Mothers have a lot on their plates, and we’re not talking about food here. We take care of the little ones, support our husbands, make sure everyone is fed, clean the house, do the dishes, finish the laundry and accomplish a host of other household chores. With kids around, things can get extra complicated. One minute you may be peacefully styling your little girl’s hair with her favorite hair accessories; the next, you may find yourself in the middle of an earsplitting tantrum.

The bottom line is that the daily juggling of motherly duties can stress you out. Even though stress is a normal part of parenting, you don't want to let it take over your life. Chronic stress has been found to be harmful to the heart, and studies have linked it to an increased risk of heart disease and strokes.

As mothers, we want to be able to give our families the best care possible. We want to be able to be there to enjoy baby gifts with our little ones, and to celebrate anniversaries with our husbands. When we are stressed out, we are prone to the possibility of health problems that can prevent us from giving our best. So here are some stress-busting tricks to help you get happier and healthier:

Breathe

It does not seem like much, since you do it without thinking, but deep breathing is one of the easiest and most effective stress relievers. Try consciously spending time inhaling and exhaling, and focus solely on the oxygen nourishing your body. Brace yourself for a tiring day ahead by dabbing on soothing essential oils like lavender or chamomile after your shower. Inhale the scent deeply whenever you feel stressed out.

Laugh

Studies have found that laughing is not just a result of happiness, but is also the initiator of happiness. Doing it will actually make you happy! Laughing lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases beta endorphins, which are mood enhancers. The next time your little daughter pairs that princess hair clip with her brother’s cowboy costume, go ahead and laugh out loud!

Work

Okay, this looks like a typo but it’s not. While the last thing you want is to give yourself more to do, working out will actually do wonders in relieving your stress. Work out all that stress out of your body! You can do it on your treadmill, or while pushing the stroller around the neighborhood.

Beautify

Sometimes, you just need to find some "me" time. Don’t let stress be your favorite accessory! Dress up nicely and comfortably, spray on some perfume, dab a little lip gloss, put on some girly hair clips. Feeling good on the outside sometimes helps to make you feel good on the inside.

Cry

Go ahead, it’s okay to cry. Not only is crying emotionally renewing, studies show that it may also help flush out stress hormones.

Silence

Take two little minutes from your busy routine and find the quietest place you can. It has to be away from the TV, the radio, the computer, and the tantrums. For a very short time, simply sit in silence. This will help make you at peace.

Walk Out

Sometimes a mom's best defense is to walk away, especially in extreme moments. If you can, leave the room and go someplace else for a while. By doing this, you are not only telling your child that you do not tolerate bad behavior, you are also stopping yourself from showing her bad behavior of your own! Once you have cooled down (and hopefully, your child too), return and deal with the matter calmly.