Back to School – Top 4 Tools to Cope with Back to School Season
As September arrives, it can be an emotional time for parents as their children head back to school or fly the nest to start college. It’s normal to experience sleepless nights, increased anxiety and worries during this period of transition. For parents battling OCD, these feelings can be further amplified, creating the perfect breeding ground for OCD to thrive.
In this blog we’ll explore four tools to help you cope during this emotional time, so you can be calmer, more present and suffer with fewer OCD symptoms… Let’s dive in!
Tip One: Make Self Care A Priority
Whether it’s practising some soothing yoga poses or taking a long bath, finding activities that help you unwind can work wonders for your emotional well-being.
And hey, don’t forget about hobbies! Sometimes, getting lost in a good book or playing a favourite sport can be a great stress-buster. Taking some time out for self-reflection, like journalling or just taking a solo walk, can also help you feel more centred and focused.
By prioritising self-care and mindfulness practices like these, you’ll be better equipped to manage any stress or anxiety that comes your way during the back-to-school transition. Plus, isn’t it nice to take some time out for yourself and just relax?
Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish, but instead a necessary part of maintaining your own well-being and being the best parent you can be. If you need more ideas for self care check out my other blog “Reducing Stress: 4 Daily Tips to Promote Wellbeing.”
Tip 2: Practise Self Compassion
Sometimes, we can be really hard on ourselves and end up spiralling into self-criticism and guilt. But practicing self-compassion can help us to break that cycle and reduce distress too.
Self-compassion is all about treating ourselves with kindness and understanding, just like we would a good friend. It means accepting our imperfections and setbacks without judgment and responding to ourselves with care and compassion.
So, during this back-to-school transition period time especially, make sure to take some time out to practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself.
It’s okay if everything isn’t perfect or if you don’t have all the answers. You’re doing the best you can and that’s what matters.
Tip 3: Focus On the Positives
When you shift your mindset away from all those potential negatives and worries, you give yourself the chance to see things in a more optimistic light. It’s like opening a window and letting in a fresh, positive breeze.
By redirecting your thoughts towards the amazing stuff your child will experience—like growth opportunities, new experiences and skills—you start to balance out those worries and anxieties that may creep in.
Just know that your nervous system doesn’t know the difference between reality and imagination, so just by imagining these positives, will naturally reduce anxiety in your body and create feel good endorphins instead.
Tip 4: Seek Support
Reach out to your friends, family members, or even join a support group specifically for parents with OCD. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges can be so invaluable. It’s like having a crew of understanding and compassionate folks who truly get what you’re going through.
When you share experiences and learn from others, you realise that you’re not alone in this. There’s a whole community out there ready to lend a listening ear, offer advice or simply be there as a source of support.
Last words…
By putting these tools into action, us parents can totally transition through the back-to-school season with more calm, presence, and fewer OCD symptoms. And, don’t forget, it’s all about making self-care a top priority, showing ourselves some compassion, looking for the silver linings and seeking out some friendly support.
If you need further assistance in feeling calmer during this time reach out to me to hear more about my 1-2-1 services where I can help you to feel calmer and worry less about things you can’t control. The link to book a discovery call with me is here: Book Call
I’m a clinical hypnotherapist with over 15 years experience, and to date I have helped over 100 clients from Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bath, London, Bristol, the United States, and as far afield as New Zealand in reaching their goals. Regardless of where you reside, I am fully equipped to assist you in the same manner so do get in touch if you need my hypnosis help too. Here is the link to my website www.alexsaxton.com and here is the link to my calendar if you would like to book a consultation www.alexsaxtoncalendar.as.me
