Without judgement take a moment to think about where  your stress levels are  at today? 
What thoughts have been going through your head?  Are they positive or negative?   How are you feeling in your body?   Where are your emotions at?

Taking time to check in with yourself and practicing  mindfulness is a great ritual to help you manage your stress levels.    Being mindful doesn't eliminate stress or try to fix it, instead it will enable you to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and sensations that keep stress going.  When you are aware you can think of and be open to possibilities and action that may help you to change your situation.

If you are experiencing high levels of stress, in your mind you may have negative self talk, or anxious thoughts, and be unable to concentrate.  You  might feel like you want to withdraw from others, want to over eat or drink or  crave stimulants like coffee, sugar, alcohol or cigarettes.  Your body might be feeling tired from not sleeping well.  You may feel aches and pains,  feel bloated, or be experiencing poor digestion.  Your heart may be beating rapidly.  Emotionally you may be feeling overwhelmed, irritable,  lonely or sad. 

If you are experiencing wellness you may in your mind have positive self talk, be feeling calm and focused.  You are enjoy the company of your friends and family or enjoying your work.  You feel comfortable saying no and setting boundaries in order to take care of yourself. You will be nourishing your body with the right food for you and you would of  slept well and  woken today feeling energized.  Your body will feel rested and  you can move freely without pain.  You will feel happy and  able to cope and ride the waves throughout your day.   You will feel excited or looking forward to something in your day. 

Where ever you are in this moment,  take the time to become aware and acknowledge how well you are doing and acknowledge any  feelings associated with stress.   What do you need to do in this moment to encourage your health and wellness?

Here are some suggestions of ways  you can reset yourself from this moment  if you are feeling stressed.

Prioritize what is important today
Say no to someone, or avoid a situations that may stress you further
Move your body, exercise, or stretch to get rid of tension
Breath mindfully for 10-15 breaths
Sleep if you can, or plan to go to bed early tonight
Nourish yourself with food or water
Call a friend or ask for support
Be kind to yourself

“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn



 

 It's your day!   No cooking, cleaning, running the kids around or organising stuff.  A day designed for you to take a break, sleep in and  put your feet up.  

This day was created just for you,  to take a break and to be shown gratitude and appreciation for all that you do as a Mother.  

What better gift could you be given this Mother's Day, than time out to relax,  and take care of your mind, body and spirit.  I hope you have been given this opportunity.  

We have  Anna Jarvis to thank for making Mother's day possible.  Anna, lived in the early 19 th century in West Virginia US.  She was the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, who was responsible for setting up woman working groups after the civil war in the US.   Anna was truely a daughter who valued all that her Mother did, not only for her, but the wider community.

Anna's inspiration to campaign for a Mother's Day holiday came about at the age of 12, when she  overheard her mother  praying, that one day there would be a holiday to celebrate all Mothers and would allow them a break from their duties.    Her Mother died on the 2nd Sunday in May 1905.   Anna celebrated and remember her Mother on this day each year by wearing a white carnation which was her Mother's favourite flower.

In 1910  a bill was passed  in West Virginia after many years of Anna campaigning and Mother's Day was established.  It  was celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May the day of Anna's Mothers death.   The day was spent in church and  young children would write heart felt letters to their Mother showing their  gratitude for all that they do.  White carnations where worn to remember those Mothers that had past, or red or pink carnation for Mothers still living.

However, ironically Anna spent the last years of her life and her entire family inheritance fighting against the commercialisation of Mother's Day and was even arrested on Mother's day in 1930 for protesting to abolish the holiday altogether.  Anna became so outraged at the fact that the florists and greeting card companies where making large sums of money from this holiday.  

Happy Mothers Day to all you amazing Mums and a big THANK YOU to Anna Jarvis for her hard work in creating this day for us.  

​I hope you got a well deserved break today!