You are capable of so much more than you think.
I need to preface with that, because this article is all about mental resilience. Of which you have an abundance. More than you’ll ever need. But we all need a little help maintaining a healthy mind sometimes, especially when things aren’t going according to plan.
Plans are great. They help us focus, they keep us on track… they help build serenity. But not everything goes according to plan and when it doesn’t well… things can really suck.
Every time I do too much, which is a lot, I tend to get run down and snappy. Snappy mum vs happy mum? Happy all the way, obviously. My friends are forever telling me to take time to look after myself. I never really understood what that meant until recently. Recently when a whole lot of my world began to fall apart. It’s often our darkest times that really force us to take stock. For the last three years, I figured I could do everything I did before I had a baby PLUS everything I needed to do to be a good mum. I still firmly believe as working mothers we can still live, healthy, active, interesting lives that are about ourselves as well as our children, but what the last few months has made me realise is that chaos overrides it all.
I am a big believer in eating well, drinking lots of water and exercising… but when emotional stress begins to take its toll, you can drink all the green smoothies in the world and it’s not going to make you smile.
And we need to smile. We have tiny humans to take care of and they need happy Mummas. So, sometimes the shit hits the fan, right? When it rains it pours and all that… so what can we do to keep a healthy mind when everything is just getting a bit too much?
Here’s what I’ve found has kept my mind clutter free and on track in a challenging time:
Surround yourself with good friends. We are who we hang out with. This is so true and it’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who you respect and love for who they are. Having a solid bunch of friends will get you through the toughest times. So while you might feel an urge to stay indoors and hide through difficult times in your life… resist this temptation. Go see your mates.
Be grateful. Mindfulness and gratitude is key to keeping perspective when all seems hopeless. Check out our article here on the power of gratitude. Keep a daily or weekly journal of what you have in your life to be thankful for and each day will feel far more achievable.
Write. Even if you’re not a writer, pull a Bridget Jones and keep a journal. Some people can write about what they did all day, others write goals and dreams, some make lists. Whatever your jam, get some of that trash that’s in your head and get it on paper. Decluttering your mind often helps form new plans of action.
Speaking of decluttering… change up some rooms in the house and tidy the shit out of it. Throw away old junk you don’t need. While kids might wreck everything within the day… it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start the week on a shit load of Feng Shui.
Lastly… don’t let your body health slip. While it’s always good to take it easy on yourself, I found one of the best things to clear my mind is a long run and lots and lots of water. I know it sounds lame… but even if you go for a beautiful scenic walk, you will feel so much more in control of your thoughts and emotions than if you dive head first into a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.
I hope everyone is out there chasing their dreams, but sometimes it’s okay to take stock, rest and reboot. We all need to take care of ourselves… don’t ignore your mental wellbeing.
Sx
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