Mindfulness for Mothers

Are you trying to find a way to slow down the rushing and pulling of your mothering days? As a busy mother, you rarely have time for quiet time. However, practicing mindfulness for mothers is a simple way to reduce the daily rush and busyness.

As mothers, we are prone to multitasking to keep the household going. We keep track of all the happenings in our busy homes. Our minds run as fast as 100 miles per hour and don’t even include the subconscious list that goes on. We may even ignore our needs for clarity and space as long as everyone’s alright.

We face several demands of motherhood every single day. True, we don’t back down – we keep pushing forward.

I experienced these days in my life and didn’t think mindfulness could be vital in helping me. But, as I delved into mindfulness as part of my self-care practice, I’ve learned much more and what it has brought into my life.

I am more open to just being – facing each moment and choosing what I’m taking in. Letting go of any worries and realizing all I needed was to be still and mindful. As a result, I have released the things that clog my mind.

Mindfulness is an effective way for mothers to deal with the challenges of motherhood. It can help you focus on the present moment and stay calm in difficult situations.

When you need to collect yourself, mindfulness comes in. In addition, mindfulness can provide that when you seek silence and mental clarity.

Why is mindfulness beneficial for mothers?

There are many benefits to mindfulness that can be helpful for mothers.

Mindfulness lets you focus on the present moment instead of letting your thoughts wander. It doesn’t place judgment on what you are experiencing or feeling. As a result, mothers can better handle whatever challenges come their way.

Mindfulness can also help to improve communication with your children. You are more responsive and feel connected with them. Also, mindfulness can help you be more present with your children and give you better insight. You are more attuned to the home environment where your children thrive.

You’ll notice more details in your everyday life as you go about your day. You might even find time to enjoy what you see. But unfortunately, our lives had become a scramble as we all went through the Covid-19 Pandemic.

And now, we can begin to reset. As we adjusted to the things we took for granted, we became more aware of everything.

In addition, mindfulness has been studied to regulate your body and mind. Both are linked, so when one is out of balance, the other will likely be. Mindfulness can help calm an overactive mind and body, helping you feel more centered.

These benefits show that mindfulness can be your great ally as a mother.

More on mindfulness at work for moms

Here are some other advantages of mindfulness practice which you can appreciate.

• improved mental clarity

• strengthened attention span

• reduced stress levels and anxiety

• increased patience and compassion

• better sleep quality

• boosts your mood

• decreased pain

• increased productivity

How can one start with mindfulness?

1. You can practice mindfulness in many ways, and finding a form that works for you is essential. You can try out different mindfulness methods.

Popular methods for mindfulness:

• Breath awareness is focusing on your breath. Canceling distractions around you and hone in on how you breathe in and out. You can also practice deep breathing techniques such as the box method (4 seconds on each side) or the 4-7-8 breathing method. You can try several breathing techniques and select one that fits your preference.

• Body Scan is centering your attention on each part of your body as you go through them with focused breathing. Here’s a beginner’s guide to body scan meditation to help you get started.

• A mantra is a repetitive statement you can recite to yourself. Chant the words and let them sink in. Your mantra is personal to you. Choosing words comes with how you feel now and want to feel in the future. So let it cater to you.

2. When practicing mindfulness, it is essential to be patient with yourself. It is a process that takes time to learn and cultivate. As a result, there will be days when you need help concentrating or getting going in your chosen space.

3. There are many ways to do things regarding mindfulness. However, be patient and consistent in your practice; you will see the benefits in your daily life.

4. Set aside time during the day to get yourself centered and begin your mindfulness practice.

5. Take your time with your mindfulness sessions. Giving yourself enough time to focus and be in the moment is helpful. Start slowly to get familiar with how each exercise affects you.

6. If you prefer quiet practice, create space if you are easily distracted from your surroundings. For example, it may be simply closing the door of a room or stepping out for a moment.

7. Ask yourself — what you currently need at this moment. Clarity? Release? Silence? Focus on moving forward with your need.

8. Check in with yourself: What is happening right now? What is happening around me? What is happening inside my body? Why this feeling?

9. Slow down. Mindfulness moments can be simple. However, it is challenging to do that when children are involved. Take every opportunity.

• While folding laundry, note the fabrics’ textures or listen to how you breathe and tune in.
• As you walk down the grocery aisle, look at all the colors and imagine how they make you feel.
• Driving around the school route, take note of the trees and surroundings.
• Prepping for dinner, feeling the texture of the ingredients and the smell of cooking aroma.

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Specific Mindfulness Exercises you can try:

• Mindful breathing. Check out the links above about this particular exercise. Truly centering your breathing as you pay attention to each rise and fall of your chest. Pay close attention to the sounds of the air escaping your mouth as you breathe out.
• Mindful observation. This exercise focuses on stopping and observing those around you. Like in nature, what catches your senses and connects to what you’re observing?
• Mindful awareness. This practice hones in on creating space for the things you may do daily in a rush and pausing to be fully aware, looking into its purpose and what it is bringing you.
• Mindful listening.
• Mindful appreciation.

What do studies say about mindfulness?

You can read more on mindfulness in more in-depth. However, the benefits mindfulness has brought to the table weigh significantly regarding your overall health. 

1. Mind Wandering, Mindful Awareness, and State of Tranquility
2. Sleep and Mindfulness
3. Treatment for Mental Health
4. Parental Burnout and Mindfulness

How has mindfulness helped me?

I have been reluctant to do mindfulness at first. I never even thought that this method could work on my mental health. However, it was worth stepping into, and I am grateful I gave it a chance. Yes, I acknowledge everyone is different, but who knows if you give it a try.

Now, I’m more on practicing mindfulness with meditation to clear my thoughts during bedtime and to help me sleep. It takes repetitiveness to see results. It takes commitment from myself and being consistent about it. Check out Great Meditation from youtube is a good one to start with.

The daily grind of motherhood is hard, and mindfulness has helped counter any challenges I face. 

Wrapping up Mindfulness For Mothers

So, what’s a busy mom to do? Thankfully, we have plenty of mindfulness methods to choose from. However, it is crucial to find one that works for you and stick with it. 

We’ve explored the basics of mindfulness for mothers and how it can profoundly enhance your life as a busy parent. It’s not always easy, but with focus and practice, you can make it a daily activity that will give you a greater sense of balance, clarity, productivity, and more. 

In addition, regular mindfulness practice brings greater peace, which helps to provide joy and nourishment to those around you too. 

So if you’re feeling the call to pursue mindfulness as a mom—to honor yourself by making time for this small practice — trust that it is worth every second of your effort! 

If you’re looking for help starting or feeling stuck in the process, consider tapping into helpful resources like meditation classes held at local studios, mom networks built around calming moments together, or personal coaches who specialize in mindful living. 

Taking control of our reality as moms begins within us—consistency is key! You’ve got this—so take a step towards success and growth through mindful living for moms!

In time, mindfulness will become second nature; you can use it as a self-care practice even when life gets hectic. So, what method of mindfulness do you plan on trying first? Has practicing mindfulness improved your busy mom life? Please share in the comments.