Motherhood. That's a loaded word.

No wait. It’s more than just a word – A milestone? A check on your to-do list? A badge of honour?

- Medha Rao

However you choose to term it, one thing is undeniable. Motherhood is a gigantic shift from life as we know it. The joy of bringing a little human into this world changes everything though in the larger scheme of things we have our children to thank for making us better individuals, getting from one day to the next can be quite a task.

All the heartfelt moments aside, mums reading this will agree when I say that motherhood is one of life’s curveballs that throws us off course many times a day. Tons of memes and internet humour capture this sentiment perfectly and the fact that several more continue to be churned out every day is testimony to the fact that being a mum can be overwhelming to say the least.

Personally speaking, my almost 3 year old daughter has made me delve deep into my core and find levels of patience, compassion and affection that I never knew existed pre-motherhood. But she has also successfully unlocked tears, frustration and annoyance like never before. Big feelings at both ends of the spectrum, to put it simply.

While it is impossible to be a calm and always have a grip over our feelings, here are five hacks that, when internalised over time, will help us cope better and enjoy our journey as parents in a more holistic manner. As the saying goes, as parents, the days are long but the years are short. Make each day count and go easy on yourself!