Five Ways to Manage Overstimulation as a Parent
Something that can catch many parents by surprise is just how overstimulating life with kids can be. You may find that time with your children is marked by screaming (happy, sad, mad, or indifferent), toys everywhere, being used as a human playground, and not having a second to breathe. If this sounds like your experience, chances are that by the end of the day you’re feeling totally touched out. This can feel like not wanting to have anyone near or touching you, feeling irritable, edgy, and exhausted. It is so hard to care for yourself and comfort your children if you’re living in this space. If this sounds like you, keep reading to learn more about ways to manage overstimulation.
Reduce Noise
If there are kids, there is noise. Children fill their space with their squeals, thoughts, screams, and toys. And this can be a huge source of overwhelm for parents, getting to the point where one more little noise is all you need to set you off. While kids don’t have volume dials, we can manage how much noise we take in. Investing in some noise reducing ear plugs is an easy and effective way to take the edge off of the noise and allow you to feel more settled. (I love my pair of Loop earplugs!)
2. Manage brightness
Light can also become overstimulating, especially if we’re already feeling stressed or overwhelmed to begin with. Consider opting for natural light, turn off overhead lighting, or flick on lamps or other dim light sources to decrease how bright the space is.
3. Give yourself space
Consider if there is a time of the day you’re able to give yourself some space. Maybe during nap time, you can take a few moments to recenter yourself and have some child-free time. Or after bedtime you can do something relaxing. You can also consider if there is an option for a few minutes of independent play for your children, where you can be nearby but engaged in your own relaxing activity while they play. This can not only begin to foster independence and imagination in your children, but also give you a few minutes to settle.
4. Set up the environment
If you’re in the space where you spend most of your day, look around. How do you feel being in this space? Ideally, we want to immerse ourselves in an environment where we feel calm. If that wasn’t the first feeling to come to mind, what was? Is there anything in your space that is keeping you from feeling at ease (maybe toys everywhere, clutter, disorganization). See if you can center yourself in the space. Also consider if there are any changes you can make to the environment, like decreasing the amount of toys out, playing quiet music, having a mild candle or essential oil, decluttering, etc.
5. Get out
Sometimes a change of scenery makes a world of difference. Getting into a different environment can provide you and your children with something new to do, makes them more likely to be interested in the new space and not climbing all over you, and can cut down on the pressure to keep everything perfect (because who cares if your kid drops some crumbs at the playground).
If you are looking for support, please reach out today for a free 15 minute phone consultation.
