Introduction

If you’re like most solo moms, you wake up feeling stressed out and anxious. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right mindset and habits, you can wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day. This post gives you practical tips to start your day off right, so you can wake up feeling less stressed out. I write about these tips frequently on my blog but they are always worth repeating.

Starting your day with stress can negatively impact your overall well-being, leading to a lack of productivity, reduced motivation, and eventually physical health problems. Waking up frazzled and anxious is the pits. This is why finding ways to reduce stress and anxiety during your morning routine is essential.

Below I’ll cover a few well-worn strategies for waking up feeling less stressed out, from avoiding looking at your phone to practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques. These tips are backed by research and real-life experiences and will provide practical ways to manage stress you can implement right away.

So, whether you’re a morning person or not, you can choose to avoid chronic stress and better manage your day when you make the effort to manage your morning. Let’s dive in and discover some simple ways for managing stress and transforming your mornings so you can rule the day.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links including Amazon Associates affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase after following one of these links I may get a small commission.  There’s no extra cost to you.

What are the signs of stress?

There are many different signs of stress, and it can vary from person to person. Some common signs of stress include feeling overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, or depressed. You may also have trouble sleeping, or find yourself overeating or undereating. One of the biggest telltale signs for me, when I’m stressed, is a headache or pain in my neck. So it’s important to address chronic stress in your life.

So if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to reach out for help. Many resources, including your doctor, exist that can help you manage your stress. But you can also get a handle on your morning if you take action so you feel less stressed out when you wake up.

Don’t look at your phone

Please! One of the best things you can do for yourself in the morning is to avoid looking at your phone and notifications. This will only lead to more stress and anxiety. Be sure to turn off your notifications in the evening so that nothing but your alarm pops up on your phone in the morning. So try to remember to turn off your notifications in the evening, so that the next morning, you see nothing pop up on your phone aside from your alarm.

Personally, I mute all notifications on my electronic devices. It’s how I maintain control in this crazy, always ‘on’ world we live in.

Meditate for a few minutes

I know meditation can be boring but you need it. So before getting out of bed, just sit in silence for a few minutes and meditate. Here are some free resources you can use to start if you’ve never practiced meditation before.

If you are prone to falling back asleep, then sit up in bed and maybe remove your covers. Next, close your eyes and let your thoughts flow slowly, getting in a mindful state before your day starts.

One of the things I love to do when I have the time is to just lay in bed and let my mind drift. If I find that I’m focusing too much on my problems then I shift my focus. I sometimes pray but if my mind gets out of hand meditation is one of the best solutions to help me feel less stressed out.

Do morning yoga or stretches

Yoga is a great stress reliever and very easy on your body. When you do get out of bed, try some simple stretches or even a short morning yoga session. You can start with simple poses like the ones in the video below. For only about 5 minutes in the morning, these simple poses can help you get your body ready for the day.

Yoga also provides additional emotional benefits, including deep breathing and relaxation. You can even combine yoga with meditation to save time and reduce morning anxiety. When you’re mothering solo feelings of anxiety can wear you down. Yoga is a great tool to help you feel less stressed out and anxious.

Write in your journal

Keeping a journal is an excellent morning activity. Journaling helps can help you feel less stressed out because you basically transfer the thoughts moving around in your head to your journal. I always feel better when I journal especially when my mind is a jumbled mess.

But don’t overthink it. Grab a notebook or journal and write about whatever you want. This is a stream-of-consciousness journaling technique, in which you don’t focus on a specific topic, but rather, just journal so that you can clear your mind and focus on what’s important.

You can purchase a nicely bound journal if you want or a simple notebook. It’s not where you write it’s that you actually write so you can feel less stressed out especially when you first wake up.

Listen to calming music

You might find that you need more relaxation in the morning, so try listening to some calming music. For you, this might mean something low and melodic to calm your nerves. Or you may prefer something upbeat to get you energized and ready to tackle your daily tasks.

Studies show that music is a great help in reducing stress. Try this playlist or any of the many apps available. Play what you love but try something new sometimes. Just for fun!

There is no right or wrong answer here, as long as it helps you to feel less stressed out. You can download short clips like the one below from Pixabay for free. Try them and choose a few to bring variety so you can spice up your morning.

Conclusion

These tips are simple and easy to do. Of course, we’re tempted to just jump out of bed and dive into the chaos of our day. Don’t! It’s important to create your day so you’re in control. These tips can help you feel less stressed out when you wake up while creating a safe space just for you.

Figure a way to make waking up in the morning as stress-free as possible. Only you can control that. It may mean waking up 15 minutes earlier but it’s worth it. Because as a solo mom juggling a multitude of responsibilities you need a focused mind to tackle your daily challenges.

You need to find ways to effectively deal with stress on a daily basis. To keep a clear head. To wake up feeling less stressed out.

Need help putting together a plan of action to help you feel less stressed out? Enter your info in the form below to join my Stress Management 21-Day Challenge. If you don’t want to do it on your own, schedule a one-on-one with me. You owe it to yourself and your kids to be the best version of yourself.