SCHOOL MORNING...NAILED IT!!!
Today these beautiful little humans were full of love and joy and ready to go and own their day!  Yesterday was a different story though…as were a few days last week.

Prior to today we’d had a run of 💩 school mornings in our house.  This led to some head scratching and frustration by me and probably a whole bunch of confusion for the girls.  Not a great way for any of us to start the day let me tell you!

Yesterday after school drop off I did some serious self-reflection.  'What the heck was going wrong?' our mornings used to be awesome.  We had plenty of time for cuddles, laughs, even playtime outside before we'd head off to school.  But recently something had a gone amiss.

MY INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT CLEARLY THE KIDS WERE BROKEN!!! Something was going on with their behaviour.  They weren’t listening, they were dragging their feet, they were arguing with me and each other and it was affecting my mood and making me a bit crazy.

BUT when I actually took the time to pause, take a breath and look inward I quickly became aware of the issue...they weren't broken at all.  They were and continue to be perfect!  Me on the other hand...not so much.

See, some time back I'd figured out the perfect flow for our mornings.  It was life changing when I realised that I was the one who's energy and intention completely dictated the course and feel of our mornings.  Upon realising that I took massive action.  I started getting up almost 2 hours earlier than I used to, I took time for self care and mind, body, soul alignment and a cuppa in peace before the 'school morning' began.  That way when the kids got up I was overflowing with love and gratitude and ready to pour into them.  I would stick to our morning schedule that both them and I knew worked and we would cruise through our morning with ease, love and joy.  The kids would have time to play at home before we left for school and play again at school before the bell rang.  It was awesome!

And then…I let things slip!  I let TV creep into ‘breakfast time’, I let craft activities start BEFORE they were completely ready for school, I changed the order of a few of my morning tasks and then before I knew it our mornings were chaotic, rushed, shouty and overall…CRAPPY!

So how and why did I it happen?  Well, it wasn’t intentional nor was it sudden.  It was a gradual process of letting little things slide which eventually led to mayhem.  The biggest factor was that I wasn’t being intentional and mindful about our mornings.  I was no longer connecting with the feelings that those beautiful mornings brought to our home.  I wasn’t taking the time to pause, be present and connected.  I was looking outward, I was judging and blaming, and I wasn’t owning my part in the situation.

As soon as I took a moment to pause, look inward, hold myself accountable and own the chaos I had created I was able to turn it around.

AND TURN IT AROUND I DID!!!  This morning was awesome!  We found our flow again, we loved on each other, we played together, we cruised through the morning speaking with love and kindness and life was once again as it should be.

I got to send my precious babes off to school with beautiful smiles on their faces once again.  All because I took the time to look inward rather than outward for the cause of the chaos.

This was another beautiful reminder for me that we all have the power to create chaos or calm.  To live in overwhelm or flow.  It’s as simple as tuning in to what we desire, making a choice to create it and then taking the required action to bring it to fruition!

If your mornings are mayhem and you want some tips on finding flow, then please read on!

1. Get up before the kids!

Now bear with me here.

I know for a lot of you reading this your initial reaction may be something like ‘no way’, ‘I’m not a morning person, ‘I’ve tried it and I just can’t do it’ etc.  I hear you!  I get it…I used to be exactly the same!

I would drag myself out of bed each morning exhausted, stroppy and in desperate need of a coffee before I could even begin to communicate or take the action required to 'get through' the morning mayhem that was about to ensue.  I was chasing the clock from the second my feet hit the floor and was immediately bombarded with the morning demands from my kids.  It kinda sucked!

BUT what if you started your day just 30 minutes earlier with a peaceful cuppa and maybe a good book, or a meditation or some journaling or…whatever YOU desire and decide is the best start to YOUR day?  Imagine the flow on effect that could have on the rest of your family.  When they get up your soul could be full, your mind could be calm, your brain could be ‘switched on’ and ready to own the day ahead.  Surely that’s worth getting up 30 minutes earlier for right?!

