Ok so we all can agree that in motherhood we get the responsibility of some mindless tasks around the home am I right
…. Doing dishes … laundry … cleaning… sometimes even cooking …. They all need to be done on a regular basis so we have done these things so much we can do them on autopilot.
Well in an effort to be more mindful in my motherhood journey I decided to look at these so-called mindless tasks with a new perspective. While they may not be thrilling or fulfilling to do … doing these tasks actually gives us the perfect opportunity to practice mindfulness.
What is mindfulness and why is it something moms should incorporate in their lifestyle?
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
The benefits of mindfulness in motherhood are:
Managing stress: Mindfulness helps moms cultivate present-moment awareness and respond to stress with greater compassion.
Emotional well-being: Mindfulness fosters emotional regulation skills and self-compassion, allowing moms to accept and respond to their emotions without judgment.
Self-care: Mindfulness encourages moms to prioritize their own well-being, promoting physical, mental, and emotional health.
Enhancing the parent-child relationship: When we take time to practice mindfulness ourselves it gives us practice in this habit so we can also be more apt to being able to be fully present and attuned to our children, deepening the parent-child bond.
Finding balance: Mindfulness helps mothers prioritize their priorities, set boundaries, and make conscious choices to balance their many roles.
Self-compassion and reducing self-judgment: Mindfulness cultivates self-acceptance and reduces self-criticism, creating a more nurturing inner dialogue. We are typically our worst critic and it’s time to flip those inner voices to something that build us up rather then breaking us down .
Coping with challenging moments: Mindfulness equips mothers with skills to regulate their emotions and find calm in difficult situations.
So how can you implement mindfulness in the mindless tasks of mom life ?
The next time you’re folding a load of laundry , washing dishes , doing yard work, take that time to practice mindfulness.
You can do so by ……
- Focusing on the pressure of your feet pushing into the floor
- Bringing awareness to the way your body feels if you are sitting in your chair.
- Spending a few minutes to focus on your breath. Take deep, cleansing breaths
- Looking out the window and admire a nearby tree or flower for a few moments
- Counting the steps you take as you walk around putting laundry away ……The practice of counting is very beneficial when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed because it gives your mind a reset from what was stressing you out, giving you a chance to recharge. Guess what …. Here’s a helpful mom tip ! This Counting practice also works wonders on helping calm a child going through an emotional experience.
- Taking a moment to close your eyes and focus your attention to any spots in your body you feel tension … Picture that stress and tension leaving your body.
- Take these moments while doing mindless housework and talk with God … tell him about your day … pray for peace or guidance.. give him your anxieties
- Think about moments from your day so far that made you smile
- Or simply just be …. It’s so hard for us moms to clear our mind and just be in the present moment so this can be a great opportunity to let your mind rest from all that thinking we tend to do !
Why are these practices so helpful for us moms …
- They help to reduce stress, anxiety and overwhelm
- Moms I encourage you to spend the rest of this week and take these mindless household tasks as a chance for you to acknowledge thoughts you may have, and take your troubles and anxieties to God through prayer.
- These chores can be an opportunity to reflect and think about your day so far … was there a situation you could have responded differently in … was your tone harsher then you wanted when caring for your kids … do you need to seek Gods wisdom or patience on a situation?
- You can also take this opportunity to think about what you’re grateful for … bringing positivity to an otherwise boring part of your day . Turning our focus to savor the small, joyful motherhood moments that often get overlooked in the chaos of the day can warm our hearts and give us a mental/emotional boost.
🍃Applying this Simple habit can be extremely beneficial for your mental health.. mood… and overall experience in mom life .
🍃It’s all about perspective and seeking opportunities to pour into your own cup … slow down and be fully present and a more mindful momma .