Feeling exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed seems to be the norm for many Mums as they try to ‘do it all!’
Being a Mum is a 24/7 job.
No matter how you feel.
No matter what else you have on your plate.
No matter what is going on in the world.
Managing your stress levels can seem impossible.
Throw in a pandemic and lock the entire family in a house together for months… it’s no surprise that mental health issues are on the rise.
That seemingly non-existent ‘me-time’ was hard enough to try and squeeze in when things were ‘normal.’ It now seems completely obliterated by having everyone on top of each other 24/7.
So how are we supposed to navigate our way through this without completely losing our minds?
Firstly, we need to be gentle with ourselves.
Put your hand on your heart and take a long, deep breath. Mumma – you’re doing a great job! Remember, just because you’re having a bad day, you’re feeling guilty because you yelled at the kids, or your house looks like an activity centre after a 5yr olds birthday party… it’s okay. This does not make you a bad person, or a bad Mother. You’re doing your best.
Mumma, remember that emotions are healthy and sometimes all we need is a release to help loosen the grip on how intense everything seems.
Although the alone time or self-love time you’re really craving right now may seem impossible, there are some small practices you can incorporate into your day to help let go of some of the stressed-out energy you’re holding in your body.
All emotions are energy.
Scream.
When you feel the emotion bubbling up inside you and you feel like could explode, one of my favourite things to do is to get in the car on my own and scream! Try it! Scream at the top of your lungs as many times as you like. It’s incredible how releasing energy in your body can make you feel 10x lighter.
Another way to do this is to run a bath or jump in the pool if you have one and scream underwater! (Just don’t breathe in at the wrong time!)
Having a good cry is sometimes all we need.
Do whatever works for you to get the tears flowing. Put on a movie that makes you cry, start journaling about how you’re feeling and let the tears flow, look at old family photos – whatever it takes to get the release.
The power of connection.
Go for a walk with a girlfriend to have a vent, organise a video chat, or even post how you’re feeling in a supportive, online community of other Mums. I can pretty much guarantee you that if you’re feeling this way, there are COUNTLESS other Mums who are too and sometimes that’s all we need to hear – that we are not alone.
Mumma, you are not alone and you are doing a great job.
Be kind to yourself.
Be gentle.
Practice gratitude for all the little things.
Ask for support and be honest about how you’re feeling. It’s okay not to be okay sometimes.
If you are really struggling with your mental and emotional health, please reach out to a professional for support. There is always a way.
Breathe.
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.
