Mom's Guide to Meditation: Finding Peace in Daily Life

Meditation has long been hailed as a practice that brings peace, clarity, and relaxation to those who partake in it. For busy moms juggling the demands of daily life, finding moments of tranquility can feel like a luxury. We know we need to do it, but it can often feel like yet another thing to add to your to-do list. However, integrating meditation into your routine can significantly enhance your well-being and overall happiness. So we know it's worth it, now how do we start? First let's dive a little deeper.

Find balance in meditation.

One of the key benefits of meditation is its ability to calm the mind and reduce stress. Taking just a few minutes each day to meditate can help clear the mind, lower stress levels, and improve cognitive function. This, in turn, can lead to better decision-making, increased productivity, and a greater sense of inner peace (aka joy), not to mention renewed energy (like a virtual cup of coffee) and as a result your children will be happier and healthier. They may surprise you with their positive behavioral changes. Kids have "energy antennae" like you wouldn't believe, especially if you have a highly sensitive child (I've got one of those, he's my mini-me), and man do they know the exact wrong time to push your buttons. It's like they have a highly tuned thermometer and can detect the slightest change in your mood. Or maybe you are like me and are the sensitive one, or "empath" as they call it these days. If that is the case, meditation will make all the difference in the world. Maybe you grew up in a household where you felt you had to walk on egg-shells, and you learned how to take the temperature of every room you walk into and adjust yourself accordingly. This is something that meditation has helped me with.

In addition to its mental health benefits, meditation can also have a profound impact on physical well-being. Studies have shown that regular meditation can lower blood pressure, boost immune function, and reduce inflammation in the body. For moms constantly on the go, these physical health benefits can be a valuable asset in maintaining a strong and resilient body to tackle everyday challenges. Finding the time to meditate as a mom can seem like a daunting task, but with a few simple strategies, it can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. Whether it's waking up 10 minutes earlier in the morning (or earlier and BONUS you get to have a cup of coffee in peace), finding a quiet moment during naptime, unwinding with a meditation session before bed, there are many opportunities throughout the day to prioritize self-care and mindfulness. Before you scream "I don't have time for that!," think about all that time spent doom-scrolling on social media. Is that really worth your time? Or can you spare ten minutes for something that will actually improve your life? If you're new to meditation, starting with guided meditations or visualization techniques can be helpful in establishing a practice. Luckily there is a wealth of resources out there on Youtube for anyone looking to incorporate meditation into their lives.

I recommend starting with ten minutes of a guided meditation and going from there. Your practice can evolve over time, but for now set the bar low. This is not the place for perfectionism. Putting pressure on yourself to have a life altering experience the first time you attempt this will backfire. You will feel frustrated that nothing is "happening," and you will want to give up before you even really start. Take it from me, I've been there. I have found that it is best to just tell yourself all you are trying to do is set aside quiet time for ten minutes. If that is all you did, that was great! It was ten minutes not on your phone, laptop, TV or tablet. It was enough. You are learning a new skill, so be kind to yourself. If you've watched your child(ren) learn to crawl or walk, you didn't expect them to be perfect right away, and they didn't either! You are used to using your monkey brain for most of life, letting it run wild. It will take some practice to quiet it down.

So go out there and find a meditation that resonates with you. Play around with it, have fun!