5 Effective Stress Relievers For Dads

Ever had a day at work where you just can’t wait to get home to the family? As an adult, being a dad is stress-relieving. You have more time with your children and are able to be there for them in ways that working parents might not be able to. And then, of course, there’s the unconditional love they give us every day! But even though it can be stress relieving as well as rewarding, dad life has its challenges too. There’s always something else we could do better (or differently).

There are also times when stress builds up because of outside factors like finances or emotional upheavals within the household. It seems like there’s never enough time in one day; sometimes it feels like stress is just waiting for us at the end of every day.

Here are 5 stress relievers that you can do for yourself each day to help you cope with stress after coming home from work or any time stress strikes an adult parent.

1. • Visualization Techniques

• • Take A Walk

• • Positive Self-Talk

• • Focus on Breathing

• • Start a Gratitude Journal

Visualization Techniques

If stress comes before bedtime, try visualization techniques . This works by envisioning a peaceful place where nothing can harm you. Think about how it looks, sounds, smells and even tastes! A spot in your garden or on your patio might be just enough to unwind the stress of your workday life. Take this into consideration if you have young children – perhaps let them choose their own special spot where they can spend some quiet time reflecting, too!

Many times I will wake up before the family, put my headphones on and listen to the a playlist I have that is for visualizing. My happy place and peaceful place is the ocean, so i listen to natural sounds of the ocean coast, close my eyes and just imagine myself there. I can’t stress (maybe not the right word haha) the amount of times this has kicked my day off in the right mindset and truly slowed down my thoughts.

Take A Walk

Taking a walk is one of the easiest stress relievers around. All you need is a few minutes of down time and some fresh air. It’s also a great way to spend time with with the kids. Taking a walk outdoors can boost your mood and help you feel more connected to your surroundings. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break and go for a peaceful stroll.

If you find yourself stressed out before heading inside for the evening after work and feel you might take it out on the family; stop at a park before heading home and take a walk. Even if it is 5 minutes of fresh air, it might be the quick breather your body and mental health needs to let go of the stressors from the day and prepare yourself to be the dad your kids are looking for.

Positive Self-Talk

Positive self-talk is one of the underrated stress relievers out there. It is easy to beat yourself up about not being the perfect dad or quickly comparing yourself to other dads out there. When stress starts to take over, it’s easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts. “I’m not good enough.” “I can’t do this.” “Why does this always happen to me?”

Instead of listening to these negative thoughts, try talking back to them with positive statements. “I am good enough.” “I can do this.” “This is happening for a reason.”

Not only will this help you feel more positive and in control, but it can also help you communicate better with others. A stress reliever for dads that can help the whole family and position you in a clear, positive mindset for your family!

Focus On Breathing

One of the simplest stress relievers is focusing on your breath. When stress hits, we often forget to take in deep breaths and often take short, shallow breaths which can make us feel more anxious.

Focusing on your breath can help to calm the mind and body. It’s a great stress reliever to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious. All you need is a few minutes and some privacy.

To focus on your breath, sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and count to 4 as you breathe in. Hold the breath for a count of 4, then release it slowly through your mouth. Repeat this for several minutes until you feel more relaxed.

Many times i find myself focusing on my breathing, even for 1-2 minutes before heading inside after a long day. I turn off my truck and music, take a big sip of water and just close my eyes, do my best to focus on gratitude and hyper focus on my breathing.

Start A Gratitude Journal

Starting a gratitude journal is a great way to focus on the good things in your life, especially when stress hits. It can be tough to stay positive when stress is taking over, but gratitude can help.

When you start a gratitude journal, you commit to writing down 3-5 things you are grateful for every day. It could be something big like your family or something small like your favorite coffee mug. The important thing is that you take the time to appreciate the good things in your life.

Gratitude journals are a great way to connect with your inner happiness and they can also help you feel more positive overall. When stress hits, it can be tough to remember the good things, but when you have a gratitude journal, you can read back and see all the good things already in your life.

Control Stress – Don’t Let Stress Control You

There are many stress relief methods out there that can help reduce stress. One of the most important things to remember is not beating yourself up when stress hits and taking time for you. The first step should always be finding what works best for you, whether it’s 5 minutes or an hour each day doing your favorite hobbies. With these tips under your belt, go ahead and try them all! You’ll find something that will work well with your lifestyle and, more importantly, create a positive and loving environment with your children.