Here are my tips to getting started and sticking with it:
~ Go to bed 30 minutes earlier at night (I use an alarm to remind me that I have 15 minutes to finish what I’m doing, pack up and get ready for bed)
~ Set your intention for the morning BEFORE you fall asleep.  While laying in bed remind yourself of WHY you’re getting up early and what it will do for your day and that of your family.
~ Set your morning alarm and then place it somewhere out of reach from your bed.  That way you have to get up to turn it off...no more snooze button.
~ Feel into it.  When you get up and you’re sipping on your hot cuppa or you’re reading, meditating, scrolling on social media (I wouldn’t recommend this but if that’s your thang then go for it), whatever it is that you desire just be present.  Enjoy it.  Savour it.  Acknowledge the fact that it’s YOUR time.  If you can connect with the positive feelings and benefits of your early morning, you’ll be more likely to continue.
~ Push through the hard part.  So, I’m not gonna lie…at the start it can be pretty tough.  For the first couple of days, or even weeks, you might spend your early morning time in a sleepy daze wondering why this seemed like a good idea.  This is normal and not the time to throw in the towel!  Remember why you’re doing it and stay the course…It does get easier I promise.  And once you start seeing the benefits you’ll wish you started years ago!

2. Be prepared!

Like a good scout…be prepared!

There are so many things you can do the night before in order to make your mornings flow (I personally do most things in the morning however, I do get up VERY early cos that’s my jam).  But for those that don’t want to get up at crazy o’clock, getting prepared in the evenings is a great option.

~ Prepare school lunch at the same time you’re preparing the evening meal.  You’re already in that meal prep headspace…and physical space…so why not smash it out at the same time!

~ Lay each child’s school clothes out in the location that they usually get dressed…This includes underwear, socks and shoes.  That way your child can get dressed quickly and independently (assuming they’re old enough to dress independently of course).

~ Pack bags.  Have hats, readers, library books, homework, school notes, news etc in their bags the night before.

3. Set alarms!

I use alarms on my phone ALL THE TIME!

I have an alarm that sounds 15 minutes before we need to be in the car leaving for school.  As soon as it sounds everyone in the house knows it’s time to hustle.  These days we're usually ready before the alarm even sounds but for those slower mornings this works beautifully.

You may even wish to set additional alarms in the morning to keep you in flow when you’re adjusting to your new morning routine.  An alarm for breakfast time, teeth or hair brushing, getting dressed etc.  In my opinion you can never have too many alarms when you’re changing things up.  It truly makes the transition so much easier!​

4. Music!

​We LOVE music in our house!  It’s one of the most powerful ways to raise our energy and flow.

Witnessing how quickly some good tunes can turn things around is pretty incredible so I encourage you to try it out, if you don’t already do it.

I have various playlists that I refer to for different activities throughout my days and one of these playlists is ‘morning motivation’.  It comprises songs that are high energy with uplifting lyrics and are songs that the whole family enjoy.

5. Move closer!

​Don’t get louder…move closer!

When we’re feeling overwhelmed and chasing the clock we often shout demands in the general direction of where we last saw our children.  Of course, they don’t respond so we shout louder.  Then if they still don’t respond we go and find them (with or without stomping and scowling) and then yell at them because we’ve been shouting out for the past five minutes and they haven’t responded.  For them this could be the first time they realise you wanted them to do a particular task and they’re met with mumma losing her mind about it.  It can be pretty confusing for them as you could imagine.

Also worth noting is that you’ve just wasted five minutes shouting at them and getting frustrated only to ‘move closer’ in the end anyway.

So I encourage you to PLEASE try this one out!

As the first step breathe.  Then walk over to your child and ask them, with love, to please do a task (even though they’re required to do the same thing EVERY SINGLE DAY and it’s frustrating that you even have to ask them…I mean, they should just do it right?!  But they often don’t so just accept it and it’ll make you way less crazy).  If after you’ve asked them nicely, they still don’t do it go to them again and remind them, with love, that you’ve asked them to do something and they still haven’t.  Also remind them that you really want to have a beautiful morning with them before they head off for the day, so you don’t want to keep reminding them of the same thing over and over because that will lead to you getting frustrated.  Sounds so simple right?  Perfect!  No excuse not to do it then!

