Mindfulness For Busy Parents Who Have No Time To Meditate
These four steps for mindfulness will help you manage the stress of parenting
The mindfulness movement has become popular, but how can busy parents apply it to their daily lives? Itâs easy to dismiss the movement as mumbo jumbo. With concepts that urge you to âfocus on the presentâ and âlive in the momentâ, it can certainly seem a little hard to put into practice.
But mindfulness is not some kooky new-age trend, nor has it anything to do with religion. Simply put, itâs about being more conscious of life as it happens, says psychologist Daniel Koh from Insights Mind Centre.
âItâs easy to get caught up in the busyness of life,â says Sydney-based relationship mentor and intuitive coach Cimone-Louise Fung. âBeing mindful gives you a chance to âcheck inâ on yourself and your feelings. Do it often enough and your daily tasks will seem less of a drudgery and a chore. Youâll feel less overwhelmed and less frustrated, and youâll make better decisions.â
Meditation is one way to achieve mindfulness, but whoâs got time to sit still in silence when there are housework and cooking to be done? The following steps will give you the same results and help you manage the stress of parenting.
Youâre often in such a rush to get things done that you act on impulse. Instead, take a few minutes to ponder your next step, says Koh.
Ask yourself why youâve chosen to respond in a certain manner and think about how your decision will affect you. For instance, is it worth getting mad at the driver in the next lane who has cut you off, and then having that one incident ruin the rest of your morning?
Do you really listen to your kids when theyâre talking to you? Put all distractions aside.
âMake it a rule to not take your loved ones for granted by focusing on them completely when youâre with them,â says Fung.
Take pleasure in everything you do, says Koh. Observe whatâs going on around you and try to look for the beauty in your surroundings.
When youâre jogging through the park, for example, donât be in such a rush to complete your workout. Take in the view, breathe in the fresh air, and thank your legs for carrying you with each step.
Every time you find yourself worrying about the future, bring your mind back to the present.
âItâs pointless obsessing and stressing about what will happen tomorrow because you have no control over it. Worse, it takes you away from this moment youâve got now,â says Fung.
This story originally appeared in Young Parents