Sometimes life becomes all-consuming and it can feel like it is flying past at a million miles an hour. If any of the following sound familiar, remember you're not alone. Take time to remind yourself of who you are beyond being a parent.
- You feel like you're in a whirlwind.
- You don’t know how you just arrived in the room you are in.
- You're listening to someone tell you something, but your mind wanders and you hear 50% of the conversation.
- You thought of something really important, but then something happened the next second and it went completely out of your mind.
- You get some things get done, some not – the children are just about sorted, but what about you?
These are all completely normal events that happen to us daily; your brain is leap-frogging from one thought to another and it's hard to focus.
It is hugely important to pay yourself some attention. Stopping from time to time and appreciating the 'now' is thought to be beneficial for health.[1]
Try these few simple tips to bring your attention back to you:
- Make time to remember that you are a person, with goals, ambitions, dreams and hopes.
- Pause for 20 seconds to listen to nature.
- Take off your shoes and feel the ground beneath you.
- Let yourself drift into that daydream you never want to end.
- Walk a different route when you go somewhere frequently – notice something new.
References:
[1] NHS. (2018). Mindfulness. Article written on 20 November 2018, accessed 14 June 2022. Available online at: Mindfulness - NHS (www.nhs.uk)