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How Is Mindfulness For Moms Practiced And How Can I Integrate It Into My Day?
Mindfulness is an important tool that will help you in how you relate to your own life and how you engage with the world. Mindfulness for moms is so important because being a mom is a full-time job that lasts forever. There could not be a better time to learn mindfulness than during pregnancy and early motherhood. As a first time mom, after finding out I was pregnant I decided a change was necessary.My motivation and desire to become the best person I could be increased each day.
I was going to be the best version of myself for the sake of my little one. He is actually the person that inspired me to begin my blog. I need to let go of any anger, sadness or pain I was feeling, because I knew I needed to be in the best mental and emotional shape possible. When we practice mindfulness, we are able to transform our lives and create a good balance between everything we do.
Practicing mindfulness will help you take better care of yourself, and your family.
It is not easy to establish a mindfulness practice. Your mind and thoughts will wander all over the place. Once you learn how to practice, it will become a part of your daily routine.
You might ask yourself, “what is mindfulness anyway?” or “Why do I need this?” if you are, then let me explain.
What Is Mindfulness And Who Should Practice It?
Mindfulness is the ability to be present in everything you are doing. To be aware of your surroundings and feelings while not allowing outside distractions to take you off course.
Being mindful means to be 100% aware of what you are experiencing. Your feelings, thoughts and emotions.
Roots of Mindfulness practices reach back to the early teachings of the Buddha. The technique was used to attain nirvana (not the band – LOL), a profound insight resulting in the end of suffering.
Who should practice mindfulness? Anyone and everyone. It can be practiced anywhere, for a few moments, minutes or hours, as long as your mind is attending to everything that is happening around you.
The best thing is that you already have it in you to practice. It is not a new skill to learn, rather, it is one that needs refining and perfecting through repetition. Soon enough, you will be in touch with your authentic self.
Why Is Mindfulness For Moms Important?
Mindfulness is not significant for moms alone, it is important for everyone. As a first-time mom with a 2-year-old, it’s easier for me to share my unique experiences, how it works me, and hopefully you too.
When we’re conscious, we reduce stress, increase performance, gain insight and understanding.
We work at creating space for ourselves to think, breathe, and a space between ourselves and our reactions.
As stay-at-home or working moms, we need to juggle different roles while keeping this on track. Our lives are busy and we want to tend to the needs of everyone else’s before ours. In order not to break down or burnout, we need to work at self-care, self-love, and mindfulness.
Do you fold the laundry while watching TV and keeping an eye on your kids? Do you plan your day and week while on the computer on Facebook and texting a friend on the side?
Multi-tasking does not help you get things done faster. In fact, doing one thing at a time will help you not only practice mindfulness, but be more productive.
Now before, you say you can’t find time in your day to do this, I say, you can.
All you require is 10 minutes daily. First thing in the morning works best for me. When everyone is still in bed, and before I go through my daily morning routine.
What Are The Benefits Of Practicing Mindfulness?
When you are in a state of relaxation, mindfulness, or meditation, the benefits include:
- Increased attention and focus
- Lowered anxiety levels
- Higher function of the brain
- Lowered blood pressure
- Lowered heart rate
- Increased awareness (surroundings and feelings)
- Increased clarity (thoughts, sense of smell
- Feeling connected
- Increased emotion regulation
- Increased self-control
- Enhanced job performance
- Enhances your sex life
- Eases aches and pains
- Improves decision-making
- Increases resilience
When And Where Should You Practice Mindfulness?
The good news about mindfulness for busy moms is that there are no boundaries on where you can meditate. Worried about having to buy tools and accessories you may need? There are none. I like to use yoga mats when practicing mindfulness at home. When my body is relaxed, I can get my mind to focus better.
You don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home. You will find that certain times of the day are more impacting and effective for you.
The more you practice, the more likely you are to be able to do it again.
Don’t go through your daily motions, but actively become and remain aware of them.
Begin Your Mindfulness For Moms Routine Today
As I said earlier, when we talk about mindfulness for moms, I am talking about doing it now, in this moment, start today. Even if it id just for 5-10 minutes while your kids take a nap, or are in school. Remember, mindfulness practice should be enjoyable, not work or effort.
Your attention may be diverted after less than a minute. It is key to return your attention to your focus. Meaning, back to the beginning, your surroundings, senses, and breathing.
It will take time to be able to do this for five full minutes. Don’t worry if you are only able to be mindful for a minute or two. Just leave it and return later to do it again.
Just remember, you can be mindful in every moment every day. On your way to work, at work, when taking a walk. It doesn’t matter. Every moment of your life presents an opportunity to be mindful.
During my work day, I at times need to get away from the computer for a few minutes. So when I get up to go to another office to pick up something or get a cup of tea, I center myself and take notice of my posture, steps, my arm and leg movements. The things I see, and the sounds I hear.
Mindfulness for moms is something I like to talk about because moms are always asking the question, “how do I balance it all without losing my mind? I say mindfulness for moms works and is so effective in feeling that sense of calm. Even if much of your daily life is taken up by everyday tasks such as housework, shopping, commuting, dressing and showering, chores, and cooking, try to make these tasks into mindfulness moments. Don’t just get the work done, be mindful while doing it.
