An oldie but goodie! Reposting this from my newsletter last March! After having another doozy of a month it was wonderful to look back at this sage advice that I would still offer myself and any mother going through the thicker parts of motherhood. Enjoy!
March was a doozy in my world… from a child with pneumonia to my mom in and out of the hospital, and a spring break week too… I have been running myself ragged despite my best efforts not to.
As I emerge from over 3 weeks of altered schedules, added appointments, more driving than I typically do in a month, and so many poor nights of sleep I’d rather not count, here are some things that kept me feeling like my life wasn’t spiraling completely out of control. These 4 things are behaviors, routines and anchors that were already present but became central to helping navigate a challenging few weeks…
-Going for walks in nature, whether 5minutes or an hour, I was grateful to get what I could. I think walks should be routinely prescribed by doctors for mental health and encouraged by all employers. Every time I stepped out the door over the last couple weeks, I returned in an infinitely better mood. My most rejuvenating walks were the ones where I turned on my voice recorder App and talked through my whirling thoughts to my phone. There is something to be said for getting your thoughts out of your brain. Hearing myself talk, allowed me to sort through things so much quicker and return more focused or calm.
-Choosing to put my needs ahead of my children’s more often. This came in the form of bathing myself before I bathe my kids. I find that when I am overextended I’m far less likely to shower before bed and I’m simply not a morning bather. So when things get crazy, I find myself going a bit longer than I’d like to admit between showers. To remedy this, I decided that a shower before preparing dinner might serve me well! Yes, dinner got on the table a bit later, but it was prepared by a fresher, more peaceful and taken care of mom. Always a win-win for the whole family and boy was I more relaxed by tuck in time!
-Anchoring to affirmations and uplifting quotes. Right now, it’s Lau Tzu’s quote “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”! I have this quote on my desk and it is such a great reminder that slowing down, taking time to restore, refresh and rejuvenate brings about the most amazing results. This quote serves as an on-going reminder that all will get done and it doesn’t have to be today! It reminds me to have more faith and trust in the process and let go of my desire for immediate results.
-Finally, boundaries! These last few weeks have tested my boundaries… a concept surprisingly new to me. 2022 Hilary didn’t have or know what boundaries are. 2024 Hilary is beginning to flex her boundary muscles. It’s a delicate dance between saying yes and saying no, but when I have held my boundaries for my own well being everything has still turned out ok. The more my boundaries are tested, the more I am glad I am beginning to find them. They protect me and preserve my energy and then support me in entering challenging situations from a place of love instead of a place of resentment or frustration. I have a long way to go, but I encourage anyone with frequent emotions, frustration and resentment to begin exploring how setting clearer boundaries for yourself can help you navigate the most challenging of situations better.
In Health,
Hilary
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