Times like this, this post written last year, are repeated.
Why?
It’s on our “About Us” page, in the what we KNOW section
- motherhood can be the hardest job in the world
- motherhood is truly the best job in the world
But.
The past few months have been difficult. For everyone.
This means that literally everyone you come in contact with, from your family members to the person walking down the street is struggling.
all.
Finding moments of peace, moments to build new neuro-pathways is more important than ever. Finding the time, energy and passion to do this is harder than ever. Raise your hand if you are tired. Yes. that’s it. You’ve got it.
One Minute Meditation
My UCSF neurologist told me (if you don’t have something to call your own, you don’t know what you’re missing?) even just a minute of meditation makes a difference. Dr Fine (Yep, that’s his name, I don’t lie.😊) also told me. the exhale should be longer than the inhale. My interpretation of that? Nevermind!
My “earthy crunchy” sister-in-law (whom I adore) suggests a 7 minute meditation, it’s a chakra thing. I use it for MS fatigue and while my old cynical self isn’t so sure, it really does work perfectly.
Have a baby? Have a toddler? Have a child? Had a preteen? You have a busy life. Then throw a pandemic. Time is a thing.
Want to work on the 7 chakra thing but feel like you can’t find the 7 minutes? Try this: 7 seconds in, 14 out.
Welcome to your chance to learn to take care of you. The above is all you need. You want more? Read more. But, no time? Breathe, oh what the hell, breathe some more. You can even get up to a minute in the end.
Stop by the store if you want more instruction, we’ll give it to you for free. We got you mom, beyond the crash.
Other ways to meditate.
- Take a breath. Take a breath. But, you know that.
Sound or no sound? Neither right nor wrong.
- Meditation can be easier by sound- if just looking at your phone takes you down a rabbit hole and poof! your minute is gone like a magician’s rabbit- then skip the sound.
- How to meditate without your phone? Close your eyes and listen. Focus on any sound you hear and keep listening. If nothing else, you may hear your own breathing or heartbeat. Appreciate that.
- Want a sound? Your phone no doubt has a white noise app, try that. Find a soothing tune you like-Tibetan Bowls, Rain, whatever you want to hear and set it for 1 minute or so.
- There are also a million apps for meditation, and, surprise, you’re not the only one with just a minute!
You won’t do it perfectly.
- Your mind might wander, that’s okay, just focus on what you’re listening to. You can also do some creative visualization here—just think of getting that thought out of your mind with a tennis racket or releasing it like a balloon—or whatever woo woo works for you. Whatever works works. This is You Time.
One Minute Dance Party
Can’t you meditate and feel bad about it? Stop that! What is your favorite dance song? CRANK IT UP! Shut up and dance. I haven’t studied the science of this, but, imho, it helps. all.
I have a friend who moved to the Yucatan before the fan even hit, lots of plans to visit his mother on the East Coast and friends on the west coast regularly. Yes. A pandemic. When the wifi went down and communication went down, he danced and got through.
One Minute Hug
A minute is actually a pretty long time to stay in a hug. Hug someone, hug yourself, hug a tree(according to someone I heard it’s surprisingly comforting-maybe as long as no one else is watching 😅 ),just pause and hug. The touch is real. Holding your hand over your heart is another option. Just a moment. 60 seconds.
One Minute Play Date
Okay, I’m not sure about the minute part, but I just read it here already
“Play is like meditation because it helps you focus on where you are in the moment and reset your busy, always-tired adult mind.”
So, jigsaw puzzle minutes anyone? Shoot some hoops? What got?
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Places for 1 minute meditation:
You can do it. Here are some suggestions
Before You Get Out of Bed
- Before you do something else. Right before you open your eyes, take a moment and commit to taking care of yourself for the day. Yes, just say to yourself in your mind “Today I will take care of me.” If that’s until you get the first day, then Bravo to you! You meditate!
- If you find that your eyes haven’t opened yet and you don’t have a day off, or two or three days after learning the above, take a few more seconds.
- It might not be a bad idea to set a timer a few minutes longer than your meditation—just in case you fall asleep.
In the car-after you Park the Car, but before You Get Out-or, just go to the car in the garage or park out front, how many Zoom calls have you gotten from there during a pandemic?!
- Tilt the seat back or don’t (this can lead to sleep if you’re tired, which can be great…or depending on the time, can be bad)
- Take a deep breath when your meditation is done. Get up, you might be refreshed.
Tea time
- Turn on the Kettle
- Lie down or sit
- Skip the phone
- When the kettle whistles, you’re done
Microwave Time
- Start the Microwave
- Item takes 1-3 minutes? Just sit, close your eyes until the timer goes off
- Item takes more than 3 minutes? Use or don’t use the app.
Bath time
- In multitasking? There are no rules that say you can’t get some meditation time in the shower.
Time to sleep
- See “Before You Get Out of Bed” above, but don’t set the alarm!
We feel confident that after reading this, you will find the minute for yourself every day.
Don’t set yourself up for failure. Just one minute. If you find more, great! If all you get is 15 seconds in the morning, celebrate that!
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Hey there! I’m Sarah and I’ve been helping pregnant women and new moms look and feel their best for over 20 years—it’s crazy, but I love it. Our mission at Mom’s the Word is to support moms—bumps and more, basics and more, style and more. Meditation is a buzzword these days, but it’s been helping moms for a long time, and we love that.
