Stress is your body’s natural reaction to new and overwhelming circumstances. It keeps you alert and on your toes, which makes it rather useful sometimes. However, if you feel stressed most of your day it can negatively affect your health. Here are my top 5 favorite stress management methods for Au Pairs.

Sleep

The easiest thing you can do to reduce your stress level is sleeping! Try to get a full night’s rest. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7 hours per night. If that’s not enough for you, you can also take a nap while your Host Kids are at school. You shouldn’t sleep too much though, since, ironically, too much sleep can make you feel tired and drained.

Smile

Another fast and simple way to get rid of stress: Smiling! It helps relax your muscles and changes your brain’s chemistry. It also lowers your blood pressure thus making you feel more at ease. So next time your Host Kid spills their milk at breakfast don’t get mad, laugh it off instead!

Exercise

Regular exercise has proven to be a fantastic way of reducing stress. Exercising helps release endorphins which makes you feel better instantly. Go for a run in the morning, ride your bike through the neighborhood or take a long walk in the evening. Whatever you decide to do it’s sure to be good for both your physical and mental health.

Communicate

Talk about it. Everyone feels stressed sometimes. Tell your Au Pair friends, your family or your Host Family. They will probably try to help you and might have some useful tips on how to cope with stress.

Relax

Last, but not least: Relax! I know it’s easier said than done, but there are many great ways to calm yourself. Try meditating or take a long hot shower to relax your muscles. Listen to your favorite music or read a good book. Find out what you prefer to do to unwind and try to do it on a regular basis.

A stressed Au Pair is not the Au Pair your Host Kids deserve and your Host Parents need. If you start to feel stressed, take a deep breath and count to ten. At the end of the day you are the adult and you should be the one in control of the situation. Your stressed self might say or do things you wouldn’t when you’re relaxed. So always try to find the balance to have a great time as an Au Pair.

I hope I was able to help.

Until next time,

Sammy-Jo