Motherhood is perhaps the most exhilarating, yet exhausting journey a woman can embark upon.
The overwhelming sense of love, protection and nurturing you have for your child(ren) is something you can’t explain to anyone who has not experienced it for themselves.
The overwhelming sense of loss of identity, fatigue and exhaustion is also something you can’t explain.
Motherhood tests you on every level – mentally, physically and emotionally and sometimes we feel like we are in a constant state of burnout!
Let me let you in on a little secret… Those Mums on Social Media that always seemingly have their lives in perfect working order, with perfect relationships, perfect careers and perfect children… remember that Social Media is not a true representation of real life. Everybody experiences their own challenges and this is completely normal!
- EVERY Mother has days when she feels like she can’t cope.
- EVERY Mother goes through times of feeling isolated and alone.
- EVERY Mother has days when she doesn’t know how she’ll get through the day.
But, we keep going. Sometimes to our detriment.
Self-care may seem like a luxury that Mums can’t afford, however, it’s time we start to realise that ‘self-care’ is not ‘self-indulgence,’ or ‘self-pampering.’
Self-care is imperative for our survival and it is important for our children to learn this for their future also.
Ever heard that saying “Fit your own oxygen mask before helping others?”
It’s time to start fitting your own mask, Mumma! It’s time to start taking small steps towards small, self-care practices to stop yourself from getting to a stage of complete mental, emotional and physical burn-out.
Firstly, take a moment right now to stop and take a few long, deep breaths. (In through the nose and out through the mouth.) Notice how you felt before doing this, compared to after.
Our breath is one of the most powerful tools we have, to provide ourselves with a few moments of self-care and for many of us, we don’t even realise we haven’t taken a proper breath all day! We don’t have to live in ‘fight or flight mode’ all the time. This is one way to bring yourself back to the present moment and bring your energy down.
Secondly, watch your language!
This may have a slightly different meaning than when we yell it to our kids, however, it is just as important and once again, it’s something we should teach them also! When our internal and external language is predominantly negative, this can shape our reality. You really do get more of what you focus on.
Lastly, get creative and ASK for help!
I know you have a million balls in the air, however, there is always a way to receive more support and incorporate small elements of self-care into your routine. After some deep breathing, sit down with a pen and paper and start writing down some ideas, brainstorm this with your partner, or even a girlfriend over a vino! Some of these strategies could simply include saying YES when help is offered, even if it’s not exactly the way you’d normally do it. (If you’re really stuck on this one, engage a Coach to help you create a workable plan for yourself.)
Motherhood is one hell of a ride, so strap yourself in and get creative. There is always a solution… sometimes we’re just not in the right headspace to find it.
Beth Lewis is a Holistic Coach* who is known for helping Mums go from stressed to blessed! Beth offers bespoke coaching packages for Mums, supporting them through their personal Motherhood journey and enabling them to feel calmer, more in control and able to be more present with their families.
*Certified Food & Nutrition Coach, Life Coach and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, Timeline Therapy™
Visit www.bethlewis.com.au for more information.