There is just something about cracking open a book in the summer, sitting out in the sun or snuggling with my daughters and reading.When I was in grade two I was pulled out of class at school each week to receive help from a literacy and speech specialist. To this day I still remember this teacher and with her guidance, help and encouragement my real love for reading started. So when I became a mom for the first time in 2008 I could not wait to pass this love of reading on.
When my first daughter was just two months we would attend story times, rhymes and songs and have our heads stuck in a book day after day. Now, with three daughters more then 13 years later, many trips to the library (and fees 🙄 seriously why must they hide their favorite books) and bookstore visits all three of my daughters adore books as much as me.
When asked why they love books they responded with...
"I like reading to help me settle down at the end of a day. You open a book and it's fun and makes me laugh. It's like I am in the book."
Leah
9 years old
"Reading is easy and fills my day when I get bored. I am so into my book that I miss the other things happening around me. It takes me to a different place and I can disappear."
Sarah
11 years old
"When I read at night it helps me relax and fall asleep easier, but more then that books are better then movies because they go into more detail and you learn and understand the characters better and then I feel like I am a character in the book."
Kaitlin
13 years old
Research shows reading improves brain activity, increases vocabulary and comprehension. It empowers the reader to be empathetic, decreases stress, let's you escape from your life, puts you in other people's shoes, helps you sleep better, helps with moods and can fight depression while lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
As a new month starts, I thought it would be fun to start a blog series on our favorite books to share the love of reading with all of the world!
So without further Adu, here are some of our favorite books this summer:
Emma Dodd - A much loved author for ages 3 - 6 and enjoyed by babies and up. A sequence of animal books with rhyming text, beautiful and colorful illustrations that capture everyone's eyes with heartwarming and loving words that help patents bond with their children.
https://amzn.to/3A2Zffa
https://amzn.to/3C9Gngn
Elephant and Piggie - A series of an Elephant, a Pig and their friends By Mo Willems will bring a smile to everyone's face...especially my daughter. No matter how many times we have read these books we always end up in giggles.
https://amzn.to/3A24BXX
The Critter Club #17 - A chapter book series perfect for any child who loves animals and adventure. With 22 books in the series Callie Barkley's writing will keep your daughter entertained and smiling for a long time.
https://amzn.to/3A6EPlt
Start with book # 1 Amy and the missing puppy 🐶
https://amzn.to/3C4L4I9
OLGA - A chapter book series by Elise Gravel is another new must have for our home for children ages 9-12. In this series you will meet a girl named Olga, a scientist that loves animals with fun illustrations and humor throughout.
https://amzn.to/3zYMsu7
Pages and Co Tilly and the bookwanderers will take you on a magical adventure when Tilly discovers she can go on adventures in her favorite stories when she jumps into the books and solves the mystery and discovers what happened to her mom. Perfect for children 7 and up.
https://amzn.to/3lBpJR1
Harry Potter a classic and third time reading through this series of wizards and magic. Join the adventures of Harry Potter and his new friends as they grow up and learn all about their magical powers and fight evil around them.
https://amzn.to/3A27W9r
WISH series for tween girls by various authors will keep your pre teen entertained from with topics from friends, food and school to makeup, puppies and boys.
https://amzn.to/2VcSLLG
https://amzn.to/2V9vxX4
Our favorite reading accessory The Electronic Dictionary Bookmark. A plastic bookmark to help hold the page without losing their spot and dictionary all in one. While your child comes across a word that just doesn't make sense this handy gadget will help identify the word with ease.
https://amzn.to/3A7QhNL
Enjoy your summer reading 📚 with your children!
Elephant and Piggie - A series of an Elephant, a Pig and their friends By Mo Willems will bring a smile to everyone's face...especially my daughter. No matter how many times we have read these books we always end up in giggles.
https://amzn.to/3A24BXX
The Critter Club #17 - A chapter book series perfect for any child who loves animals and adventure. With 22 books in the series Callie Barkley's writing will keep your daughter entertained and smiling for a long time.
https://amzn.to/3A6EPlt
Start with book # 1 Amy and the missing puppy 🐶
https://amzn.to/3C4L4I9
OLGA - A chapter book series by Elise Gravel is another new must have for our home for children ages 9-12. In this series you will meet a girl named Olga, a scientist that loves animals with fun illustrations and humor throughout.
https://amzn.to/3zYMsu7
Pages and Co Tilly and the bookwanderers will take you on a magical adventure when Tilly discovers she can go on adventures in her favorite stories when she jumps into the books and solves the mystery and discovers what happened to her mom. Perfect for children 7 and up.
https://amzn.to/3lBpJR1
Harry Potter a classic and third time reading through this series of wizards and magic. Join the adventures of Harry Potter and his new friends as they grow up and learn all about their magical powers and fight evil around them.
https://amzn.to/3A27W9r
WISH series for tween girls by various authors will keep your pre teen entertained from with topics from friends, food and school to makeup, puppies and boys.
https://amzn.to/2VcSLLG
https://amzn.to/2V9vxX4
Our favorite reading accessory The Electronic Dictionary Bookmark. A plastic bookmark to help hold the page without losing their spot and dictionary all in one. While your child comes across a word that just doesn't make sense this handy gadget will help identify the word with ease.
https://amzn.to/3A7QhNL
Enjoy your summer reading 📚 with your children!
For a little rainy summer fun print out this bookmark for your kids and have them color their own bookmark.
