Time Boundaries and Mindfulness to Feel More Grounded
This past week I have been reflecting A LOT on what I need to show up as the mom, wife, entrepreneur and just plain-ole human being that I want to be - not what I NEED TO DO but HOW I NEED to feel. Through the process of writing and reflecting, I am learning that my soul is really craving some rest, slowness, presence and peace. When I am grounded there, I operate from a place of authenticity and alignment in my intentions and values. THAT'S HOW I WANT TO BE! If you can relate, you probably also know that this is easier said than done- especially with children & a never-ending to do list. And like many things, we often need to look at the roots to figure out what the current barriers are to the life we intend to live. As I have shared, I am used to being busy, feeling anxious and getting ish done- but this is not sustainable & does not help me feel grounded. For that reason, I know I need to try something new. Not just “know in my brain” kind of knowledge, but the "know in my body" kind of experience. Though I don't have it all figured out, I did want to share two practices that I have decided to start daily TODAY to help me FEEL this sense of groundedness & I hope they help you too:
1. Practice Time Boundaries: Limits to how we spend our time and what takes up our schedule. This ensures that we are protecting time for the things that matter most to us AND that we place limits (with ourselves & others) on the tasks that may distracts us from the moment we are in. This may start by becoming aware of what tends to take up more time than you anticipated or takes you away from feeling grounded. For me, I found this was my email- whenever an email came in, I felt a sense to reply asap. Before I knew it, I was catching up on all things admin, when my intention with that time was to play with my daughter. One boundary I am setting is only checking email 2x a day- once in the AM and once in the PM- I DO NOT have to respond to anyone immediately and that expectation will burn me out AND take me away from moments with my family or for myself. Along with this practice, I am turning off email notifications on my phone- these tend to increase my feelings of urgency, anxiety & hurry- none of which help me feel present, grounded and rested. I can STILL be professional when I respond to emails within 24 hours, and I will never regret the time I intentionally spend with my daughter, family or myself. Give yourself that grace & reminder too! (other examples in this category may including setting realistic time frames for tasks, scheduling in down/free/hobby/friend/meal-time, setting recurring admin tasks in your schedules, adding movement breaks, and more).
2. Mindfulness: The practice of being aware of and paying attention to the present moment, without judgment. This may be an obvious one, but it is HARDER SAID THAN DONE for me too! The practice of slowing down is not one that I am well-versed with so I know I need to intentionally work out this muscle! I have a mindfulness deck card and have started a daily practice today! It takes practice to live from a place of awareness and presence- and I know that mindfulness has been proven to help with stress, anxiety and more. But like I mentioned before, just because I “KNOW” this stuff, doesn't mean I always take time to practice it myself - sound familiar? If yes, that's okay & welcome to the club! A new muscle can form with short consistent workouts and I see this with mindfulness too so join me on Instagram! (& stay posted for future mindfulness content)
As you reflect on your what your soul needs, just remember that this may look differently for you! Maybe you need more connection with adults. A date night. Time to be creative. Me-time. Etc… Take some time to do some journaling and exploring on what you are needing for your wellness. You may be surprised by what you find! Ultimately, I hope that you take a baby step toward whatever that looks like for you. You deserve to be well and remember that when you show up for you, your whole family benefits <3
ps During my momma group's I go over a mindfulness skill every week- you can still sign up for the group if you'd like to engage in this conversation in a group or you join the community space to access additional resources. Email me if you have any questions (hello@connectwithjlee.com)
-J.Lee “MillennialTheraMom” <3
