3 Ways to Make Going Out With Your Kids Stress-Free

Taking kids of any age out can be stressful. This is often because kids tend to have an unbelievable amount of energy stored up inside of them, always waiting to jump out at you. To help them burn this energy before bedtime, it’s often a good idea to get them out of the house, even if it’s just for a walk. The question then is, how do you leave the house on time and without being stressed before you even step out of the door?

Although outings with kids may likely never be completely stress-free, you certainly can eliminate some of the stress. Here are three ways to make going out with your kids somewhat stress-free.

Plan Ahead

The first and probably most helpful tip for a stress-free outing is to plan ahead. When you plan, you have less to worry about right before you go out. Below are two ways that you can effectively plan ahead.

Use a Checklist: Using a checklist may just be your saving grace as a busy mom. Write down all of the things you need to do in preparation for the trip and tick them off as you go along. If you check online, you may even be able to find a checklist that’s ready-made for you to use. Some items to include on your list are what everyone will wear, any snacks you’re bringing along, a baby bag if you have a young child and your essentials like keys, cards and anything else.

Start the Night Before: Instead of leaving everything to the day of your outing, do it the night before. This way, you’re less likely to forget anything and can focus on getting everyone ready as opposed to packing bags and loading the car, for instance. Being organized will definitely help increase your chances of smooth sailing.

Don’t Drive

If you aren’t going somewhere that far away, consider not driving. You’d be surprised at how much stress is off of your shoulders when you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder and asking the kids to behave while driving. Use an affordable taxi service like YOUGO taxi service to take you to and from your destination. This will also give you an opportunity to relax before the chaos begins.

Try Not to Stress the Small Stuff

If you find that you’re always getting worked up over the small stuff, you may need to work on relaxing. Everyone has different coping mechanisms for stress, so you have to see what works best for you. See a few suggestions below.

Breath: As simplistic as it may sound, breathing has been proven to be an effective way of calming your nerves and helping you relax. When you find yourself overwhelmed and on the edge, take a moment to take deep breaths. For effective breathing, breathe in through your nose and let your belly fill with air and then breathe out through your mouth.

Be Present: Another way to relax would be to practice being present in the moment. Stop overly worrying about the things that could go wrong and enjoy the quality time you’re spending with your kids. You won’t have that moment twice, so make sure it counts.