If you stay calm and bring love to your interactions your children are far more likely to do what they’re asked.  Kids, as all humans, have an innate desire for happiness so if you create an environment of flow and love they will thrive!

I'd love to hear from you...

​If your mornings are mayhem then please try these simple steps and let me know how it goes for you!

If you’ve already found your morning flow then please share your tips in the comments.

If the mayhem and overwhelm extends beyond just your mornings then please get in touch to see if I can support you.

In the hustle and bustle of #mumlife we can get so caught up in trying to keep all of those balls in the air that we often forget about ourselves.  Well maybe it’s not that we ‘forget’ as such, but we don’t make ourselves a priority because we’re too busy caring for, and worrying about, everyone else and their needs.  Sound familiar?

BUT HERE'S THE THING...
it is essential that you fill your mind, body and soul with love first and then give from the overflow.  You cannot serve from an empty vessel!!!  I’m sure you’ve heard this expression before, but have you really listened?!  And more importantly, have you taken action?  Consistently?

HERE'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT...
​if you’re giving to everyone else while you’re running on empty then you’re giving from a place of lack.  That’s where frustration and resentment can grow because others drain everything from you.  You have nothing left for yourself.  On the flip side, when you fill your soul first and can give from the overflow, you’re giving from a place of surplus and abundance.  The giving doesn’t deplete you, you want to give!  The difference in energy around these two is significant.  And to be on the receiving end of someone giving from a place of surplus, rather than lack, is a beautiful experience.

The small things count!

Let me point out that self care doesn’t have to mean taking a large amount of time to do something extravagant.  Self care includes the small things that take just a few short minutes.  In fact, consistent small acts of self care will make a huge difference to your overall wellbeing.  It’s also far more sustainable long term.

Small acts of self care can include:
Painting your nails, having a soak in the bath, reading your fave mag, sitting outdoors slowly sipping on a cup of tea, going for a walk in nature, colour in, gaze at the stars or the clouds, dance or sing, go to a movie, catch up on blog posts, attend a yoga class, do your hair...the list goes on.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE INTENTION THAN THE ACT ITSELF...
What you do for self care isn't actually that important.  Your intention and presence during the act of self care is what really matters.  If you've decided to take a moment of self care then I urge you to be intentional about it.  Recognise it for what it is 'self care', 'mindset moment, 'mindset reset' (whatever you're most comfortable with) and really feel into it. Enjoy it. Savour it.  Be present in that moment.  This can change the experience completely and give it so much more power!
​

Now, before you read on...
​I know that for some of your reading this it's going to sound a bit airy fairy and you’ll immediately feel judgement rear its ugly head…I get it!!!  I used to be exactly like that.  I was sick, negative, a victim of my circumstances etc.  I ‘knew’ that this breath work, meditation, self-love crap was not going to magically fix me.  ‘Those people’ had clearly never been through what I was going through, I couldn’t just ‘think’ myself better.  I mean, mindset was NOT going to fix my physical symptoms…they were real, they were disabling, they were NOT in my head!  Blah blah blah, I get it!  I hear you loud and clear!

I am not claiming that doing these things will ‘fix’ your life, your health, your family, your circumstances.  But what they can do is equip you with tools to better cope with the challenges of life, maybe even lessen the impact they have on your daily life.  And who knows, maybe they will help heal your body, mind and/or soul like they did mine.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE RIGHT?!

There often comes a point when you’re so overwhelmed or sick or unhappy or fed up that you decide ‘fine! I’ll try this airy-fairy mindset stuff?  It can’t get much worse’ so you do...and you wish you had have committed to it sooner.  I know that sure was the case for me.

Some of you may not be there yet and that’s totally ok.  But if you do get to a point where things get too hard, too overwhelming, too painful, too much...remember this blog, come back to it, be open and courageous and give these things a try and just see what happens.  It may just change your life!

