25 Simple Ways to Stay Sane

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We all want to know how that put-together mom of three peacefully finishes her meal at a café, all while her kids are busy chatting and fighting for her attention. “How does she do it?” you wonder. Smart Parenting asked these smart, successful, devoted moms how they keep the peace and balance their lives so gracefully. Here’s what they shared.

THE GREAT ESCAPE
“Once a week, usually on a Friday, my husband and I ‘escape’ from our children. Straight from the office, we go on a date—just the two of us, like it was when we were just dating. We drive off to relatively ‘far’ places and enjoy dinner at restaurants we wouldn’t normally go to if the kids were with us. It’s our way of de-stressing from work and parenting—and it is also our way of reconnecting with each other after a
busy week.”
— Victoria Alfonso, 38, bank executive, mom to Ines, 10, and Jacobo, 7

 

TAKE ME TO THE BEACH
“An ultimate escape from stress is to go away for a three-day weekend, pack up the family and head to the Hamptons— sans iPhone and laptop. Just watching Enzo play in the sand and listening to the sound of the waves seem to take away all the stress of work and parenting.”
— Anya Torre-Robello, operations manager, mom to Enzo, 4

 

LET THE GAMES BEGIN
“When I get a little overwhelmed, I take a time-out for myself. I lock the bathroom door and play Scrabble on my iPad for 15 minutes or so, till I feel sane again.”
— Teenee Chan, theater actor, mom to Antonio, 4

 

CLEAN AND CLEAR
“I clean the house when I am stressed! Decluttering the house makes me think and feel better. It gives me a whole new perspective on things - and a clean house at the same time.
— Joan Rongo, 43, entrepreneur, mom to Nina, 11, and Alec, 7

 

SALON SESSIONS
“I treat myself to a salon visit at least once a month or whenever possible. I get a hot-oil treatment
and have my nails done. The pampering helps me cope with any stress or tension I feel.”
— Trisha Jalandoni, bakery proprietor, 39, mom to Jomai, 15, and Joaquin, 7

 

SWEET MEMORIES
“Aside from indulging in sweets (chocolates!), I enjoy browsing through the darling photos of my kids or reading some of my journal entries to remind me of how adorable they are! Oftentimes, their antics and funny faces just make me laugh and smile.”
— Karen Hebron, 38, mom to Isabella, 8, Jaime Luis, 6, and Pio Alejandro, 4

 

QUICK FLICK
“To keep me sane despite the demands of parenting and work, I make it a point to hit the gym or go for a swim at least three times a week. It’s my me-time. Working out relieves me of stress. My other guilty pleasure is downloading the latest U.S. TV shows, so every other night my husband and I can catch an
episode before falling asleep. It’s our bonding time.”
— Tina Gonzalez, 37, mom to Ariane, 11

 

LOVE & PRAYERS
“As a wife and career mom to two growing kids who demand devotion and a 24/7 schedule, I try to beat the stress by being prayerful. As I lift all my worries, problems, and concerns to God, I instantly feel better. I also believe that in order to stay balanced, it is important to be organized and to plan ahead. This way, I still get to enjoy some me-time—and be a better person in the process.”
— Sarah Sia, mother to Sandro, 11, and Sari, 6

 

EARLY RISER
“Every morning, I wake up earlier than my kids. I enjoy 20 to 30 minutes of quiet time before the daily rush begins. I use this time to plan my agenda for the day, which then helps me stay focused on what I have to do.”
— Joey Toledano, 40,jewelry designer, mom to Pablo, 10, and Mario, 6

 

JAVA JIVE
“When I start to feel stress and tension building up because of work, or when I need to take a break from being a wife and a mom, I treat myself to some shopping and a cup of java at my favorite café. These recharge me and get me ready for another day of work and mommy duties.”
— Anna Mel Severino, 36, mom to Gia, 8, Ella, 7, and Lexi, 2

 

JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY
“Since we live in the heart of the city, I frequently need to escape the confines of apartment living. Thankfully, I have a comfortable office to retreat to, if I do not opt to work from home. For short respites, I call home massage therapists for a one-and-a-half-hour Swedish-shiatsu combo. Also, a gabfest with my best girlfriends is oftentimes the best therapy!”
— Tanya Deakin, 41, mom to Hannah, 13, and Zach, 8

 

BOOKWORMS
“It’s wonderful on any day, but on a day that’s particularly rough, when tempers flare and patience is low, it’s extraordinary. We pick up a book, just one for the four of us—my three monkeys and me. Two pages later, we’re flying! It’s magic.”
— Denise Santos-Dizon, 36, writer, mom to Agustin, 7, Lucas, 5, and Claudia, 3

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DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
“I always try to keep a sense of humor. I try not to take things (especially myself) too seriously. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. As long as we have laughter in our lives, the rest is relatively easy to overcome.”
— Tina Cruz, 40, mom to Mireya, 18, Enrique, 17, and Soheila, 5

PARKING SPACE
Every day, around mid-to-late afternoon (and when the weather is good), I send all my kids to the village park to expend their energy while I use the quiet time to read, work on my thesis, watch a show, or schedule a date with my husband. You have to remember that you’re a whole individual—and not just ‘Mom.’”
— Jennie Garcia, mom to Pablo 10, Gus, 7,and Santana, 2

