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Trying to be financially independent working from home can be very stressful especially if you have no other or a very low source of income.  When my daughter was first born in 2003, I knew that I had to find some other form of income due to having to be home with my child.  Unfortunately, I gave up on the idea of permanently being only self-employed too early after not getting the results I wanted quick enough for me.  I lacked patience and focus.  Also, I was having technical computer issues so trying to work steadily online was a problem.  It was a time before I had wireless service for access to the internet. I felt that I would always be able to find a “job” when needed so I allowed the digital age to get ahead of me and denied having to keep up with social media and the progression of digital marketing.  I have to admit that I’d like to kick myself for giving up at that time.  The constant shoulda, woulda, coulda would keep going around and around in my head every time I got discouraged on any business/work endeavors.  This would cause me stress and to become financially fatigued stretching out whatever dollars I had to survive.

It’s said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well now I’ve decided to not give up, focus, and follow through with a plan instead of searching for a clue. I’ve reached out to people and done some research.  The following are some ways to deal with stress:

1.   Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, and Nicotine.
   This is something where I have no problem.  I don’t drink coffee.  I also already cut down on how much caffeinated tea I drink.  I’m mostly a social drinker, and I don’t smoke.
2. Indulge in Physical Activity
   Problem for me.  Currently, I have physical issues so indulging in physical activity is very difficult.  I’m overweight due to not being able to exercise consistently.  I like to exercise, too.  Unfortunately, I can only do the very minimum.
3. Get More Sleep
   Easier said than done.  Insomnia is definitely an issue for me.  Sometimes my mind could go a mile a minute trying to figure my next steps to success.  I’m working on this.
4. Try Relaxation Techniques
   I’ve tried meditation but I’m sure there are more ways to get into relaxation mode. More research is needed here.
5. Talk to Someone
   My number one thing to do is to reach out to people when I’m feeling seriously stressed.  The question is who is a reliable support.  Therapy can help but that’s another cost to reach out to professionals.  Support groups can be very helpful but sometimes either I don’t want to go to a group &/or the time of the group is not convenient. Having reliable people from my family and/or friends network is another issue.  I have nobody really and truly close to me who’s there for support.
6. Keep a Stress Diary
   I have many journals for my thoughts.  It helps and doesn’t help sometimes, though, because after I’ve written down my problems it can become overwhelming.  Then I would go into the next steps for resolution.
7. Take Control
   Problem solving techniques is the way to “take control” of becoming overwhelmed. Writing down pros and cons to a problem can be helpful.  The following step is to make a decision for a plan.
8. Manage Your Time
   Time management can be very difficult is there’s no focus.  I keep a do list, but most of the time it’s hard to complete. It’s best to prioritize what needs to be done from the written task and realize that everything cannot be done all at once.  I happen to have the all of nothing attitude.  Still learning how to manage my time.
9. Learn to Say “No”
   Not taking on more than you can handle is very important.  I can tend to take on more responsibility  than required at a job and/or at home.  I’ve learned this to whittle down a lot of projects that I’ve had on my plate in the past year.  I’ve had to quit my job due to too much stress and not enough compensation.  Quitting my job brought on some financial fatigue, but part of it was worth it.
10. Rest If You Are Ill
    Recovery time is definitely needed to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.  I used to get down on myself if I felt that I was losing time from work if I allowed myself to rest.  Now I know that it’s ok to do.

All of the above items listed can help to deal with stress.  I’ve come up with an acronym to help me remember.  E.F.F.O.R.T.  Execute a plan.  Focus on your goals.  Follow through on tasks.  Order your thoughts to maximize results.  Rest as needed.  Time manage your priorities and everything can have the possibility for  accomplishment towards good health and wealth.

Imagine being still not quite middle-age and having memory loss issues.  You’re misplacing things more often than usual. You’re in the middle of a sentence and forget what you’re point was during a conversation. You may even unknowingly miss more than 1 or 2 appointments during a period of time.  This may have someone concerned about possibly having the early signs of dementia. Being a mother, though, something else could be happening.

Although “Mommy brain” is considered a state of being “forgetful, absent minded, or easily distracted” for new mothers, this condition may continue later in life as your children grow older.  Physical and mental health is very important, especially if you’re a parent. Not only are you taking care of yourself, but you are also responsible for your children.  So there are factors that can possibly explain this phenomenon such as diet, multitasking which could lead to stress, and sleep deprivation.

What you eat is essential to survive. Just because mothers may not be carrying the baby inside them anymore doesn’t mean that the extra nutrients needed from the prenatal vitamins are no longer needed for the mother as well.  Sometimes, mothers long after the children are past breastfeeding age make sure that the children are fed and content but they may forget to feed themselves properly. Taking the leftovers from the children’s plates is not enough for a healthy meal.  Not having enough fiber and protein in your diet can affect how your brain may function.

The to-do list for a mother can be long.  Between making sure the children get out to school on time, making sure there’s enough food and supplies in the home, and that the household chores are taken care of,  multitasking can definitely be a drain on the brain. The to-do list can even be longer if you’re a single parent. Providing for the family on your own can also cause even more brain fatigue than usual  later in life.

All the above could follow up with sleep deprivation.  Mothers are usually very concerned that everyone is provided for and the household is properly in order.  Sometimes it can be hard to turn the brain off to get the rest needed to refresh for the next days to come.  If the body doesn’t get the time it needs to rejuvenate, then this could cause some memory loss issues.

Considering the changes a woman’s body has gone through and the more responsibility after having children, “Mommy Brain” can possibly continue even much after being a new mother.  Experts say that there may be ways to decrease the condition with a healthy diet, limiting your time multitasking, and getting the proper sleep. Taking time out for yourself can sometimes help too. Some people may even say there’s a “chance of returning to the way you were”.  The reality is that things are going to be different for a woman after having kids. Try to do the best you can with what you have and find joy in the blessings in your life.