reduce overwhelm, here are our top tops to help with stress this summer…
Massage
Massage can be a great stress reliever away from the home holiday mayhem. There are over 80 massage styles from Indian head massage to seated massage to hand and foot massage. Take a look at Which massage choice is right for you.
Reflexology
Reflexology applies pressure to reflex points on the feet and/or hands. This creates a stimulating effect, which can relax tension and improve nerve and blood supply. Reflexology is based on systems of zones and reflex areas on the soles of your feet or hands. These zones containing millions of nerve endings, which correspond to other areas of the body. For 3,000 years Chinese practitioners have used reflexology to balance Qi (believed to be the life force flowing through energy channels). Pressure applied to certain points stimulates nerve endings and energy pathways. This promotes health,works on relieving stress and restoring natural balance. Reflexology involves massaging the soles of your feet, or if you are very ticklish they can massage your hands.
Classes/events to help with stress
You may want to learn a technique that will help put you in charge and enable you to deal with the stresses and strains of life beyond the school holidays. If so, try some relaxation technique classes, stress management or for the more adventurous, laughter yoga. We have a full list of activities to help with stress and wellbeing here. See which one you fancy and see if there’s any local classes in your area.
Relaxation techniques are a way of learning how to manage your own feelings of anxiety or stress. There are proven techniques you can learn, designed to help the stress of your day ebb away to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and revitalised.
Top tips to for surviving school holidays
- Set small goals. Start small by choosing one thing to focus on each day. It could be an activity, like going swimming or to the park, or just spending 10 minutes after work doing something with the kids that they want to do. If you make these small plans you’re far more likely to feel a sense of having achieved something with your kids.
- Remember the food! Highs and lows in blood sugar levels can really affect the mood of you child. And school holidays can mean a relaxation of all the usual dietary rules about sweets and junk food, this will not help keep stable moods. Sticking to routines for mealtimes and having relatively healthy snacks can and keep them more in balance.
- Be sociable. Other people can be a lifesaver for you and for your children, especially if you still have to go to work. Organise play dates but make sure you are prepared for a return visit! A new face can be a positive change of dynamic.
- Don’t feel you have to keep your children entertained from dawn til dusk. Most of us set too high standards, then feel stressed for not meeting them. It’s OK for children to feel bored sometimes and there may not to be an activity for every minute of every day. To sum up, the more relaxed you are, the more fun you’ll have as a family.
- Have some magic moments. Take some time out to do something different . Plan a real treat for them to look forward to. This could be a day at the Zoo, or even just something you don’t normally do: taking water pistols to the park for a water fight, doing some baking together for tea or getting out old clothes to dress up in and put on an impromptu play! (These tips were written with information provided by www.mums.net)
Enjoy the holidays
If you need help with stress, just pick one of the tips above and see what a difference it will make! Above all, try and make sure you enjoy the holidays and spending precious time with your kids.
