7 Things to Do When Your Family Is Stressed

At times, the atmosphere in a home can become fraught with tension and widespread stress. There are many factors that could lead to the entire family feeling overwhelmed simultaneously. However, it's also common for each family member to be stressed out for entirely different reasons. You might be dealing with pressures at work while your children are preparing for critical school exams. Simultaneously, one of your kids could be dedicating hours to learning lines for a school play, and another could be anxious about making the field hockey team. Interestingly, life has its way of aligning these stressors, sometimes amplifying the stress levels at home.

But when stress makes its home in your house, you can solve it in your house just as quickly. There are so many things you can do to relax your family when everyone feels a bit on edge. From growing closer together to getting a little space, you can find what works best for your family and get all the relaxation you need.

1. Get Some Extra Rest

Often times, stress can be heavily exacerbated by a lack of sleep and downtime. Running on empty is one of the worst things you can do when you'e stressed out — even for kids who seem to have endless wells of energy. Lack of sleep can cause confusion, headaches, grinding your teeth, muscle aches, fatigue and confusion — none of which sound like very much fun. Turning in a bit early could be the key in feeling a bit of relief, from the toddlers of your house to you.

2. Plan a Nothing Day

A nothing day can be whatever you make it, and that's exactly the point. When the stress of life overwhelms you and it feels like there isn't enough time in the day, try to plan a day that offers nothing but time. You can use it to catch up on a few household chores and errands, and also find some downtime to relax and rest, which is something you probably need right about now. Use your nothing day however you need it most.

3. Journal Together

Sometimes, getting your feelings out and finding a sense of release is exactly what everyone needs, even the kids. While you can journal together, you can also find journaling prompts for everyone separately and go at them on your own. There are no rules when it comes to exploring your emotions. All you have to do is write about whatever you're feeling. You can even explore the same prompts together by finding ideas that work for all ages. Share your findings at the end if you wish, or keep them just for yourselves. It's all about finding that emotional release to clear up the stress.

4. Get Outside

Getting outdoors and exploring nature is good for your mental, physical and emotional health no matter who you are. Going on a simple walk, hike or bike ride can help you get away from everything and feel more connected to nature. Even if you feel like you don't have the time, getting outdoors can be just the break you're looking for.

5. Spend Some Time Apart

If you find that being around one another when you're stressed out only heightens the tension and emotion, taking a little bit of social space from one another to recharge your batteries could be exactly what your family needs. Try planning an evening of downtime where everyone takes their own space to settle down with a quiet of activity of their choosing. You can read, watch a movie or even turn in a bit early to catch some extra Z's. Sometimes, a bit of alone time is exactly what you need.

6. Put the Screens Away

There are so many benefits to putting down the screens and finding a more genuine connection with one another, yourselves and the world around you. Constantly staying plugged in and looking at a screen all day can have adverse affects on your sleep patterns, eye health and stress levels. Try putting screens down at least an hour before bed or even spending a weekend without your phones in hand. It may give you more relaxation than you realize.

7. Bake or Cook Together

If you're looking to tune in and do something fun together, try out a relaxed activity like baking or cooking together. It's a bit of a time out from your regular routine where you can work together and make something fun. Baking one of your favorite recipes can serve as a distraction from your stress, and reward you with a fun treat when you're done.

Sit Back and Relax

Stress can come in so many forms, and everyone from you to your little ones can have times of feeling the pressure. Luckily, there are so many ways to take some of the stress away. Whether you're spending downtime alone to connecting with one another, your house can find peace and relaxation however works best for your family.