10 Ways to Avoid Overstimulation as a Busy Mum

Every mum knows that overbearing feeling of stress that often comes over you when you’re surrounded by too many different conflicting things at the same time. The overstimulation that comes with being a mum is extremely common, so you’re not alone when it comes to feeling this way. Although you will never be able to avoid stressful scenarios altogether, there are several different solutions when it comes to avoiding too much overstimulation. If you often feel as though one little thing can push you over the edge, you’re probably in that category of overstimulation and in need of a little helping hand. Of course, you want to give your little ones the best childhood possible without showing how stressed and overwhelmed you can get at times. However, you are also a human being with emotions, needs, and a life of your own who deserves to enjoy the little things too. With that being said, here are a handful of methods that may prevent you from becoming too overstimulated in your day-to-day life as a busy mum.

Plan Your Food Shop Ahead of Time

Every mum has been in this type of scenario before; your kids are hanging off the shopping trolley, demanding some sort of sweet treat, and you have no idea what you came to the supermarket for in the first place. This is a classic situation in which you can easily become stressed out and overstimulated. Although this may not always be possible, try to write out a list for your food shop ahead of time and leave the kids at home with someone while you spend an hour in the shops by yourself!

Dedicate Time to Sort Out Your Finances

When your mind is overburdened with stressful thoughts and feelings, it can be very easy to go into meltdown mode, especially when it comes to complex subject matters such as finances. Looking into financial advisors near me will help you clear up any confusion so that you aren’t overstimulated when dealing with important money matters. Taking the time to understand your financial situation will help you gain perspective and a true comprehension of what you need to do and when. This can take a huge weight off your shoulders when it comes to paying bills, investing, and remortgaging your home.

Get Some Help With Housework

Although you may want to do everything by yourself at home, it’s important to accept help when it’s available to you. Trying to function in an untidy environment is so overstimulating, so it’s important to mitigate these situations as often as you can. Whether you’re sharing out the chores between family members at home or you’re hiring some additional help from a cleaning company, every little helps when it comes to taking the extra pressure off yourself.

Separate Home and Work Life

Trying to work from home and enjoy quality time with your family is such a hard balancing act and one that can easily cause you to become overwhelmed. Separating your home and work life may seem like a challenge, but having this boundary in place will help you keep overstimulation at bay.

Make Sure Your Home is Practical and Organised

As well as getting some help around the house with your housework and tidying, you may also want to look into how your home is organised. When things aren’t in the right place or are easily misplaced, it can become a huge stress that makes you boil over the edge on an extra busy day. Getting your storage solutions just right, finding methods for school uniforms and bag packing, and even rearranging your kitchen cupboards more effectively can work wonders for your mindset.

Turn Down the Noise and Reduce Screen Time

Excess noise is one of the main causes of overstimulation, and this can be avoided by removing external sounds as much as possible. For example, if your children decide to play a noisy board game that comes with a lot of additional sound effects, now would be the perfect time to turn off your television or radio. If your kids are happily watching a movie quietly, you may want to make sure this is the only source of noise so that things don’t escalate.

Make Time For Yourself

Enjoying time to yourself is so important, and it can help to reset your patience levels as a parent. Carving out some time for self care or a moment outside the house by yourself will help you stay cool and calm during those overstimulating moments in life.

Get Outside As Much as Possible

When you’re about to crack in a noisy, busy, and stressful environment, one of the most effective cures is some time in the fresh air. Getting outside in nature is one of the best natural medicines for overstimulation as a busy mum, as it acts as a complete reset for your system. Whether it’s morning, noon, or night, open up the doors, let the kids run free, and enjoy the small sigh of relief that comes your way as a result!

Soak in the Peaceful Moments

These moments in your home may be few and far between, but as soon as a peaceful moment strikes your house, soak it all in! Enjoy the sounds of nothingness for a while and avoid turning on any loud noises, such as the radio or television. You can bet that this peace won’t last for long, but it will certainly be enjoyable in that very short moment!

Pick an “I’m Overstimulated!” Word

This idea will help you when everything has become too much and you just need a quick way out of the situation. Between you and your partner, you need to choose a “safe” word which lets them know you’re overstimulated and you need a moment alone. Whether you shout the word “banana” or “otters” this will be a direct signal to your loved one to relieve you of your current scenario and let you have some space for a moment.

Although you may never completely escape those overwhelming feelings of overstimulation in your life, all of the ideas mentioned above will help you to alleviate the stress slightly. Your life is never going to be perfect and filled with rainbows and butterflies every day. However, there are so many things you can do that will make your day to day life much more enjoyable. If you find yourself regularly becoming stressed out by the little things, these methods will help you find your peace again and feel grounded. You don’t need to drastically change your lifestyle or alter your approach to parenting; simply being more mindful of the ideas above will help you navigate the trickier moments in your life as and when they arise. Make sure you seek out the right support from your partner too, as this can completely transform how you work together as a team. It’s not just busy mums who get overstimulated; fathers can experience the same feelings too! Talk about your emotions in certain situations and get onto the same page when it comes to tackling these events together. Creating consistency around the home will not only benefit your mental health, but it will also show your children boundaries and expectations when they’re around you.

Hopefully, you can work through the ideas mentioned above and you will soon have an actionable plan to help you counteract any future feelings of overstimulation when you’re spending time with your family.

*This is a collaborative post