Kiddipedia
Do you remember the last time you allowed your mind to be still?
To be focused on your own emotions? Your own wellbeing?
Motherhood brings many changes to a woman’s life that when her new baby arrives, her mind is too often consumed with only her baby’s health and wellbeing that she forgets to check in with herself. This can leave her feeling disconnected from her mind and her emotional state and when continually left unattended to, these emotions can boil to the surface, usually when motherhood feels all too much for her. How do you reawaken your mind when you feel like you’ve lost it somewhere in the endless piles of washing and demands coming from your little person?
Start checking in with your emotions:
Every day for a period of a week, set yourself an alarm at a specific time (resist snoozing). This is your time to reflect and check in with your emotions.
What you will need:
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A journal
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A pen
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5 minutes to yourself
Write down how you are feeling in the current moment:
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happy?
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tired?
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sad?
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excited?
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anxious?
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grateful?
You might feel several emotions simultaneously, that’s completely normal.
You’re human. A likely very sleep-deprived human.
Making time to check in with your emotions daily allows you to acknowledge how you’re feeling, rather than focusing on how everyone else is feeling in your house. You can sit with these emotions, ride the wave and then move on so that it doesn’t linger all day.
Create a morning and/or nightly ritual
When I first started creating space for ritual it felt selfish, unattainable and a little overwhelming. Why? Because although I made space for “me-time”, I was still riddled with “mum guilt” or was mentally going through my daily to-do list amid my “me time”. Does this sound familiar?
If you are taking time for yourself but shaming yourself in the process, you will find yourself chronically tired and full of resentment. You have the power to change this.
You wake up with kids attached, demands coming from every corner of the house, leaving your adrenals on edge 24/7.
This doesn’t need to be how you experience motherhood.
Your morning ritual doesn’t need to be a complicated 2-hour process.
The timing of my morning ritual can change depending on what is happening in the house, but when there is space, I make sure it happens.
If you can wake up 20-30 minutes before the kids – even better!
Your morning ritual sets the tone for the rest of the day. It will help you feel calm, happier, and more productive. It helps you frame your day and gives it more structure amongst the unknown.
Repetition is key to shifting your emotional state to one of stability, calm, clarity and satisfaction.
Meditate:
To start your day calm and centred, meditation allows you to clear your mind before you start your day. If your morning doesn’t allow for “quiet” meditation space, if you have small children put them in the pram and try a walking meditation instead, incorporating it into movement can be the key to achieving a daily meditation practice. Download a guided meditation, pop in your headphones, and make space to reconnect with your mind.
Journal your intentions:
This doesn’t mean “washing, folding, cleaning”, but rather your intentions for the day for example, “self-compassion, grounding, moments of rest”. This will allow you to shift your mindset from relentless tasks to a clear energy. Emotionally, Pregnancy and Motherhood raise many things for each of us. Taking the time to jot down and acknowledge your thoughts allows you to take back control over your emotions.
Journal prompt ideas :
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Three things you are grateful for
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Your ideal day
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Your intentions for the day
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I feel most relaxed when
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I feel happiest when
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Something I am looking forward to
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Describe the dream you had last night
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Write something to work on or grow through right now
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Write down thank-you notes to yourself
Listen to a podcast:
When you want to shift your mind from how many nappies you’ve changed, and what you need to cook for dinner to something that makes you feel like you again – pop your headphones in and listen to a podcast or audiobook. This can reconnect you to what your interests were pre-baby, providing inspiration, education, entertainment, or even comfort. It’s also hands-free so when babies require you elsewhere- multitasking mama is still happy.
Use affirmations:
An affirmation is a positive thought or statement, written or spoken that challenges self-limiting beliefs and replaces patterns of negative thinking with patterns of positive thinking. When you consistently repeat these positive thoughts or affirmations, you have the power to rewire your brain. (You read that right). There is science behind the power of affirmations! It has shown that our brains are malleable and can be rewired by our own thoughts.
There are many ways you can use affirmations, you just need to find a way that works in your lifestyle and personality.
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Write them down
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Listen to them
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Speak them
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Have visual reminders
To reconnect with your mind today, download guided Motherhood Meditations at:
https://motherunearthed.podia.
To download FREE Motherhood affirmations for your phone wallpaper to have a daily visual reminder visit:
https://motherunearthed.podia.