If you’d like to practice a less overwhelming but a more healthy and balanced way of living, then maybe this is the thing for you. Being mindful makes it easier to savour the pleasures and great moments in life as they happen.
You don’t need to change who you are. Mindfulness helps you embrace who you are while helping you to enjoy life more.
Remember, your body will treat you the way you treat it.
Here are some apps I recommend that are available both on Google Play and the App Store.
Click on any of the pics below to check out the app!
If you want this list of 10 Ways To Practice Mindfulness, click here to download.
Think of mindfulness as the energy that helps us recognize the conditions of happiness that are already present in your life. If you are a mom, do you think mindfulness will help you?
What are your favourite mindfulness practices? Share with me in the comments below.
35 comments
Even though I’m not a mom, I still found this post so helpful! I definitely want to start practicing being mindful in my every day life and encourage others to do so as well. It sounds like such a healthy and helpful practice.
I wish I could have read this back in my twenties. You seem to have such an insight. I was so uptight. I think I could have learned to love each minute more.
🙂 gwingal
Being a mom is hands down the biggest challenge and most rewarding part of my life. I’m still learning to maintain balance and stay true to myself in the process.
This post is right on time. Thank you for providing the perspective we all lose sight of at times.
love this!! I started to practice meditation when my daughter was born, she is now 6, and it definitely helps with balancing life as a mom, working full-time, and trying to build a business.
I do agree with you. It has become necessary to simplify your life and eventually mind.
I do practice mindfulness, it has helped me become more aware of myself and what i want!
Being a mindful mom is key. I wake up each day and think about how I can be a better mom for my children and a better version of me.
Mindful is one of my priority this year . It definitely help the way I’m thinking and interact with my family . Thank you for sharing this post .
I need to practice more mildfulness in my life and not take on so many other things that are going to cause me stress.
I started practicing mindfulness with my little one, sitting quietly with her, taking deep breaths, and just being in the moment. I noticed that it affects her, too, and quite profoundly and obviously. I’m so grateful she is learning about mindfulness early in her life, hopefully it will help her throughout her entire life.
Beautiful post! I feel like I really needed to read this now. I love how you say your son is the reason you started your blog too. I feel the same about my girls. Keep it up!
Great read! This has given me a lot to think about! I never realized how important mindfulness was 🙂 Thank u!
So many great tips!! I just started breathe mama breathe which has some of these same tips for being mindful. I also practice yoga daily which i am loving!
witness it, allows it and release it – I agree! Allow the feeling to come but dont let the emotion be you. Being more mindful of oneself is a great way too to meditate.
this was exactly what i needed to read today- def needing to make a priority to take more time for me!
Mindfulness to me is not second nature. I have to practice it and remind myself daily. You were way ahead of me by even focusing on being the best you when you were pregnant. I feel like I’m trying to catch up in all areas.
Mindfulness helps you learn yourself and understand those around you. Self reflection definitely helps.
Great post! I have been practicing this and I think it has helped me to focus better. It has helped to lessen my anxiety and I am able to enjoy life more.
Mindfulness is one of those things I know lots about but haven’t taken the time to practise. I entirely believe the benefits you have listed Sheri and it’s a fab discipline to teach to kids too. I really must give it a go.
Some really good hints and tips. I am not a mom but I do have a very busy and fairly stressful working life, so taking just a few minutes out of my day makes such a huge difference.
Thank you for this reminder! I have been trying to practice mindfulness, but it’s easy to slip back into bad habits of stress. I’m bookmarking this page so I can revisit when I get anxious!
This is a really great read, and fantastic tips. I am definitely jotting down & pinning some of these tips for myself x
I love that it was your little one that inspired you to start your blog and indeed helped you let go of negative emotions. I have been learning to be more mindful so I am glad that it has helped you be a better person well done. Mindfulness daily sounds like a great app as well.
I love this and love mindfulness too! I love meditation & crystals x
Great advice here! I am trying very hard to practice mindfulness, its something that I really need to work harder on in order to prioritise myself at times and also curb my anxiety.
I agree, great tips here. It’s so important to take time to focus and put ourselves first even just for a few minutes each day.
I have to agree that being mindful is very helpful in your daily life. It can help you reaccess what has been going on and make things feel better.
I love your advice and your quotes really hit home for me, going to take it on board and see if I can hopefully stick by it.
I try and go for a daily walk as it not only gives me time to think but is healthy too
I’ve never tried mindfulness before. It does seem like a good way to beat stress
Some parts of mindfulness don’t sit right with me as a Christian but I am totally in support of every person taking the time to really focus on one thing and to do it well, rather than trying to do too many things at once. It is definitely important to take time out and relax. Mich x
I went on a mindfulness course a few years ago and you’ve just reminded me why I really need to get back to keeping it up. Thank you!
I’ve practiced mindfulness since I became a parent, it really helps me focus.
I am making it much more of a priority to be more mindful this year – I think it will really help my stress levels and to be a better parent overall 🙂