3 ways to Practice Mindful Self-Care
“I don’t have time to slow down and smell the roses – I’m a mum!”
We understand. We’re mums too and we absolutely hear you!
But we also know, after much trial and error, that finding some time daily for mindful self-care is vital for you, and for your sanity. That’s why we’ve put together some easy ways for you to practise mindful self-care when you are a busy mum.
By putting your own oxygen mask on first you will be much better placed to sustain caring for and raising your children.
You can begin a daily mindful self-care practice by writing down five things you could do to revitalise and nurture yourself. Then choose your top 1-2 self-care activities and schedule them in your calendar for next week!
If they are booked in, you are much more likely to do it.
It isn’t as hard as you might think. Even simple activities such as having a bath, cooking, and walking are perfect opportunities to practice mindful self-care.
Try these three easy ways to incorporate mindful self-care into your day:
Meditate
In a mum’s world of rushing around, endless to-do lists, and overwhelming distractions, we are in increasing need of some intentional practice of mind discipline. So having the time to establish this act of essential self-care might seem impossible.
The trick to getting a new habit in place is to link it to something you already do. For example, if you can tag your practice time to the end of your morning shower or before your morning coffee you are much more likely to do it.
It doesn’t have to be a 20-minute guided meditation (although that would be amazing!) - a mindful walk or a few minutes sitting still with your eyes closed will still be beneficial.
2. Arrive at your day by Consciously Connecting to the 3 G’s
Gratitude: A gratitude check-in before you get out of bed aligns you to what is positive and working in your life, and it only takes a minute or two. Now you can focus on seeing everything from a perspective of positivity and possibility, and that sets you on the path to opportunity.
Great way to begin a day, right?!
Goals: Your goals need a little daily love too. Choose an activity to move your goals forward each day. No matter how small, it will get you on the right track to living more in the present moment.
Put energy and time into these commitments on a daily basis and you’ll see results!
Goofiness: Honestly, this needs a spot in your life too. Block out some time each week to focus on an adult playdate where you can be silly and have fun.
In the interim, giggle a little each day as you connect with others through laughter.
3. Drop “Just” From Your Vocabulary
When we use the word “just”, we are trying to jump forward to the future, so we are not really living in the present.
How many times a day do we say it? “I just need to have a bath, I just need to have lunch, I just need to paint my nails and then I’ll be with you”.
The “Just” means we are treating it as something we need to do before we can get on to do something else. When our minds are racing ahead to the next thing like this we are not in the present moment, and this can quickly lead to feelings of stress.
Allocate times to do the things you need to do and stick to it. Do them with your full focus and attention.
Notice how you feel when you are doing these things.
You will notice that your enjoyment of every activity will increase, no matter how mundane the task, just not the ones in the future you want to get too.
Bring yourself back to the present by really focusing on what you are doing and you will get much more joy out of it and a lot less stress.
Instead of “just” having your coffee, “worship” it by savoring every sip.
Instead of “just going for a shower”, say “I am going to take a shower”.
Then really enjoy the feeling of the hot water on your skin and the beautiful fragrance of the shampoo.
This strategy translates to any task we have to do, not just self care.
Even if it’s “I’ve just got to change this nappy”, you can still bring yourself into the present and turn the mundane into something memorable by treating it like it’s the first time you’ve ever changed this particular nappy. Which of course it is, and is a moment in time with your baby you will never get again.
Make the most of the moment by really noticing her face, eyelashes, the freckle on her ear.
If you would like to change the way you experience life, the 7 Day Mindful Mum Experience will provide you with the tools and framework to kick-start your mindfulness practice, helping you to truly live in the moment.
Delivered over 7 consecutive days in manageable short bites across a mix of email, Facebook and text, you can carry out each short exercise and read the supporting materials at a time most convenient to you.