Moms are prone to stress. With children, career, family and home to take care of, it is an occupational hazard. When the load gets too heavy, moms can really benefit from taking a few minutes out.

Sometimes moms need timeouts just like their kids. When kids throw a tantrum or have a bad attitude, we send them out to timeout. The purpose is to give them time to think about their actions and to calm down. For moms, the same thing can be appropriate when stress threatens to overtake us.

Kids will be kids. They spill things and break things. Yesterday, you were fine with that. Today, a little bit of spilled milk makes you want to cry. Before you get to the point of screaming over that spilled milk, find a place to hide — literally. You are a ticking time bomb.

If your spouse is in the house, tell them that you need a minute. Find a quiet corner and take several deep breaths. More oxygen to the brain will clear the cobwebs. Once you can think clearly, you may discover the reason for the crying.

For moms who are always trying to appear so stoic and perfect around everyone, you may just need a good cry. That’s okay too. Take a few moments and let it all out. Crying seems to relieve the pressure in our head. Crying doesn’t mean that you are sad. Maybe there are too many things on your plate and some of them need to be discarded.

Moms that are home by themselves with young kids can put them in the playpen or the crib and escape for a few minutes. If you are worried about leaving them alone, invest in a pair of headphones that block out noise. You can sit in the floor in the same room as the playpen and close your eyes. The baby may cry for a bit, but they will be okay. Take the time you need to deal with your stress.

Timeout can be as little as ten minutes or as much as thirty. Put a comfy chair or large throw pillow in the area where you will be spending timeout. This is not a punishment, so don’t treat yourself like you’ve done something wrong. Timeout is a preventative measure to keep stress from causing things to get worse.

While in timeout, everything stops. Don’t answer the telephone when it rings or get up when you remember that you didn’t take the roast out of the freezer to thaw. Instead, sit there and chill out. Consider your actions and how to handle the stress you are under.

Stress affects us all. Sometimes it comes too hard and too fast to deal with it properly. At these times, take a break and gather yourself together.

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