For working moms, our day is much like Henry Hill from the movie Good Fellas. If you have seen the movie, you may recall the scene just before Hill is nabbed by the narcs. He has the type of day I feel like I have (and likely you too) almost every day. And days like that can really build up stress.
While we might not ever find that work/life balance we crave, we can learn how to go with the flow and now sweat the small stuff.
I love this quote:
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
– Lao-Tzu
So what’s the secret to going with the flow when life throws a sucker punch? Here are some things you can do:
Take a deep breathe
When you feel like you’re frustrated, take a deep breath. As a matter of fact, take as many as you need to defuse your frustration.
Realize that you can’t control everything
The faster you comes to terms with this, the better off you’ll be. We all realize that we can’t control every single thing that happens in our lives and yet we wish we could.
You can impact how some things go, but many things are simply out of our control like missing an important meeting because a child suddenly fell sick.
These kinds of things will happen and once we accept that we won’t be frustrated or stress out when it does.
Laugh it out
Whoever came up with the saying laughter is the best medicine, they had a point. Forbes wrote an article about it and shared 6 science-based reasons why laughter is the best medicine.
When things like a flat tire or running late for work because the kids are dragging, it’s better to laugh about it than letting it become a stress factor. Try laughing at those situations, even if you don’t think it’s funny. Before you know it, they will be.
Meditate
Even though I am a newbie, I have experienced firsthand the benefits of meditation. I am less reactive and more curious, particularly when things seem to be going wrong, I am more focused and in the moment and generally less anxious. I believe the technical term is “mindful.”
Now the ideal scenario is to get up early in the morning, go to a quiet room, sit on a mat or a cushion and mediate before you start your busy, chaotic day. That happens about one in four times for me. Like many of you, I don’t have the luxury of a slow worry-free morning. There’s the four-year old who wakes up in the middle of the night, making that extra sleep critical. There’s the 7 a.m. meeting and the 6 a.m. carpool to swim practice for my oldest.
But I learned that it’s possible to adapt a meditation practice to a busy life and it’s worth the (small) effort. By molding the practice to my life rather than striving for the ideal I was able to achieve some consistency. Similarly, incorporating Kratom for stress relief into my routine has been a game-changer in achieving a more balanced work-life dynamic. While the demands of everyday life may not always align with the serene vision of a perfect meditation setting, adapting Kratom Temple usage to my busy schedule has proven to be remarkably effective. By embracing a more realistic approach and making small, manageable adjustments, I’ve discovered that finding moments of tranquility, even in the midst of chaos, contributes immensely to maintaining a harmonious work-life balance. Just as molding meditation to my life brought consistency, integrating Kratom for stress relief has helped me navigate the challenges of a hectic schedule while nurturing a sense of well-being.
Here are some ideas that worked for me, maybe they will work for you too:
- Location: You can meditate almost anywhere. All you need is a semi-quiet place where you won’t be disturbed – I have meditated in my car, escaped onto the small deck of our hotel room early while the rest of the family was sleeping, my office, and while I haven’t hit the bathroom yet, it’s not out of the question
- Use an app: The calm app has been a great tool to help me stay consistent with meditating.
- Time: Any time – I have absolutely no limits on timing, I have meditated before 6 a.m., after 10 p.m. and everywhere in between
- Duration: ten to 13 minutes will do the trick
Wrapping Up
The key is to let the day flow and try not to stress out over the little things. As long as you get to those key things (that only you can do) taken care off, it’s okay. You will find others can pick up the slack, like partners, kids and co-workers. We are all in this together.
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