1. Breathe!  Yep, make time to breathe...properly!

​*WARNING:  If you’re new to breath work please ensure that you’re sitting or laying down before trying this technique as you may become light headed.

By properly I mean mindful, intentional, deep belly breaths.  Sounds easy and kinda insignificant right?

Well I encourage you now to take a deep breath and notice what happens to your body.  Do you suck your belly in?  Do your shoulders rise?  For most people, the answer will be yes.  Well, I'm sorry to tell you this but...that's is not a deep breath, in fact it’s the opposite.

I encourage you now to take another mindful breath, but this time rest your hand on your stomach and focus on breathing right down into your stomach and feeling it expand towards your hand.  Then on the out breath focus on pulling your stomach in and expelling all the air from your lungs before taking your next breath.

This can be really challenging if you’re new to this so if you find it difficult I suggest you try it laying down first.

Once you understand the basic mechanics of a deep belly breath I encourage you to start each day with at least three deep, intentional and mindful belly breaths.  Focus on filling your body with clean, fresh air and expelling all that stagnant air from your lungs.  I also encourage you to do this at any point throughout the day that you’re feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed.

PLEASE DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE BREATH...
The benefits of correct breathing are profound.  The main and most relevant for us Mumma’s out there is that it triggers the relaxation response.  So, it moves us from the stress response, also known as fight or flight response, back into a relaxed state which is essential for our health and wellbeing.  For more information on breathwork and how it can benefit your health and wellbeing please get in touch.

2. Adopt an attitude of gratitude!

Yep I know you’ve probably heard this before, it’s all the rage these days…But there’s a good reason for it!  IT WORKS!

The law of attraction says that what you focus on expands, what you think about you bring about.  So, if you learn to be truly grateful for all that you already have in your life, you will attract even more to be grateful for.  Taking some time to either write or type at least 10 things each day that you’re grateful for gives it even more power and energy.

In addition to attracting more situations or opportunities to be grateful for, the other benefits to a daily gratitude practice include:

• Improving self-esteem and mental health
• Having a positive impact on relationships
• Reducing stress and tension
• Improving quality of sleep
• An overall sense of wellbeing that lasts
• Raising your vibration making you more attractive to other high vibe people
• Shifting your focus to look inward for a sense of satisfaction and joy

YOU CAN DO IT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE SO THERE'S NO EXCUSE!
Personally, I like to do write my gratitude first thing in the morning (reflecting on the previous day) so that my heart and soul are full of love and gratitude to begin each day.  Some people like to do it before they go to sleep so they’re heart and soul is full of love and gratitude before drifting off to sleep.  While others like to do some in the morning and some in the evening.

There’s no ‘best time’ to write your gratitude, the important part is that you do it.  If you can commit to this simple daily practice it will absolutely improve your mindset and the way you view your life.  And who doesn't want that right!

3. Create space for stillness/meditation!

Meditation is incredibly easy to incorporate into your daily life.  In fact, you’re probably doing it without even being aware.

Anytime your mind is completely focused on a task without entertaining any other thoughts, that is meditation (eg washing dishes, brushing teeth, vacuuming, hanging out washing etc).

LET'S CLARIFY A FEW THINGS ABOUT MEDITATION...
Meditation is the antidote for the stress response.

People often say that they’ve tried meditation but it’s just not their thing or they’re no good at it or they’re not into that ‘spiritual, hippy stuff’.  If you’re one of these people, then you’ll probably find that you haven’t tried the right style of meditation for you.

There are many different styles of meditation.  Some are spiritual, some involve chanting and mantras, some involve prayer or visualisation while some simply involve observing your thoughts, being present in the now or concentrating on an object without entertaining any thoughts at all.

The style of meditation that works for you will depend greatly on your learning style.

Once you find the right meditation, it can completely change how you feel about it.

THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION ARE PROFOUND IF PRACTISED REGULARLY...
so I encourage you to please open your mind and just give it a try.  If you need advice or guidance on choosing the right style of meditation for you, then please get in touch.

