How does one nourish a soul that often feels depleted?
I feel like I often have nothing left to give. I am, what one would call, touched out. I feel completely depleted and like there is absolutely nothing left. Whether I am physically drained or mentally, the exhaustion is surmountable. With these feelings, I find myself constantly trying to embark on the beauty that coincides with being a mother and striving to thrive as a mom. Where does one begin? How do you, honestly and wholeheartedly, nourish a soul that is feeling lost and completely diminished? So, how do you nourish your soul mama and start to really feel like you are thriving in motherhood?
Your soul, according to the Collins Dictionary, is defined as:
“the part of you that consists of your mind, character, thoughts, and feelings.”
When you become a mother bravery is distilled upon you. You are forced into this new role of responsibility and with that bravery you are forever grateful to be so lucky to have a little human that loves you unconditionally. Gratitude leads to Joy, and you should feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
To thrive in motherhood, you must also learn how to nourish your soul and welcome different ways that nourish your body and mind as well.
How can you nourish your soul when you are so tired and overburdened with demand that you want to laugh and cry coincidingly?
HOW TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL AS A MOM; the quickest route to thriving in motherhood and happily embracing your new mom soul.
Here are a few ways that helped me survive a year long deployment, raise three boys and helped me to learn to thrive in motherhood... I hope these help you nourish that beautiful soul of yours too...
Get plenty of sleep – hmm… right? That happens rarely in motherhood. But when and if possible, SLEEP IS YOUR SUPERPOWER. Try going to bed earlier, sorry to take over your only solitary adult time, sometimes you just need to sacrifice binge watching that show and catch those ZZZ’s, you will be a happier more well rested mom because of it… so maybe... just maybe... the sacrifice will be worth it and you will wake up feeling rejuvenated tomorrow morning.. for once!?
Meditate – go hide in the bathroom now… seek refuge in the bathroom fan… knock knock knock they came a knocking and followed you in there… better luck once the kids are in bed... but at least you tried (don't give up!). Better yet… Book a getaway, even if it is a ONE HOUR walk alone. DO IT. Meditation is important because you need to feel in tune with your body, mentally and physically, there is no better way than to listen to your own thoughts, ideas, feelings and hear your own breath. Be in tune with your body and listen to what it needs. Write it down and work towards attaining those goals. Need to drink more water – do it. Need to talk to someone / a mom friend about something you experienced and get some feedback or advice – get to booking that pedicure or coffee date.
Declutter the physical to make room for the mental – this is my life, on the daily, the clutter must go but also never ends…. I recently decided to go through and attempt to size all my boys clothing… from sizes 0-7 the struggle is real… this is not an easy task or that rewarding to finish (especially when you start to make progress and they start rummaging through it… note to self do this alone with all that free time -sigh haha!) Perhaps this will be my next blog post idea… how to declutter your life with 3 kids… although I’m sure someone has already posted many articles like this…. Researching later… but stay tuned I might feel inspired or complete the tasks and be forced to dive deep into how the heck I made time to do something and actually finish it… circling back... decluttering is actually the most freeing and satisfying for your soul. When I declutter it helps me find mental clarity, helps me to be a more organized mom and honestly helps me to maintain sanity when I'm searching or in need of something! Try to incorporate this into your daily routine... consistency is key!
LISTEN TO YOUR SOUL and get fresh air – this is one thing that totally does help me personally and I am all for a good stroller walk or chase (the toddlers just get faster by the day I swear). TAKE the time to listen to your soul, listen to your heart and your body, and BREATHE IN THE AIR SLOWLY IF POSSIBLE.
Breathe Deeply – learn how to master the inhale, hold and exhale technique. I constantly have to remind myself, especially in stressful situations, to simply -breathe-.
Intentional Self-Care – not basic hygiene but legitimate LOVE for yourself.
Taking time for self-care is crucial so that you:
1. Do not lose yourself as a mom and (if you do, that's okay too, there are ways to learn to find yourself again check out my other blog post about that!)
2. By showing love for yourself, and taking the time on yourself, you are better able to care for others and you may even feel inspired to make other choices in your self-care routine that will benefit your other family members too!
Positive Thinking – MY FAVORITE OF THEM ALL- MINDSET IS KEY TO HAPPINESS AND THRIVING AS A MOM. You need to tell yourself you can succeed and actually believe what you say. With positive thinking comes positive actions and positive change.
Start EVERY MORNING with a DAILY AFFIRMATION / read something that inspires you to be better – something that makes you smile, that motivates you and helps you stay focused on starting your day on the best note possible. It is too easy to let the days slip away, the moments pass by often quicker than we think they do, we get busy and we are swept away believing we will just do the reading/writing/journaling/errands/tasks etc. on another day/moment... then they don't happen. You need to keep your routine stable and do this every single day.
You can also look at how to improve your daily routine with daily goal setting, daily journaling of gratitude (write down what five things you are grateful for, every day).
Eat more plant-based foods (nourish your temple) and be in tune with your body (listen to how food makes you feel physically and mentally), Do certain foods give you more energy than others do? What makes you feel amazing? What can you cut out of your diet to make you feel better? Start listening to what you NEED and start being more vulnerable to asking for those things. Also, cut out things that don't positively impact your lifestyle. Let people into your life that will nourish your needs and help your soul be happy.
Thank you for reading Thrive Mama Thrive Blog and I hope these tips help to nourish your beautiful soul Mama.
-MS