SUN SALUTATIONS
“I discovered yoga a few years ago, and it has become my ‘alone time’ activity that fuels my sanity. It reenergizes my body and mind. After a yoga class, I see things from a new perspective. Even the
smiles of my children seem brighter, their hugs more comforting. My children know me so well that when they see Mom feeling anxious and stressed, they lovingly send me off to my ‘alone time’ session. They look forward to my return—rejuvenated and more relaxed.”
— Melissa Lopez-Salvador, 41, entrepreneur, mom to Andrea, 10, and Anton, 7

HEALTHY BODY, MIND AND SOUL
“I keep myself sane by joining Barre 3 classes and drinking a daily glass of vegetable-fruit shake (a combo of raw  celery, brocolli, carrots, malunggay leaves, pineapple fruit and juice, and apple). This has made me healthier and stronger, plus I sleep better. Moms are not allowed to get sick, right? Daily trips
to the grocery are also therapeutic for me since I cook for my family. It relaxes me and makes me feel good. I also try to hear mass every day to thank God for my family and to ask for lots of patience in dealing with the demands of my four children and my husband.”
— Maricar Xerez-Burgos, homemaker, 42, mom to Cara, 15, Juancho, 12, Mariana, 8, and Andrea, 4

DEAR DIARY
“Since I have so many things on my plate, I make a to-do list every day, and I am often surprised by how
simple and quickly I accomplish this list so early in the day. I keep a diary and jot down whatever is coming up, such as the kids’ quizzes and work appointments, so I can spread my activities at a comfortable pace. Because I need time to psyche myself before reviewing the kids for school, I make sure my office schedule is not too hectic.”
— Penny Katigbak, 38, private banker, mom to Joaquin, 15, Adriana, 11, and Kristiana, 2

TIME OUT
“As a stay-at-home mom, house chores are part of my responsibility. Cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry, aside from caring for the children, are included in my daily routine. That’s why I look forward to weekends. On Sundays, when the hubby is home, he naps with the girls in the afternoon, and I can go out and do what I like for about three hours. I come back and the kids make me feel missed!”
— Frances Marquez, 38, mom to Andie, 6, and Maggie, 4

GIVE AND TAKE
“No matter how long and tiring my day may feel, or how much I want to just lie in bed and watch TV, I never compromise the time to listen to my daughter’s endless stories, nor bail out on engaging in active play with my son. Surprisingly, when their needs are met, they respect my needs as well. It’s all about give and take, understanding one another, and respect. Amazingly, they end up being the ones who encourage me to think more of myself, giving me more personal space—and more reason to love being a mom!”
— Zen Neri, 38, preschool teacher, mom to Kristiana, 14, and Julio, 11

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
“On a typical day, when the kids come home from school, we do homework for about an hour. Then, my girlfriends and I meet up at dance class. During this time, we get to catch up and just enjoy each other’s company. When I get home I feel relaxed, satisfied, and ready for the next day.”
— Trixie Regino, 37, finance officer, mom to Sofia, 9, and Lili, 8

AFTERNOON TEE
“After a day of running errands, tutoring the kids, and driving them to their various activities, I love squeezing in a round of golf in the afternoon. Even if it’s just a quick nine holes, it calms me and puts everything in perspective—not taking things too seriously, learning to see the beauty in the mundane, and appreciating how awesome the world really is! Plus, playing golf in the company of good friends who are fellow moms and avid golfers is definitely icing on the cake!”
— Ina Cortez, 37, mom to Martina, 8, and Rocco, 5

HELLO DOLLY
“I play with my doll collection when my daughter is asleep. I find this hobby of mine to be very therapeutic.”
— Pixie Sevilla-Santos, 36, chef, mom to Miel, 6

GOOD SPORT
“Whenever I feel wound up, I take to the badminton courts. Hitting a shuttlecock allows me to release any stress or aggression I may have accumulated during the course of the week. It makes for a good workout, too!”
— Ria Ortega, 41, entrepreneur, mom to Javvy, 21, Aria, 19, Iggy, 10, and Joey, 7

CHRISTMAS BONUS
“When I want to get quick results when there is friction between my two older children, I impose a ‘points system.’ My youngest doesn’t really participate in this since she’s still a toddler. If, for some reason, the other two misbehave, they get a minus. If I feel like they’ve done something good, they get a plus. I start sometime at the beginning of the year, and whoever has the most points by December gets to choose three additional gifts for Christmas! It has worked wonders. And since I don’t work full-time, I need to have the space to break away from the kids when I must focus on my work online. I’m able to stay calm, knowing that their dad doesn’t mind being with them even at their loudest or naughtiest.”
— Camille Reyes, mom to Hermes, 9, Sacha, 8, and Sabrina, 3

CRAFT DAYS AND DATE NIGHTS
“Quality time with my daughter Therese is relaxing, so I set aside one-on-one time with her. Visiting the nearby park, taking long walks, or just playing with her is enough to lift my mood. But I also make
sure I have my me-time every now and then. Reading and doing crafts relax me so I make time for them when Therese is asleep or busy playing on her own. Friday night movie and dinner dates with my
husband Pao also help me unwind as they give me a break from the daily routine.”
— AJ Dalma-Buñag, 36, preschool teacher, mom to Therese, 4