They're a bit burned, Mummy.
Yes, sorry, I was busy doing something else...
You're always doing something else, Mummy.
Ouch.
It's funny how in times of stress or "busyness," old habits can resurface and I find myself on autopilot again. I forget that I can't get away with it. Doing more than one thing at a time, that is.
The truth is multi-tasking is one of the least mindful habits I have developed in my life and one of the hardest for me to shift. I'm not alone, with most people being distracted over 47 percent of the time. I have come a long way, but my children notice what's happening right now, not what I did well a few weeks ago. And this is what they can see:
A bit of a negative spiral, really. But I can do something to put the brakes on and reverse the direction, because once I set the wheels in motion, a positive spiral is almost as easy to generate as a negative one. I say almost because the brain has a negativity bias and a little more effort is required to kickstart the positive spiral. But not much.
My Top 6 Multi-Tasking Stress Busters:
1: The first thing I remember is to pause. Simply pause. Disengage. Disrupt the habitual behavior.
2: And breathe. Deep, slow, diaphragmatic breathing, twice as slow on the way out. For just one minute.
3: Then I send myself compassion. With my hand on my heart, I say: This is stress. Other people feel this too. May I be kind to myself.
4: If that isn't working, although it usually does, I change the channel and just do something completely different. Play tickle-tag with the children, have a big stretch, look at the horizon, do a completely different task.
5: I smile. Even laugh. Either one lifts my mood.
6: Lastly, it helps me to remember to have gratitude for www: what went well today.
Once I have regained my equilibrium and my calm mode is back online, I check if I am 100 percent present in this moment and ask myself: what do I most need to do now? Then I choose one priority.
These are all things I have learned from the expert mindfulness teachers I have been fortunate enough to work with.
What works for you?
I would love to know what you do to reset your "busyness" autopilot and regain mindful presence, re-connecting to who you are with and what is important. Please list your ideas in the comment section below and have a happy holiday.
from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kellie-edwards/children-warn-christmas-m_b_4470586.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living
via IFTTT
Yes, sorry, I was busy doing something else...
You're always doing something else, Mummy.
Ouch.
It's funny how in times of stress or "busyness," old habits can resurface and I find myself on autopilot again. I forget that I can't get away with it. Doing more than one thing at a time, that is.
The truth is multi-tasking is one of the least mindful habits I have developed in my life and one of the hardest for me to shift. I'm not alone, with most people being distracted over 47 percent of the time. I have come a long way, but my children notice what's happening right now, not what I did well a few weeks ago. And this is what they can see:
- A distracted mother
- A wound up mother
- A grumpy mother
- A mother who is not really listening
- A mother who burns their gingerbread
A bit of a negative spiral, really. But I can do something to put the brakes on and reverse the direction, because once I set the wheels in motion, a positive spiral is almost as easy to generate as a negative one. I say almost because the brain has a negativity bias and a little more effort is required to kickstart the positive spiral. But not much.
My Top 6 Multi-Tasking Stress Busters:
1: The first thing I remember is to pause. Simply pause. Disengage. Disrupt the habitual behavior.
2: And breathe. Deep, slow, diaphragmatic breathing, twice as slow on the way out. For just one minute.
3: Then I send myself compassion. With my hand on my heart, I say: This is stress. Other people feel this too. May I be kind to myself.
4: If that isn't working, although it usually does, I change the channel and just do something completely different. Play tickle-tag with the children, have a big stretch, look at the horizon, do a completely different task.
5: I smile. Even laugh. Either one lifts my mood.
6: Lastly, it helps me to remember to have gratitude for www: what went well today.
Once I have regained my equilibrium and my calm mode is back online, I check if I am 100 percent present in this moment and ask myself: what do I most need to do now? Then I choose one priority.
These are all things I have learned from the expert mindfulness teachers I have been fortunate enough to work with.
What works for you?
I would love to know what you do to reset your "busyness" autopilot and regain mindful presence, re-connecting to who you are with and what is important. Please list your ideas in the comment section below and have a happy holiday.
from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kellie-edwards/children-warn-christmas-m_b_4470586.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living
via IFTTT
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