It doesn’t matter if you are a full-time stay at home mom or you work a 50-hour a week job–if you’re a mom, you are always working to take care of your kids. Raising children takes a lot of energy! A lack of sleep, not eating right, and constant stress can take a toll on health. In doing so, your body never gets a chance to reset for the “life” part of work/life balance. As a mom, you deal with challenges, working out time for the kids, your partner, and yourself. You need support!
Having support includes emotional needs and self-care. Burnout can be a common side-effect, and we feel it in the tightness of our neck, shoulders, or back, which are all signs of stress. Recently, excellent research has shown that getting regular massages has many benefits. Massages have been proven to make a positive difference in physical, mental, and emotional health. There is a reprogramming in your brain that makes a difference in your patience, kindness, and overall well-being. Massages decrease your cortisol (stress hormones) and increase serotonin and dopamine. Also, you might notice the change in your digestion and metabolism, sleep, and mood change. Getting a massage not only helps to release stress from our bodies; in turn, it releases the tension from our minds.
Here is a list of benefits:
- Aids in reducing anxiety
- Decreases incidences of headaches
- Reduces muscle tension, soreness, or strains
- Helps with sleep difficulties related to stress
- Increase “feel good” hormones
- Increases the immune system
- Decreases pain
Also, there is a calming feeling you get from touch. It causes a sensation of comfort and caring which is especially great for a mom. It also allows you time away from home, and you may find that your therapist is a pleasant person to talk with. It’s a moment in time where you are entirely focused on being in touch with what you want and how you want to feel.
You can choose from a variety of massages, and they can take as little as 15 minutes for a quick neck rub, or up to an hour for an intensive all-over body massage. You don’t have devices in your face, your children pulling on you, and you have a break from work deadlines.
Here are 3 ways you can make the most of massage to manage the stress of motherhood and take care of your health:
- Don’t feel guilty about putting your needs first. You are not neglecting your kids, you are showing them that self-care is essential and that you are a person with healthy coping strategies.
- A massage will ensure that you can spend quality time with your children. If it’s later in the day, you won’t be exhausted and overly reactive.
- You’ll have the right state of mind. Regular massages ensure you will have the energy, alertness, and calmness to get things done and drive your kids to their activities.
The insights in this article are, in part, the opinion of the writer as well as other sources.
Research links:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743
https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/the-benefits-of-massage.aspx