Spending time in stillness need not be a long, time consuming ‘task’ that adds to your already busy schedule.  Just five minutes immediately upon waking in the morning and/or five minutes before you go to sleep at night will have significant benefits to your overall health and wellbeing.  Most people would spend far more than five minutes each morning and evening checking social media, right?!

4. Get grounded!

Take some time to get connected to mother earth through grounding, also referred to as earthing.  There are so many incredible benefits to grounding.  Some of these include:

• Increasing Energy
• Reducing inflammation
• Improving Sleep
• Reducing chronic pain
• Switching off the stress response and promoting calmness
• Relieving muscle tension and headaches
• Reducing jet lag
• Helping support adrenal health

For a really great video on grounding I recommend you check out ‘The Science of Grounding’ on YouTube.
 
MORE INFO ON GROUNDING...
You are still grounded through clothing and blankets etc. You don't have to have your bare skin directly in contact with the earth.
 
Incorporating some breath work with your grounding can have even greater benefits and leave you feeling amazing afterwards.
 
You can gain the benefits of grounding just by placing your hand on a tree trunk for a minute or so. The tree roots are grounded deep within the earth so by resting your hand on the tree trunk you are grounding 'through' the tree and gaining all the beautiful benefits. This option is perfect for those winter months when you're all rugged up and need to keep your shoes on, or the ground is wet or covered in snow.
 
For those green thumbs out there, gardening is a beautiful way to incorporate regular grounding into your life.
 
You can ground yourself through meditation.  Please contact me if you want more information on grounding through meditation.
 
For those that like the idea of grounding but are not able to do it regularly, there are lots of alternative grounding/earthing options online that you may wish to consider. Some of these include grounding mats, sleep pads, earthing pillow cases, earthing wrist/ankle bands and many other devices to bring grounding indoors. However, the free and natural way of grounding will always be more beneficial in my opinion.

5. Find your people!​

By this I mean, find those people that will lift you up, empower you, want to share their love and light, that are positive and committed to do what it takes to enjoy their lives.

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AROUND...
so have a think about who you are spending your time with?  What are they pouring in to you?  Is it love, positivity and joy or is it negativity, victim-hood, judgement?

This is one of the MOST important factors in self care and self-love.  Pay attention to the energy and words you’re allowing into your life.  If you want to feel love, positivity and joy then you must be vibrating at a high frequency to attract those things into your life.

If you spend time engaging with (either in person, on the phone or online) people that are complaining, negative, victims, judgemental etc this will lower your frequency and you will not be a vibrational match for all of those good feelings and good things that you desire.

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE!  IT'S THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

If you take some time to tune in and raise your frequency, through self care and self love, you will attract more people into your world that are vibrating at that frequency.

And let me tell you, when you connect with other high-vibing, positive, loving, heart and soul centred people something truly incredible happens.  If you have ever attended an event, class or workshop where these high-vibe people come together you will know exactly what I mean.

THE ENERGY AND LOVE IS PALPABLE...
And that feeling can linger within you for days…even weeks.  If you are yet to experience this I urge to try it.  Have a look for events, groups, classes, workshops in your area and then muster up some courage and go for it.  It may just change your life!  Or it may not, but at least you’ll have tried something new.

There are some beautiful groups online, and to find events in your area Facebook can be an excellent resource.  Check out the ‘Events’ section on Facebook and see what’s happening in your local area.

If you’re interested in attending any of my workshops check out my ‘Events’ page on my website.  ‘Overcome Overwhelm ~ Find Flow’ is a beautiful, empowering and informative workshop targeted at all of you Mumma’s out there so I encourage you to check it out.

Need some further guidance or a personal cheerleader?

As a Holistic Health Practitioner I work with clients one on one and in group settings both in person and online.  I'm so grateful that by doing what I love each day I get to create a beautiful ripple effect on this earth.

If you're in need of some extra support then please reach out.  You can drop a comment below, or contact me directly via email, phone, Facebook or Instagram.

I'd love to be your guide and cheerleader on your adventure back to You!