Our minds progress swiftly from topic to topic, racing through our day’s agenda. Our hands carry out each bullet point we add to our list. The longer our list, the more our minds replay each item — like a long list of movie credits we just keep hitting rewind to run through. The more items we add, the more our hands cease to stop. We have work to do, a baby to feed, a house to clean, a husband to love. Our mind swirls in and out, and never seem to sit still, even when we are.
It can be difficult to still, to settle a mama’s running mind, but it’s so important to find little breaks throughout the day to breathe in calm and be still for a moment. Here are a few places where you can fit in some time to still your anxious mind. Let them be ideas that guide you to finding your own quiet time:
- When Feeding Baby — whether you bottle feed or nurse, instead of using this time to think about all you should be doing or need to do after your baby is done feeding, allow yourself to use this time to stop—just stop. Breathe deep and think of something that you can repeat to yourself while you’re feeding. If you pray or read scripture, use this time to say a prayer or repeat a verse that’s relevant for your week. Speak something positive to yourself, because we are so quick to speak negativity about our performance. Look at your baby or your child and say these words, “I am a mama who provides nutrition and love to her baby.” Repeat those words a few times and when you find yourself starting to drift off and think of to-do items, make a conscious effort to turn your mind back.
- When Picking Items Up Off Of the Floor — use the items on the floor as a cue. Each time you bend down to pick something up, take a deep breathe. Be intentional about stilling your mind. Instead of getting frustrated at the mess, view it as your debriefing time. Say to yourself, “I am flexible, I am patient, and my body is strong.” With all that bending down, you are undoubtedly flexible, patient, and strong physically, but view yourself as that emotionally as well.
- At Bedtime — when you lay your head down at night, don’t go through tomorrow’s tasks. Be intentional about quieting your mind. Tell yourself you are calm, peaceful, and resting. If you aren’t or feel like you haven’t operated very calmly lately, use this time to speak these qualities over yourself. As the nights go by, be amazed at how much more you take on these characteristics.
These are just a few ideas to help guide you in your journey to stilling your racing mama mind. I personally use the time I’m feeding my little one to quiet myself. Some days I’m tempted to use it to build my mental to-do list, but on the days I use it to be still, I find myself in a much better place physically, mentally, and emotionally.
By Holly M.
BabyChatter Contributor
