PRETTY YOUNG THING

LIFESTYLE: 4 Ways To Reduce & Manage Stress As A Busy Mum

25 June 2021

Being busy isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it may begin to take a toll on your health and well-being if you’re always rushing around. It’s important that as a busy mum you take care of yourself and make self-care a priority so you can properly care for others.

You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed out most days if you’re a busy and working mum. In this case, it’s wise to take steps to work on reducing and managing your stress so you can feel your best and full of energy.

1. Exercise

One way to reduce and manage stress as a busy mum is to exercise and get your heart rate up. You’ll not only be burning calories but will be blowing off steam in the process. Find activities that are fun and enjoyable for you and that help you challenge different muscles and parts of your body. Exercise will boost your mood, help you get into better shape, and you’ll soon notice that you’re not as stressed out as usual.

2. Take A Road Trip with Girlfriends

Sometimes all you need to feel less stressed out is to get away from all the chaos of everyday life. Therefore, consider taking a road trip with your best girlfriends and treating yourselves to a little holiday. Prepare for your trip by buying some new clothes for yourself and making sure your vehicle is in good condition by finding a car servicing location that can help ensure it’s ready to go for your trip. You’ll return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

3. Meditate

Another option and way to reduce and manage your stress as a busy mum is to meditate and apply mindfulness techniques to your daily life. Meditation is an excellent way to clear your mind and slow racing thoughts. There are many apps you can use so you can pull up a particular meditation on your phone anytime and anywhere. All it takes is a few minutes of letting go and you’ll feel like a new person. Be patient because meditation can be challenging at first but once you slow down and learn to relax you’ll be in a good headspace for going about the rest of your day.

4. Journal or Talk it Out

Reduce and manage your stress as a busy mum by getting your feelings and emotions out in the open. There are several ways to do so including journaling or talking it out with a close friend or family member. You can use your journal as a way to get what’s going on in your mind down on paper and start to brainstorm solutions to problems you’re facing. You may even want to journal what you’re thankful for and use it as a way to practice daily gratitude. If you feel like your stress is getting out of hand and snowballing then you may even want to consider seeing a therapist who can help you work through your stress and anxiety.

LIFESTYLE: Things To Check Before You Take A Road Trip With The Kids

Unsplash - CC0 License

If you’re planning on taking a road trip with your kids, you’re either a very brave parent or slightly mad. Putting all your children and supplies into the back of a vehicle for hours at a time is asking for trouble.

However, if you have an adventurous spirit, then this post is for you. Car trips with kids don’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and preparation, you can make everything go smoothly.

Pack Your Potty

As adults, we need to wait for services before we can use the bathroom. But, with kids, all you need is a quiet stretch of roadside and a potty. So don’t forget to pack it. It can prevent all manner of bathroom-related disasters.

Prepare For Playtime

One of the biggest challenges of hitting the open road with kids is finding ways to keep them entertained on long journeys. It’s not always easy.

Here’s an idea: pack all of the things that you need for fun in accessible areas of the boot. This way, you can grab them the moment that you find a lake, forest or somewhere to have a quick picnic.

Also, don’t forget to put toys and video games in the backseat cubbies.

Check Your Vehicle’s Safety Before Setting Off

If you’re taking a long trip with the kids, it can take its toll on your vehicle. It’s a good idea, therefore, to check it for safety before you set off. Remember to check the tread on the tyres - it should be more than 2mm. Also check the oil levels in the engine and make sure that there are no warning lights flashing on your dashboard. The last thing you want is a breakdown when you are hundreds of miles from home..

Pack Fresh Food

While eating out of tin cans is an option on the road, both you and the kids will appreciate fresh food more. Start by chopping up some fruits and veggies and put them in tubs. You can also try making your own fresh hummus - great for dipping pittas, carrots, peppers and celery.

Pack Your Antifreeze

If you’re travelling in the winter or in cold weather, be sure to pack your antifreeze. Also, if you’re likely to come up against adverse weather conditions, also pack your shovel and things like blankets for keeping everyone warm, just in case you get stranded somehow.

Bring Food Prep Tools

Food prep tools are so easy to forget because they are always there in the kitchen, ready and waiting to go when you need them. You’ll need things like a portable washing up bowl (preferably one that folds down flat), plastic plates, bowls and cups, and a sharp knife, safely stowed away inside a travel case.

Check The Map

Lastly, before you bid your home farewell, check the map and make sure that you fully understand the distances that you’ll be travelling. Remember, short hops on the map can turn into epic journeys lasting many hours on the road. If in doubt, ask Google how long each segment of your journey is likely to take.

AD: GET BBQ READY WITH JACK'S FOR THE EURO'S

24 June 2021

We are all loving the Euro's! England are through to the last 16 which is super exciting! Tuesday is going to be a very important game. We put our England flags up and got the BBQ going to celebrate the win!

The weather has been beautiful today so it was the perfect day for a BBQ, we headed to Jack's Supermarket to get all of the essential BBQ food without breaking the bank. Jack's have a new BBQ range which is perfect to get together with the family and enjoy whilst watching the footy!

Jack's are really proud to bring great quality products at outstanding value for money. Their fresh chicken, fresh lamb and fresh beef are British all year round and their fresh milk is British too. They love the flavours of Britain and are passionate about working with and supporting hundreds of regional farmers, growers and producers.

I love the middle aisle! Its always full of fun goodies at such great prices. Today in store they had loads of paddling pools and other fun garden bits but 'When Its Gone it's Gone' so make sure you head down on a Thursday when they launch new products.

We got everything you need for a BBQ and for under £40 this included drinks. We got some Jacks fruit burst drinks for the kids, some fizzy drinks and beer to enjoy during the footy!

For food we got some 100% 1/4 beef burgers, sweet and smoky BBQ Hot Dog sausages, sweet and smoky BBQ beef kebabs and Chicken and Chorizo skewers. We also got bits like coleslaw, houmous, nachos, breadsticks, Fresh British strawberries, Grapes, Sauces, buns for the Burgers and Hot Dogs, Fresh salad, peppers onions, Pizza's, cheese, corn on the cob.

They have such a huge selection of great quality products at really outstanding prices. I honestly couldn't believe how much I got for my money.

We all really enjoyed the food, it's such good quality. It's a great excuse to head down to your local Jack's and check out the BBQ aisle. They have a really great selection. It was so nice to get the family together and enjoy some good food in the sun!