Mom Life Hacks – Optimize 5 Minutes of Kids’ Downtime to Stay Sane When Traveling

We all love to learn about mom life hacks. Especially when it comes to travel. Traveling with kids can be a shit show. I said it, a complete shit show. I’ve been fortunate to have a kid who travels like a dream. But, I’ve spent a lot of time traveling, enough to see said shit shows unravel, and let me tell you, no one is winning. Not you, not your kid(s), not the 15 passengers around you who are daydreaming about throat punching you or leaping from a moving train. And it all mounts to stress. Because let’s face it, kids will be kids and we just have to do the best we can without losing it.

Good thing kids get tired, too, and there is a small window of time when moms can take a short breather and enjoy some peace and quiet. However, some might argue that this “time out” is indeed very short; in fact, too short to enjoy. Well, listen up moms because your life is about to get better!

Mom Life Hacks – Use Every Five-Minutes You Can for Sanity

Recharge

Are you a coffee addict? Order a nice, warm cup of latte or espresso, however, you want your coffee, and enjoy the aroma of your much-deserved dose of caffeine. Even breastfeeding mothers can drink two to three cups of coffee, according to Danielle Martin, a family physician at Women’s College Hospital.

If coffee is not your thing and you would rather catch up on some sleep, go ahead and take a nice power nap. According to the National Sleep Foundation, taking a short nap can lead to a heightened sense of alertness and increase cognitive ability.

Another way to recharge is to do a few stretches while seated on the plane. The YouTube video below shows a few exercises that can boost your energy level and help you breathe a little better during your air travel. These are mostly simple stretches which you can perform without attracting attention to yourself.

Play

Various studies have come to the same conclusion – that video games are effective in relieving stress. A study at Texas A&M University back in 2010 led by Dr. Christopher Ferguson showed that both men and women who play video games eventually adopt mental skills that enable them to effectively handle stressful situations. Researchers of another study in 2007 from McGill University found that playing what they referred to as “social intelligence games” helped decrease the stress hormone cortisol by 17 percent. 

Source: Pixabay

There are hundreds of free game apps you can download on iTunes or Google Play, so grab your smartphone or tablet and play some games. Super Mario Run and Pac-Man can take you back to the days when you used to play these games with an old-school Nintendo Player. Other old-school games you can play online are bingo, crossword puzzles, and dominoes. There are different super fun app games you can choose from like Candy Crush, Pet Rescue, Blossom Blast and many more. You can even use Facebook Messenger to play games online, such as Galaga, Space Invaders, and Words with Friends: Frenzy. Just open a conversation with at least one friend, tap on the game controller icon, and choose which game to play.

Relax

Meditation is an effective method to deal with stress. While most of us might say that it is hard to meditate and be in the present, more so in just five minutes, holistic wellness coach and founder of Barre Body Emma Seibold recommends that beginners start with a five-minute meditation – simply sit down and count your breaths. And when you find yourself losing focus, return to one. Allow your thoughts to come and go naturally without judging yourself for getting distracted.

Another way to relieve stress and feel energized is through acupressure. This is an ancient healing process which was developed in Asia and is often used as a means of self-treatment. Acupressure uses the same pressure points as acupuncture but uses the fingers to stimulate them and not needles. This article details five acupressure points for achieving energy boost instantly.

For moms, every second counts and five minutes of peace and quiet means a lot. There are many different ways mothers can choose to use this precious time and these are just a few of those. Whichever way you decide to spend your “me time”, it is important to make sure that you do the things you enjoy so that you are able to face your kids with a happier and more loving disposition.