Just keep swimming

When the anxiety creeps in

Some days are tough right?

The endless stream of tasks, making sure everyone is fed and clothed. Trying to juggle a screaming baby and a moody pre-teen all while trying to cook dinner and do the washing and reply to emails and answer your 28 unread WhatsApp messages.

You’re literally drowning.

The anxiety is creeping in and you don’t even realise it until you’re standing breathless in the kitchen, frozen to the spot, overwhelmed and not knowing what to even do next.

You don’t even have time to use those healthy coping mechanisms which usually help to ground you and keep you sane.

A walk in nature – but it’s pissing it down and you only have 30 mins to get dinner, bath and bed wrapped up.

A gym session followed by a sauna – but you have nobody to watch the kids and even if you did you have parents evening soon and need to get ready.

A spa day with your friends – but you have to pay for a 300 odd pound school trip that has to come first.

Alone time with your partner – but the kids want to be involved so you have to skip the adult activities and humour them instead.

The list goes on. It’s not always easy to take the time to reset. You just have to take the anxiety for what it is and keep on swimming. It’s there, it’s loud and it’s fucking annoying.

But what if there was a way to keep it at bay?

Maybe do less of something to make space for yourself.

Less cleaning?

Less washing?

Less planning?

Less running around?

Is it actually possible to reduce the load of a busy mum or parent?

The only way to get through it sometimes is to stop and BREATHE.

Take a hot shower – when the kids are asleep

Sip your coffee slowly and enjoy it before it gets cold – throw some food at the kids and just take a minute

When the overwhelm hits and you can’t go for a walk, stand outside your front door and taking a minute in the fresh air – the kids are safe inside

Just find pockets of time to reconnect with yourself before you get lost.

I have been struggling lately and without the micro moments of self centering, I have frozen, unable to do ANYTHING. But taking control enables you to keep your head above water. Voicing it to the people around you, recognising it and moving through it certainly helps and telling yourself it’s normal to feel that way. Is the kindest thing you can do for yourself.

Just keep swimming. 🙏