I see you friend. I see that you stayed up last night with your baby and are struggling to focus through your tiredness. I see that you slid into your desk at work 15 minutes later than you planned or hit the snooze button 4 times this morning even though your toddler was calling out for you. I see you trying to encourage the kids to play together while you work on making breakfast for them. I see you dodging around the house during nap time trying to get caught up on dishes and laundry. I see you when life throws a curveball your way like you or your child getting sick. I see you when life is overwhelming.
Mom life isn’t easy. It isn’t for the faint of heart. Before we go any further I just want to say,
I see you and you are amazing.
You keep putting one foot in front of another, even on the days when it is so hard to do so.
In those moments when life feels hard or overwhelming, sometimes we just need a moment.
A moment to breathe. A moment to pause. To regroup and overcome the overwhelm.
When your body is stressed, your breathing becomes shallow and quick. It doesn’t allow enough oxygen into your brain for you to think clearly. To get yourself back on track, take a few deep breaths. Breathe in your nose and out your mouth and let your stomach expand to allow plenty of oxygen in. This will give your brain a jump start and allow you to focus better on what action you can next take.
You can actually promote a sense of calm in your body just by how you choose to breathe in a given moment.
Taking slow, deep breaths with long exhalations can relieve feelings of stress and anxiety and can promote feelings of calm.
One very simple deep breathing exercise is to inhale for a count of 4 and then exhale for a count of 4. With this exercise, also try breathing with your diaphragm, meaning place your hand on your stomach and slowly stick out your stomach, allowing your hand to rise, as you inhale. Let your stomach relax as you exhale. Try that a couple times now.
The next time you need a moment of calm, place your hand on your stomach as a reminder of this deep breathing exercise and give it a try. Even a minute of deep breathing can have a lasting impact on the state of your body and reduction of stress.
One other variation on this exercise is to put a drop of essential oil on your hands, mixed with a couple drops of a carrier oil, like fractionated (liquid) coconut oil (linked to one I’ve liked). If you want to relax, use lavender essential oil. If you need to perk up, peppermint is a nice choice. Rub your hands together and place them up toward your nose. Then inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 4. Repeat a few times. The essential oil will enhance your feelings of calm or alertness from this exercise, both while reducing levels of stress. Click here for why I like Plant Therapy Essential Oils.
Once you feel more focused, take the next step you need to in your day. Remember, you’ve got this!
Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no cost to you.
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