Just Relax
5 Minutes of Headstands
It might sound like child’s play, but practicing a handstand can clear your mind and help you refresh. “If you do this at a particularly chaotic time in your home, you'll find that peace is instantly restored,” says Lyss Stern, co-author of If You Give a Mom a Martini: 100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes for Yourself. “After all, what can your kids do to a mom when she's standing on her head?”
10 Minutes of Counting Your Blessings
Set your alarm just 10 minutes before your husband and children wake up, grab a cup of coffee and soak. “Sit and breathe,” says Stern. “Take inventory of your life and its blessings, things that you want to accomplish, things that you want to change. It's great because the house is quiet, and it's your time. It's so serene and peaceful: your time to just be.”
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10-Minute Meditation
Meditation doesn’t have to be a scary concept. Stern suggests a quick “Zen 10,” or meditation session, to calm anxiety and an overactive mind. “Next time you feel the onset of a mommy meltdown, take these steps, and you will feel the benefits inside and out,” she says. “Sit up tall at the edge of a chair, and situate your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands on your thighs, palms facing down, and close your eyes. Inhale and exhale deeply while mentally repeating the mantra 'Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.' Allow yourself to smile if it feels natural. After about six minutes, let go of the mantras and observe your breath for a minute until you bring yourself back to reality.”
10 Minutes: Enter Yoga-Nidra
Yoga is an amazing tool to bring back your calm countenance. Try going into yoga-nidra, which is a sleep-like state yogis experience while working on their inner peace. “Do it lying down,” says Hough. “Listen to a tape, where it becomes a guided meditation that takes you through different layers as you lay down and listen to another person. I love it, and think it’s really powerful.”
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10 Minutes: Get Back to the Present
Can’t let go of your toddler’s embarrassing public temper tantrum? Or are you feeling the mounting pressure to check off everything on your to-do list? Stop for a moment. “Focus on becoming present,” says Hough. “So often, we are stuck in the past or racing toward the future. Try the meta prayer: ‘May I be safe, may I be healthy, may I be happy, may I be free.’ This helps you come to the present and feel safe.”
30-Minute Nap
It’s OK to break for a nap. Put the baby down, and then get a little shut-eye for yourself. “Find a clean, quiet, free-of-distractions place to take your nap," Stern says. "Slip into something comfortable, like a pair of your hubby's cotton boxers, a silk nightgown or a big, old college T-shirt.”
