24 Hours to Improving Anxiety and Depression

Mom life is way too busy to be bogged down by overwhelm, guilt, and exhaustion.  But how the heck do you shake it?  You’re taking your meds and going to your weekly therapy sessions and still it is a daily battle.  Trust, I get it.  That’s why I am sharing my secret to 24 hours to improving anxiety and depression specifically designed for moms.

Why Is Improving Anxiety and Depression Important

Anxiety and depression and their affects on daily life are no joke.  As a mom it is detrimental.  It affects your relationships, ability to work, other health complications, and the list goes on and on.  Although, many will say it’s all in your head…I disagree.

The cause of your overwhelm, mom guilt and exhaustion stem from a much deeper place.  The mind is what allows the anxiety and depression to be triggered.  But what if you could start improving anxiety and depression in 24 hours?  Would that help you be more productive in your daily life?  What if you built on that every 24 hours?  The opportunity is there.  So let’s see how you can start right now.

 How to Improve Anxiety and Depression

This is going to sound insane at first.  Apologies in advance.  However, mom life gets so busy and chaotic that it is very easy not to realize what is going on.  So many times, anxiety and depression kick in off of the tiniest events and understanding what triggered it goes unnoticed.  Let’s change that routine.

1.  Mom’s Time Out

This is the reason that the very first thing that needs to be done is to get creative.  Put yourself on a time out.  The amount of time doesn’t matter-less is better.  What’s important is for you to vid or journal it out.  Vent and release that crap out.  Find a way to take note of everything that happened in that moment of anxiety and depression.  Then ask yourself, after you vent, what was the one thing that triggered you.  Answer that and then ask yourself why and just say or write the first thing that comes to mind.  It will be a light bulb moment and a huge accomplishment!

2. Make Your “Mom’s Room-Do Not Enter” Sign

Now that you know what triggered you and why without overthinking it, it’s time to set boundaries.  Very important thing to remember here is that you can only control your actions and noone else’s.  So, when a similar situation presents itself again, what can you change?  Set a boundary for yourself so that you don’t allow anxiety and depression to take over.  

I can share a personal example of this.  As a mom, I took on everything in the household because who can do it like I do it?  However, overwhelm, exhaustion and mom guilt were taking over massively.  Cooking, cleaning, homework, regular work, laundry, family time, taking care of the dogs, and socializing-ouch.  All it would take is one thing that went out of order to set off my anxiety and depression.  Why?  Because if I didn’t get EVERYTHING completed that day I was not good enough.  I was slacking and disorganized.  And the kids would start with “mom-you forgot this or that and I need that.”  Hello mom guilt.

It wasn’t until I began to journal the situation that I realized I was overcompensating as a mom because of my past hurts.  This was not serving my kiddos.  They were completely depending on me to do EVERYTHING for them.  And to be quite honest, they were becoming demanding jerks that I love very much.  However, I had to set my own personal “mom’s room – do not enter” sign.  They had to learn how to take on some tasks and be accountable for their things.  

I literally locked myself in my room and put an unavailable sign.  The quiet time helped me and the kiddos learned how to be accountable.  A win-win situation.  Special note here is to know that it is a process.  You may have to start 10 minutes at a time and one thing at a time.  That’s perfectly okay.  The thing is to start your 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.

Even making the sign and putting it on your room door is so relieving!

3. Grab A Hot Drink

Well, what are you going to do while you’re in your mommy moment?  Make yourself a cup of hot tea.  What?  Yes.  It is proven that hot tea reduces stress and anxiety.  Take a chill time to improve your mood and it can even help you sleep.  It also helps improve your focus which in this moment is only you.  But what do you do about all the noise that is likely going on in your house?  It’s great to know this is an extensive list of 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.

4. Cancel Out the Noise

It’s time to grab those earbuds/headphones.  So, improving anxiety and depression is no easy task.  If you have made it this far, fist bump with an explosion at the end of it, trust me.  And as soon as you make it this far you will notice that it gets more challenging.  Mom will be yelled from every direction in the house including a few babe or honeys. 

Remember this is your do not enter zone.  Throw on those earbuds and focus.  Binaural tunes can help with this.  Or even a great uplifting song.  I have a list for each of these and depending on what I need that day is what I use.  It is very important however for you to make an appropriate list of tunes.  It’s very easy to want to drown in vibes that match how you’re feeling…this is a no, no zone.  

