Becoming a mom puts you under a lot of pressure and stress. Just because you love being a mom doesn’t mean that it is going to be a walk in the park. There are going to be bad days, good days, and all sorts of different colors in between. There are going to be times when you think you may never catch your breath, and there are going to be days that seem like nothing is going on at all. Because there are so many ups and downs to parenting, it helps to constantly place yourself in the center of the wheel. That’s the best way to put it. Imagine life is a wheel. No matter how many bumps the wheel hits in the road, if you are in the center you will remain unaffected. Although it’s not going to be easy, here are some ways you can remain centered and consistently bring your best self to your child everyday.
Morning Time
It’s important to center yourself and ground yourself before you start each day. The best way to do this is to get up a bit earlier in the morning and have some alone time for yourself. All you will need is an extra hour or 45 minutes to yourself to bring yourself to the day with a clear and organized mind. This will allow you to gather up some energy, wake up, and be able to deal with your morning routine without being clouded or tired. If you can manage to do this everyday or at least for more than half the week, you will start to see a major difference in how your days begin.
Make Lists
An amazing way to stay grounded is to make a list. Your list should be organized with the most important to-do items on the top. These are the things in your day that you must get done. After that, place a secondary list of things that could get done today, but aren’t necessary. If you can find the time to get one or two of these things done then your following days will have shorter and shorter lists. It’s a great way to gauge your week and see if you are behind or ahead. Having that knowledge will enable you to have full grasp and control over things, which helps you stay centered.
Step Into Your Power
Whenever you are feeling lost or if you feel that everything is coming undone, and those days will happen, step into your everyday power. What this means is that you have resources on hand that you can tap into that will give you the boost you need to get through the day. These tools are mantras, meditations, practices, habits, or ideas that you can bring into your consciousness that are going to change the way you feel and help you get back to the center. Reminding yourself that you are just human and that we all have these days is a great way to come out from underneath the pressure of it all and will help you regain your footing to make it through another moment.
Your Kids Are People Too
Sure, they are shorter and need you to do everything for them, but your children are people too. It is great to remind yourself that you birthed a human and they have their own personality, idiosyncrasies, habits, and ideas. If they are throwing a tantrum, maybe something is truly upsetting them. If they are being uncooperative, perhaps it’s just a personality trait that needs some fine tuning. When you start seeing them for who they are instead of who you need them to be, you will come to want to understand them, communicate with them, and help them to become their best selves. This can only happen if you are coming to them as your best self, which is a journey you will be on every day.
Good Nutrition
You are already feeding your child the best food you can get your hands on because it is to their benefit. You need to do the same for yourself. Good nutrition is more than just keeping you healthy, good nutrition keeps you clear and grounded. Nothing makes it harder to concentrate and keep moving through your day than a leaky stomach or bloated gut. Eating the wrong foods can really make you feel sluggish and have a direct effect on your emotions. Eat good foods that are going to make you feel energized and alive. When you don’t have to worry about your health and its effects on your mood, you can keep focused on being the best parent you can be and the best person you can be.
Get Some Sleep
Some of us fight with our child to get to bed on time because the more solid and regulated your sleep, the happier you will be. Like nutrition, the same goes for you. Getting a good night’s rest is not always possible with so much that is swimming around in your head, but if you can manage it take advantage of it. Try a night time meditation before you go to sleep that will calm your mind so that you can fall off into slumber. You must remember, losing sleep is not going to solve anyone’s problems. Nothing can be solved by staying awake and staring at the ceiling. Go to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, the problem will still be there, but now you can face it well rested with a sharp mind, and perhaps in this state, you can come up with the solution you need. Rest well, my friend, you are going to need your rest if you are going to present your best self every day.
You Are Whole
I don’t know if you need to hear this or not, but you are whole. You are a whole being that is simply doing the best they can, and you are doing great. In order to be there for others, i.e. your child, you need to be complete in yourself. Some of us have not achieved that yet, and that’s okay. As long as you are on the journey, everyday you are coming closer and closer. Others of us are complete beings that are simply doing the best they can. At the end of the day, even though you may want to do some work on yourself, you are still a complete being, and if you step into each day knowing that and believing that, you will begin to see major changes in how you approach life and the beautiful people who are a part of that life.
Find Your Spiritual Center
Not everyone believes in a higher power, but science tells us that there is definitely an energy in the world. You can call in whatever you’d like, but what you put out into the world is what you get back from the world. It may help you to come to your center if you tap into some of the world’s energy. If you are religious, then focus on your religion. If you are spiritual, continue with your spiritual practices to help you feel closer to this source of energy. It sometimes helps when you feel there is higher power in your corner helping you through life. It is something worth exploring and something worth experiencing.
Invest In Yourself
The greatest investment you can make is in yourself. Everyday if you make choices that are going to make you a better version of yourself, then you will start to become that best self. Taking care of your health, taking care of your look, being the best at your job, and living the life you want to live is all self-investment. There are many times when we put ourselves second, especially when you’re a parent. It’s good to remind yourself daily that you have to put your own oxygen mask on first before you can help others. So, don’t feel guilty or feel you are not worth the time you need to take to invest in yourself. In those moments, tell yourself that you need to do this in order to put others first. You need to do this in order to give your child their best life. You are worth your own time. You are worth the best and you deserve the best.
It’s Okay to Know Nothing
There. It’s been said. You have no idea what you’re doing. That’s amazing! Guess what? No one knows what they are doing. We are all just hanging on the best we can. You are in good company. Being a parent is always going to be a work in progress. Even when they are adults. Planning their lives will do nothing for you because they are little individuals that make their own choices. All you can do is let them unfold. You’ve got this. Just stay centered. Stay present. Stay happy, and be your best self.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Thank you for focusing on how important it is to devote time to yourself. Only by being mentally and physically healthy, a woman will be able to take good care of her child.