Being a mom has it's joys as well as it's stress, right? I have not met a mom that has said that motherhood is not stressful. I am a mom and therefore, I get stressed most of the time. Kids can make us lose our minds. There is an automatic button that switches our moods from happy to mad, from calm to stressed in minutes. I'm pretty sure I have stressed my mom numerous times when I was growing up, so I guess it's something that us moms have to deal with.

I am a firm believer that if you always say "I'm so stressed" or "this is so stressful," you will get even more stressed and you will feel defeated right away. My hubby would always tell me that the first thing that comes out of my mouth is the word stress and if I keep saying it, that's how I was going to live. I would argue with him saying that I don't really use that word, when in reality I knew I did (I didn't want him to think he was right) and I also knew that this had to stop.

Being stressed all the time is no joke and it takes a toll on you fast. I learned not to say the "S" word so much because the more I said it, the more stressed I got. I learned to do things that helped me feel less stressed and more accomplished.

Yes, stress will always live with us no matter what we do but there are a few things that you can do to diminish it and live a less stressful life. I don't know about you but I would rather be happy and in a good mood then being Mrs. Grumpy-Grumps - stressed out all of the time. Of course, some things work better than others but you just have to find ways that work best for you. So, today, I am sharing five ways to de-stress when you are feeling stressed that has worked well for me and hopefully works for you too. So let's de-stress together!

Listen to music

I love listening to music whether I'm feeling stressed or not, but listening to music when you are stressed helps a lot. I love to listen to upbeat songs because it gets me in a good mood right away. I feel less stressed and more happy. You can actually get things done if you have music playing in the background. Make sure you listen to an upbeat song than a sad love song because you want to be in a good mood not in a sad, crying mood. Also, listening to music automatically makes you have a more positive mindset and not dread everything that you have to do. Just blast your favorite song and sing out loud (your kids won't judge, maybe) and dance away, the day is just getting started!

Read the Bible

I love reading the Bible because I feel calm, happy, and in a good, inspirational mood. I read the Bible every day after I put my twins for their nap. It's a great way to de-stress and focus on yourself for a few minutes. For me, the Bible is my sanctuary. I sit down with my ice latte and read away while my oldest daughter is watching television or playing with her dolls. Praying is also a big stress reliever for me, so I pray and let God's magic shine through. I'm a believer in the power of prayer and faith and so I let it inspire me and de-stress me.

Go outside

If you are feeling stressed, one of the best things to do is go outside and feel the fresh air hitting your face, listen to the birds, and look at the beautiful flowers bloom. Sometimes all we have to do is get away from the chaos at home and just walk and breathe fresh air. Even if you go out with your kids, it's still a stress reliever because you are not at home, you are outside. Go to your favorite coffee shop, go to the park with your kids, go walk around your neighborhood. Just get out of your house and de-stress!

Stop and breathe

At times when I feel stressed, I just stop and breathe. Sometimes, all it takes for you to de-stress is to stop what you are doing and take a break. Sit down for a couple of minutes and think about why you are so stressed out. Is it worth it? What can you do to feel less stressed? Can you leave what you were doing for the next day? All of these questions you should be asking yourself because then you can figure out what you need to do in order to eliminate the stress. Stopping and breathing is so simple to do and yet as moms we sometimes forget the importance of it.

Read a motivational/inspirational book

I love reading a good inspirational or motivational book. Why? Because it gets me in a "I can do this" type of mentality. It makes me feel good about myself, my dreams, my goals and I feel like I can accomplish anything and everything that I set my mind to. Reading is one of those things that you can lose yourself in and forget about everything around you. You can find time to read a book after the kids go to bed, when they are eating or watching television. It just takes a couple of minutes or a few pages to feel inspired and motivated. Stress can go out the window and your day will be alright.

I hope these tips to de-stress when you are feeling stressed were helpful to you and you can try it out. Also, drinking a glass of wine always works and releases stress faster than counting 1-2-3. I'm just saying girl, you got to do what you got to do sometimes! So I'm not judging!

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Stress Free Mommies. It has been modified and republished here with permission.