Side note, if you don’t have your lists – now is a great time to get that created.  I say make a list of at least three songs or binaural tunes and start there.  Explore with time.  Remember, this is just you first 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.  And if I may say, you’re crushing it!!

5. Mom – Lose Your Mind

I know, I know.  Don’t freak out.  It’s okay.  I’m serious.  It’s okay to lose your mind.  Remember, your in your room and it’s do not enter time.  It’s time to let it all go.  You are on a time limit though so let’s get it done and over with quick.

There is nothing wrong with crying that crap out!  But what I do ask is that you don’t take yourself too seriously.  You have those earbuds/headphones on and your jamming out so get up and dance your tail off.  Take a moment and pretend you’re someone else looking at yourself.  Force a smile and laugh!  Laughing automatically changes you’re whole vibe.  

Yeah, lose your mind mom.  It’s okay and you’re gonna feel great.  You get a little exercise, your soul feels good and your spirit got a moment to cleanse itself from that negativity.  Win, win don’t get no better than that.  This is a MUST for 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.

6. Fill Up Your Life

So far you have already started to understand yourself a little better.  You have taken back some control over your life.  And, you have started to create some positive vibes.  Look at you go!!  Now, it’s time to create some balance.  It’s time to fill up your life as a whole.  Let’s breathe in some relief.  How do you do that?

Start by setting a timer.  I recommend doing this exercise for at least 10 minutes.  The first step is to close your eyes.  Please make sure you’re in a safe place first and sitting is preferred.  Take a slow, deep breath in and exhale.  

If you can count to five each time you breathe in and exhale your breath.  Imagine yourself in a safe place and you’re smiling and you’re full of energy and happy as you breathe in and out.  Everything around you is peaceful and you did it.  You have reached your goal.  

What does this look like for you?  How does it feel?  What does it smell like?  Who is there with you?  Where are you at?  Enjoy this moment.  Live in this moment.  Remember to continue breathing and exhaling each time until you reach the count of five.  This is an amazing step towards your 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.

7. Appreciate Your Anxiety and Depression

Check it out mom.  We spend so much being upset and disappointed that we experience anxiety and depression.  Truth, we should appreciate it.  WTF?  Yeah, I’m serious.  It takes something that serious for us to stop the chaotic habits we have.  Don’t believe me?

When you’re sick do you stop and take care of yourself?  Exhausted, do you stop?  Um, let’s see-when you just had your little one did you stop?  If you’re anything like me-none of it stopped you.  Why?  Cause you can’t.  So it took this to make you pause.  Just remember it is a pause.  It’s only a moment and now it’s time to say thank you anxiety and depression.  More importantly, it’s time to release it and do the work so it can leave you the heck alone!

Take this time to be grateful for this moment.  Be grateful for you in your entirety.  And all that you have because you in one area of your life or another have what you once wished for.  Take a sec to appreciate your anxiety and depression and let it know it’s time to leave.  Screw anxiety and depression by taking these steps daily so that you can start your 24 hours to improving anxiety and depression.

24 Hour View

From the moment you experience a moment of anxiety and depression, take a time out.  Journal/video out what you’re feeling in the moment (this is my talk with God moment).  And then walk away and go make yourself some hot tea to chill.  Create your “mom’s room – do not enter” sign.  And ask those important questions, what triggered this and why.  This is the beginning of your 24 hours to improving your anxiety and depression.  And it continues….

Cancel out the noise so you stay focused.  Then you clear the chaos and lose your mind.  You can dance, sing, cry, laugh and create balance.  Fill up your life with some good, high vibe stuff.  Finally, you can appreciate yourself in your entirety because you are a special one of a kind.  Personally, I sincerely care for you so that definitely means something!  Now go start your 254 hours to improving your anxiety and depression and show those little ones that beautiful smile!

It’s your time to be bold, brilliant and beautiful!  Screw anxiety and depression.

What’s Next?

If you liked this post, sign up to keep up to date with the latest blog posts.  Should there be any tips you have I would love to know ‘em.  Please comment below.  Help me create a massive mommy empowerment movement to overcoming anxiety and depression!!  Moms are the key to the world’s future success.