As a mum in lockdown, there are a lot of things to juggle, like work and homeschooling. I’m sure you can agree, occasionally it can get very overwhelming!
Here are 10 things I do that keep me from burning out during lockdown (and I hope they help you, too):
1. Keeping a morning ritual
Every day, I get up 30 minutes early so I can start my day with a morning ritual. My morning ritual helps set me up for the day, and helps me to focus on feeling calm, peaceful, and positive. You can include whatever you want in your morning ritual. For me? It’s:
- Making a hot fresh lemon and ginger tea.
- Turning on my diffuser in my office.
- Saying my prayer to the universe.
- A ten-minute meditation.
- A ten-minute journal exercise.
- Five minutes of looking at my vision board and visualisation my goals.
A morning ritual isn’t for everyone, but for me – it’s worth it. Especially in lockdown life. I get to start my day doing something for myself.
2. Meditation
I already included meditation in my morning ritual, but I like to do it at least once more in the day if I can, if not twice. I swear it keeps me sane and helps me avoid lockdown overwhelm. Plus I make my daughter do my second meditation with me. I have been making her do this with me for years. But, I’ve got to admit, this has not ever been her favourite pastime. However, two weeks ago, a miracle happened…
We had just finished another meditation and I looked over at my daughter who was lying on the floor nearby. She had a big smile on her face, and said “I really enjoyed that meditation mum”. I kid you not! It was a big WTAF moment as I’d been listening to so many years of her complaining. I probably would have fallen to the floor if I had not already been lying on it. Since then, she has been excited when I say it’s meditation time, hasn’t complained once and enjoys it every time! She even set doing daily meditation as one of her goals this week! And achieved it!
3. Reminding myself there are worse things happening
Our NSW premier describes the pandemic as a war. But I imagine living through a real war and being terrified of not knowing when bombs will drop, or if we will be shot, and I am grateful for the choice I have to just stay at home. I am not fearful of my life every minute of the day. We just have to get through the lockdown overwhelm – it could be worse!
4. Focusing on the positive
The way we look at the world matters. We can look at all the things that are going wrong in the world. Or we can look at, and focus on, what’s going right. To avoid lockdown overwhelm, I try to focus on all the good and positive things in my life, and the things that make me happy. And there are MANY!… Hearing my daughter laugh, watching the sunset from my balcony with my partner, fresh flowers, our new puppy and the absolute cuteness OVERLOAD, working on my goals, reading in bed every night, the ritual of making myself a cup of tea, the ability to exercise… the list goes on!
5. Staying Connected
Regular video calls and WhatsApp group chats help me avoid lockdown overwhelm, and keep me sane! I’m also loving the (mostly) weekly online trivia comps we are taking part in. Having something to look forward to, and laughing (or crying) with a friend, are lifesavers!
6. Community and acceptance
I remind myself that we are all this together. People are struggling in many parts of Australia, and all over the world. There is no choice but to wait it out. So how will I choose to experience it? That choice is mine, and the key to that is acceptance.
7. Focusing on what I can control
I focus on what I can control and put a lot of effort into what I can do that makes me feel good – and a big part of that is looking after my physical health – getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, exercising daily, avoiding alcohol, and eating healthy nutritious food. This, in turn, flows onto looking after my mental and emotional health.
8. Taking a lunch break
Squeezing in all the things that I aim to get done each day with work and homeschooling, and working out etc. means I start my day at 5 am. And I usually don’t finish until 6 pm or even 6:30 pm. Depending on the day or week, I’m often back at work after my daughter is in bed for an hour or two getting a couple of extra things done. It’s a LOOOOONG day! So taking a lunch break with my daughter is essential. Stepping away from the desk, and sitting outside in the sun or watching the previous night’s episode of The Block with my daughter breaks up the day!
9. Exercising
Life seems more hectic than ever at the moment, and so for me? Exercise is essential. I do it every day and I LOVE it. I do have to schedule it into my day though to ensure it happens. And that means doing it in the morning. My daughter and/or puppy usually join in too, which makes it lots more fun and full of laughs! And whether it’s a cardio workout, a dance class, a weights session, a yoga class, or a combination of two, once it’s done I feel great! And I can get on with my day.
10. Practising gratitude
I finish my day by practising gratitude. To me, that’s writing down three things that I’m grateful for in my gratitude journal every day. There are always things to be grateful for, no matter how bad the day was. I just have to look. And I always find them! It could be a moment of joy with my partner or daughter, connecting with my Thrive Tribe, chatting with a friend, enjoying a delicious meal, or fresh sheets on my bed… And when I do find them, and I write about them, it makes me feel a bit better.
So there you have it! When it comes to avoiding lockdown overwhelm, I guess what it comes down to, for me, is carving out little pockets of time for myself. Of course, I work, homeschool, and have family time etc., but what keeps me from burning out is the little things I do for myself.
What’s one way you stay positive amidst life’s hustle and bustle? And what do you do day to day that helps you?
P.S DID YOU KNOW?
Thrive Tribe – the global membership experience for single mothers – will be opening again for enrolment soon. Join the waitlist here.
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