Before you skip over this blog post because you don’t think mindfulness is your cup of tea, let me stop you.

This isn’t a post about meditation. Or yoga. Or spirituality. It’s a post about mindset and how living in the present moment can help with your journey through motherhood.

So, what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness, by definition, is “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”

Awareness.

And not just being aware of something, but the quality of that awareness.

(I hope I haven’t lost you. Stick with me, mama).

How can I be mindful?

You can bring mindfulness into almost any scenario as a mom, and it doesn’t take any extra time (because who has extra time as a new mom). You simply bring your awareness to what is happening in that current moment. Think about what you are doing and all of the components that make up that action.

One way I like to do this is to bring my 5 senses into the mix. Can I feel something with my fingers? Can I smell something that I’m cooking? Can I listen to the my baby breathing? Can I taste the delicious food that I’m eating?

Also, making some reminders for yourself to be mindful can help. Write yourself a note and stick it on your bathroom mirror to “mindfully” brush your teeth. Put a reminder on your phone to “mindfully” drink a cup of water. Carry chapstick in your pocket and take a moment to feel and taste it as you apply it to your lips.

Even connecting with yourself regarding your emotions and your feelings can be a mindful practice. When you feel yourself getting angry, check in. How is your body responding? Are you getting hot? Is your heart rate increasing? Stop and take a moment to notice these feelings and remind yourself that you will return to calm soon.

It’s all about slowing down and being in the present moment.

Mindful, not Mind Full.

It’s easy to be “mind full”. I think, as moms, we are given so many responsibilities and duties that having a full mind just seems like what we are supposed to be doing. Household chores, paying bills, buying groceries, feeding the baby…the list goes on and on. And multitasking often helps us get things done, right?

But taking these mindful moments to let your mind NOT be “full” and to focus on one thing at a time can be a relief for your mind. Instead of feeling like we are constantly checking off items on the to-do list, let’s take a step back and stop trying to multi-task every moment of the day.

Take one thing at a time. Mindfully.

Mindfulness itself isn’t a hard thing to do, it’s remembering to be mindful that takes practice. Start small – building this mindfulness into your life will get easier with more practice.

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