The Stress Factor: Why a Day with Children Can Be More Stressful than Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

I was just reading a study about how athletes can now measure their stress level to prevent over-training using heart rate variability. The researcher noted that one man who was monitoring his stress level in this way discovered that his normal work day left him so stressed that according to this objective measurement he was never in a state of recovery. Then he went on a week vacation and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and three days later, still on vacation, he was completely recovered!

This research just got me wondering about the stay at home mom with a toddler to chase and maybe a baby or another child to homeschool. Or how about the working mom who trades in one kind of work for another at the end of her "work day"? Now, granted I haven't done any research on this but my instinct and experience tells me that some moms may be living in a state of perpetual stress with all the negative impact that would have on their health and emotions. And a week vacation may not be in the plans.

Interestingly, the researcher also noted that a day spent having lunch and shopping did nothing to bring down one woman's measureable stress while napping and reading at home did. I wish I knew if the woman felt relaxed after her day out in spite of the fact that her body was still registering high stress levels. Can we even tell how tired we really are?

One of the features of my book, Exercising Values, is a section for moms that is devoted to helping them relieve stress. As the mother of six children, I can tell you that each age has it's own brand of stress and of delight. I love the line in Father of the Bride where Steve Martin says about his daughters flight landing, "It's better when they are on the ground". So there is the stress my daughter has now with her two year old who has dropped not one but three cell phones in the toilet and there is the stress of college students boarding planes or traveling the world.

So whoever you are but especially if you are a mom, please take a moment to take a few deep breaths and think of something relaxing that you can do for yourself today. It might even be taking that little one in your arms and listening to or reading a story. My husband records the stories in the Exercising Values program so tired moms can close their eyes along with their little one's if they need to. I'll arrange a sample story for you soon so you can see if you find that a good way to relax.

We were snowed in for Christmas day but my daughter, son-in-law and grandson made it to our house on Christmas Eve. This was a nice surprise since without the snow they would have waited until Christmas afternoon. So we had all six kids and our grandson with us on Christmas morning. I think if someone had been monitoring my heart rate variability it would have shown peace and relaxation because that's how I felt.

Soon my living room looked like my house used to look-like a toy store. The love and the laughter was precious but then, young mom, please remember I'm not doing this phase of life on a daily basis any more. So if you think seven offspring in a confined space would raise your stress level, I completely understand. I just want you to know that a day will come when they will all appreciate what you are doing for them and you will appreciate how full and rich they have made your life. Now go fish phone number four out of the toilet...smile...and find some time for you today.