Back to school season is typically thought to be a stressful time for kids, but what about parents? This year with most schools going from in-person classrooms to virtual classrooms, parents are stressed and anxious too!

Navigating back to school during COVID is a challenging time whether you're a stay at home mom, a single parent, or a parent that works full time. There's already stress in our day-to-day routines and adding the uncertainty of if/when your child will return to in-person school definitely adds to the anxiety.

Here are our top 5 tips for managing back to school stress...for parents:

#1 Eat Healthy & Balanced Meals

There's a reason that "eating right" makes the top of almost every list for managing your stress and that's because proper diet strengthens your immune system and stabilizes your mood.

Diane Bokor Sargisian, Happi Tummi Health & Nutrition Coach, wants to you to eat your veggies! She shares, "Vegetables are the most important food we must eat! Rarely do we eat the recommended 7-10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables or the variety and colors of the rainbow we need. We need help!" Read more about Diane's Benefits of Healthy Eating here...

Eating healthy doesn't have to be impossible. Start by keeping healthy foods on hand. Your pantry should be stocked with healthy snacks, not filled with junk food. Although it's okay to keep some treats on hand. Denying yourself can sometimes cause you to binge eat during those stressful moments and we don't want that! You can also have fruits and veggies washed and ready to eat in easy grab and go portions. Being prepared will help your whole family eat more healthy and balanced meals, and you'll feel less stressed!

#2 Create a Routine

You might be wondering how you can create a routine when plans seem to change daily. While things still might change, sticking to a routine can help you feel in control and less anxious. Just like how your student has a schedule for classes and meal breaks, create one for yourself - even if you're working full time. 

Create a schedule that gives you time to do things like:

• Exercise and move your body
• Practice self-care through activities like journaling or reading
• Catch up with friends (even if it's virtually)
• Spend quality time together as a family
• Tackle items on your To Do list

Your routine doesn't have to be rigid. Remember to focus on the things that you can control, instead of what you can't control. It's also completely okay and encouraged to live in the moment!

#3 Be Social

While social gatherings still might not be permitted, find ways to be social. Talk about how you're feeling with other mom friends, even if that's in a Facebook Group. We encourage our children to talk about their feelings, why should talking about our feelings be any different?

Chances are, you're feeling the same as other parents in the same boat. If social media seems too heavy or full of strong opinions, pick up your phone and call a girlfriend. 

It's also okay to disconnect from the topic completely and call someone just to chat. A spontaneous phone call helps us all take a breather and slow down.

If you don't to talk about the weight of the world's current issues, it's okay to keep things light. Or if you really need to get something off your chest, make sure the person on the other line is open to receiving -- you never know how they are feeling and maybe sharing heavy information might feel really overwhelming to what they are already dealing with.

A friendly reminder to make sure you're modeling good social skills for your kiddos! 

#4 Take Time to Wind Down

We all have a lot on our minds these days so a wind down routine is a 'must' for managing back to school stress. A wind down routine will help you go to sleep, stay asleep, and actually feel rested. If you have a newborn or young baby in the house, we understand that a wind down routine might feel impossible, but there are some ways you can relax and unwind.

Here are some wind down routine ideas:

• Turn off notifications, especially work related notifications by a certain time
• Dim the lights throughout the house
• Do some light stretching
• Lower the screen brightness on your phone, TV or computer
• Diffuse some calming essential oils like lavender
• Drink a calming tea like chamomile
• Take a warm bath
• Listen to soft music

And of course, a night time routine for you and for your children should include Happi Tummi. Our waistband is the perfect way to wind down for the night. Just warm it, wrap it and watch it work.

With waistbands sized for everyone in your family, the Happi Tummi baby sized waistband helps reduce fussiness, colic, gas and constipation for babies and toddlers. An adult sized wrap for kids, teens and adults helps with tummy cramps, discomforts from overeating and even relieves muscle pains. The best part is that Happi Tummi is all-natural and uses organic herbs that leave you and your whole family feeling relaxed and calm!

#5 Give Yourself Grace

Creating new routines and navigating changes that back to school brings, will take time. The most important thing you can do is to give yourself grace. We are all learning what is working and what is not working. Back to school during COVID is new to us all and no one is at fault. It's important to keep a positive attitude (when it's possible) and try to avoid judging others. We are all in this together.

Take deep breaths, give yourself a pat on the back and try to be excited for what is to come. Back to school is an exciting time for your children to learn, so let's put our happy faces on and set great examples!

Tell us: What's your best back to school advice?

Happi Tummi is committed to the health of the whole family, providing comfort for the stomach, when you need it most. Check out our products at www.happitummi.com.