Practical tips for cultivating a calm mindset
Hey there, welcome back to another episode! Today, we’re going to dive into a topic that’s close to my heart: finding your calm. As someone who’s naturally inclined to overthink and worry, I’ve had to learn how to cultivate a sense of calm in my life. And trust me, it’s a skill worth having. In this post, I’m going to share with you some of the techniques that have worked for me, as well as some practical tips for incorporating them into your daily routine.
Listen to this podcast episode below
1. Using Breathwork for Calm and Clarity
This one is particularly my favourite, breathwork.
Breathwork, also known as deep breathing, is a simple and effective way to calm the mind and body by slowing down the nervous system and heart rate. It can be practiced anywhere, whether you’re with your kids or at work, by focusing on taking slow, deep breaths.
Inhaling deeply through your nose and holding it for a couple of seconds before exhaling slowly through your mouth helps regulate the nervous system and calm the body.
To enhance the experience, you can visualize inhaling positive and calm energy and exhaling negative and tense energy.
It’s important to inhale into your belly, not just your chest, and blow it out. Doing this for a few minutes can make a significant difference in how you feel. Breathwork is also a useful tool during labor and has been used in Hypnobirthing. It can also be helpful when dealing with physical or emotional pain.
So if you’ve seen any of my videos on Instagram, you’ll see I’ve got a couple of birth videos of me deeply breathing in and breathing out.
You will hear me deeply groaning and moaning through the pain and exhaling it through. It was such a good tool for me. I highly recommend to anyone birthing.
You can see firsthand how deep breathing and vocalization helped me through the intense experience of birthing my baby, check out some of the videos in my Instagram here.
2. Mindfulness Meditation to Relieve Stress and Anxiety
The next tip that I find really helpful is engaging in mindfulness meditation. Meditation is one of my absolute favourite practices, and I’m sure many of you can relate.
There are so many different types of meditations out there – from guided visualisations that take you on a calming journey through a forest or calming sounds of the ocean waves.
Guided mindful meditations can be particularly powerful because it can allow you to scan your body and become fully present in the moment.
By doing this, you can shift your focus away from whatever is causing you stress or anxiety, and instead, reconnect with your body and find inner peace.
Even just a two-minute meditation can work wonders. I encourage you to try doing this three times a day. I know it can be challenging to find time in our busy schedules, but taking just a few minutes to care for ourselves is crucial for our overall well-being.
3. Connecting with Nature and Practicing Yoga
The third tip is to connect with nature. For me, there’s nothing more peaceful than being surrounded by nature.
I love visualising myself in a forest, standing by a waterfall, and feeling the cool water rush over my feet. Even if you don’t have a backyard or live in an apartment, you can still find a way to connect with nature.
Head to a local park or beach, take off your shoes, and feel the grass between your toes. It’s amazing how just a few minutes outside can make you feel calm and relaxed.
Tip number four is to try yoga or Tai Chi. I’ve never actually done Tai Chi myself, but I saw it in a Patrick Swayze movie once and it looked so peaceful and calming.
Yoga is a great way to find your center and calm your mind. You can easily find a local yoga studio or look up videos online to practice at home. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try out Tai Chi and see if it works for you.
4. More tips for Quieting the Mind
Calming music is one of my go-to techniques to find inner peace. As someone who easily gets frustrated and impatient, I need ways to bring myself back to a state of calm.
I also don’t deal well with pain and lack of sleep, so finding my way back to a peaceful state is like coming home. I particularly enjoy searching for relaxation, spa, and spiritual music.
One of my favourite artists are Above and Beyond, which have a house trance vibe that I find exhilarating. When I listen to music, I often find myself singing and dancing, which helps me connect with my body and calm my soul.
As a busy mum, I often have too many things on my plate, from computer work to picking up my children from school. That’s why I make sure to take little intervals throughout the day to calm myself down and recharge my energy.
Engaging in creative activities like painting, drawing, or writing can also help me feel grounded and centered. These activities allow me to express my emotions and feelings in a positive way.
Find Support and Maintain Your Emotional Well-Being During Pregnancy
Connecting with others is vital for maintaining a healthy mindset, and extroverts like myself find solace in social interactions.
Being with others provides us with the grounding and support we need to overcome any challenges we may face.
By spending time with friends and family or joining support groups, we can connect with others and share our fears, feelings, and experiences. Whether it’s joining a home birth group, a positive birth group, a local VBAC group, or a breastfeeding group, there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet like-minded individuals.
If you’re struggling and feel like you need someone to talk to, support is essential. As an outward processor, I understand how valuable it is to have someone to talk to when things get tough.
That’s why I offer complimentary 15-minute sessions to those who need support during their pregnancy.
If you’re interested, you can message me through Instagram or email me, and we’ll set up a time to chat face-to-face.
At times, finding calm in your life may seem challenging, but it’s crucial for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Practicing deep breathing, engaging in mindfulness meditation, and connecting with nature are all effective ways to reduce stress and find peace.
If you’re looking for more creative ways to find calm, you can try practicing yoga or tai chi, listening to calming music, or engaging in creative activities.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. You can start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase your practice.
I hope this episode has provided you with some tips on finding calm in your life. Keep spreading love and light to those around you and encourage them to explore their options.
If you know someone who’s thinking about having a VBAC or home birth, share this podcast with them.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of women everywhere. I appreciate each and every one of you who share this podcast and reach out to me.
Thank you for your support, and I look forward to bringing you a new episode soon.
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