Whether you have one child or several, chances are that you get pretty stressed out from time to time. Often, it can seem like there are never enough hours in the day, and you feel like you are not accomplishing anything. The kids are screaming, the laundry isn’t done, you are running late for work, etc. After a while, the stress can get pretty overwhelming. But, it doesn’t have to be so stressful. Here are seven tips that will help stressed out parents chill out.

1. Disconnect

There is probably a lot of noise in your home, and not just from the people in it. There are televisions, radios, computers, and other devices being used. When you are feeling stressed, the noise isn’t helping, so it is time to unplug a few things and disconnect from a lot of the background noise, even if it is just for a few minutes. You might even find that it isn’t always necessary to have these devices on all the time, once you are used to not using them constantly.

2. Get into Nature

Just because you have kids at home, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get out and enjoy nature. Take the kids to a park, a hiking trail, etc. Not only are you all going to get some much-needed fresh air and exercise, you can also turn this into a learning opportunity, and teach your kids about local flora and fauna. An added bonus is that you are getting to spend some quality time with your family.

3. Work Out More

You need to make time for exercise, both for your physical and your mental health. Working out is a great way to release endorphins and get your anger out, and it helps to release a lot of stress from your life. Even if you can only work out for 20 minutes a day, you are going to be doing your body and mind a world of good.

4. Get a Hobby

You may think that you don’t have time for a hobby. But, having a hobby that you love to do can give you something to take your mind off everything that is stressing you out, even if it is just for a couple of hours a day or even a week. If you love music and dance, check out one of the ballroom dance studios in New York City and sign up for some lessons. Dancing is a great hobby which helps meet new people and promotes intellectual and social wellbeing. Ballroom dancing can also improve cardiovascular and bone health. Dance movements can also help improve your heart health, lower obesity and decrease risk of type 2 diabetes.

5. Get into Music

The old saying, “music soothes the savage beast” couldn’t be any truer. In fact, when you are stressed out, music can be the one thing that will help you to relax. So, make sure that you create a playlist that has all of your favorite tunes that you can use when you start to feel yourself getting too stressed.

6. Be in the Now

Don’t worry about what other parents are doing, and don’t compare notes with other parents. Forget about worrying about what might happen a week from now, or even tomorrow. Be in the now, and deal with what is going on at this exact moment in your own life. You will avoid a lot of stress, because you won’t be worrying about what could happen because you are taking care of what is happening right now.

7. Delegate Chores

If you have kids, there is no reason why they can’t do their part around the house to make your life less stressful. Even the little ones can be taught how to do basic chores, such as putting their toys away when they are finished playing with them. Older kids can do dishes, vacuum, etc. If your kids expect an allowance, this is a great way to make sure that they earn it, and making less work for you.