Finding Headspace with kids at home!

Wow. What an intense week it has been!

We are all busy juggling our balls and spinning our plates like something in a crazy circus! Many of us are trying to manage, work, children (and associated pressure for 'home learning') extra pressures like study, housework, ill relatives etc etc.
The list goes ON. The pressure mounts, our stress levels rise, our capacity to cope shrinks. Our mental health suffers and this means that our physical health will too (as the stress response means that our immune system is weakened). Do you relate to this?
The truth is, we don't know how long this will go on for. The uncertainty makes everything so much worse. Here is one thing that I do know:
If we keep pushing and pushing to get things 'done' with no let up, we will burn-out.
At the moment, most of us don't have a support network. A lot of us adults don't have someone to look out for us and notice the signs. So we need to be aware of this and make time. We need to be more aware of ourselves.
Here are some very basic ways that we can build in moments within the day to support our mental health. Little mini windows of time that we can try and find some headspace:
* Take a shower or bath as a mindful practice, notice your thoughts, let them pass. Try and be aware of the sensations in your body. Try this within the day as a reset. Really enjoy it and savour the moment rather than seeing it as functional.
* Try to take some time off technology- this is especially important as we are all on screens more than usual at the moment. Be intentional about time off the screen!
* Get stuck into a good book, try to fill the time that you would normally mindlessly scroll on social media, with a few pages of your book. For example when the kettle is boiling or while tea is cooking.
* Try to notice your breathing, at regular intervals throughout the day (maybe even set an alarm). If you find your breathing rapid and shallow, see if you can slow it down and bring it deeper into your body (aim for 6 breaths a minute).
* Get out for a walk, even if it is just round the block. Even better if you can do this on your own.
Basically, try to be intentional and check in with yourself, how are you feeling? Do you have the capacity to deal with whatever it is that you are trying to? If not, take 5- 10 mintues to reset yourself.
There are some really useful apps that can help guide you, if you are needing a bit of calm but are not sure what to do. I like Headspace, Calm App and Insight Timer, feel free to add any below that work for you. Even just getting some headphones and listening to music can really help to give you some space.
If you found this helpful, come and join my group , where you can watch the video of me talking this through.

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