Hi my friend, how's it going? I know things can be a bit tough...you are not alone. Mommy burnout happens to all of us. The best part is we can get out of it! I hope you took the opportunity to assess your stress. Personally, knowing my most high stress times during the day helped me when I was in the middle of mommy burnout myself. Grab your copy of my Assess your Stress Chart Worksheets below here. This is the first step in Finding Your Way Out of Mommy Burnout!
You are done with feeling with feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and not yourself. I hope you find this part 2 helpful...I know you will be back to your normal self in no time!
3. Clean or Declutter
Ok, ok, here me out on this one. I know your tired and this is the last thing you want to be doing but when we declutter our surroundings, we are also decluttering our mind.
Cleaning has been found to have a positive effect on your mental health by helping you gain a sense of control over our environment. Being engrossed into a task can help calm the mind, improve moods and give you a sense of contentment and success when we accomplish something.
4. Move Your Body, Eat Healthy and Get a Restful Sleep
This is a bit like cleaning. I get it. I had absolutely no energy. I could not get from my front door to my van thirty steps away without feeling exhausted. Moving your body will help improve your overall wellness. It helps in reducing feeling of anxiety, depression, negativity, stress, moods and improve self esteem. Start with baby steps and you will start feeling more energized.
Eating healthy can be beneficial in so many ways. When we eat food without to much sugar, salt, dairy and gluten your emotional and mental wellness will feel it too. Eating a nourishing and balanced diet will help in preventing oxidative stress, improve moods, fatigue, behaviours, depression and more.
It is known that stress impacts your sleep and can bring many other health issues when you do not get the rest your body is needing. Lack of sleep can affect memory, judgement, moods, and much more. It is recommended we as adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Although sleep may not come as easy as you might wish setting a routine just like you do with your children and following through with it works for adults too.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Ok, ok, here me out on this one. I know your tired and this is the last thing you want to be doing but when we declutter our surroundings, we are also decluttering our mind.
Cleaning has been found to have a positive effect on your mental health by helping you gain a sense of control over our environment. Being engrossed into a task can help calm the mind, improve moods and give you a sense of contentment and success when we accomplish something.
4. Move Your Body, Eat Healthy and Get a Restful Sleep
This is a bit like cleaning. I get it. I had absolutely no energy. I could not get from my front door to my van thirty steps away without feeling exhausted. Moving your body will help improve your overall wellness. It helps in reducing feeling of anxiety, depression, negativity, stress, moods and improve self esteem. Start with baby steps and you will start feeling more energized.
Eating healthy can be beneficial in so many ways. When we eat food without to much sugar, salt, dairy and gluten your emotional and mental wellness will feel it too. Eating a nourishing and balanced diet will help in preventing oxidative stress, improve moods, fatigue, behaviours, depression and more.
It is known that stress impacts your sleep and can bring many other health issues when you do not get the rest your body is needing. Lack of sleep can affect memory, judgement, moods, and much more. It is recommended we as adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Although sleep may not come as easy as you might wish setting a routine just like you do with your children and following through with it works for adults too.
5. Take Care of Yourself
“Self care is not selfish” say this to yourself. It is NOT selfish to take care of yourself!
Self care, journaling, meditating, affirmations, moving your body WILL bring positivity into your life. Time away, being able to shut off, connecting to nature or art, being in solitude and still and having alone time is beneficial in helping us gain energy, let go of your struggles so you can renew and refocus on what really matters.
Taking care of yourself allows you to be your best you so you can continue to give back to your children. You can not give from an empty cup. I promise the time spent on you is worth for your physical, emotional and spiritual wellness as it will increase your positivity, confidence, and self esteem.
6. Finding the Solution
I am so grateful I found a product that can help me naturally, boost my energy, immunity, and support both my many emotions including mommy burnout.
All of the above steps helped me but when I started incorporating essential oils to help boost my emotional wellness I was able to feel more like me. I wanted to be around my friends and loved ones. I was less angry, anxious and was able to think more clearly. I had more energy during the day and acually slept at night and woke up feeling refreshed and recharged I felt more hopeful and really started to love my life again and be ready for anything that came my way during the day.
Mommy Soaking Salts to Melt Away Burnout
1 cup Epsom Salts
1 teaspoon coconut oil
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Release
2 drops Forgiveness essential oil
Add rose petals or dried lavender flakes and sprinkle into a warm bath.
*It is important to know that not all essential oils are created equally. I have found a source I trust and use everyday. You can trust it too! If you want to know more let's get in touch!
Before you go, I want you to know that even though you are struggling, you are not failing. You got this!
Find Your Way Out of Mommy Burnout_Page_3.jpgFind Your Way Out of Mommy Burnout_Page_4.jpgFind Your Way Out of Mommy Burnout_Page_5.jpg
It's so real these days.
Am I right?
Burnout is defined as long term stress that puts your whole body in a state of unbalance which causes you to feel emotionally and physically depleted and overwhelmed.
You feel stressed, exhausted, irritable and often forgetful. You might withdraw or isolate ourselves from loved ones.
You feel helpless and lack both energy and motivation.
You are angry but do not know why.
This blog will help guide you so you can discover and find your way out of mommy burnout and teach you how you can pull through and be a less overwhelmed mom, gain energy, sleep, have better moods and have more fun with your children.
Stay tuned for Mommy Burnout - Part 2 where you will receive more guidance in how to overcome the feelings of mommy burnout. I will also include a free recipe to help you feel more relaxed, calm and relieved from all these intense emotions.
This blog will help guide you so you can discover and find your way out of mommy burnout and teach you how you can pull through and be a less overwhelmed mom, gain energy, sleep, have better moods and have more fun with your children.
Stay tuned for Mommy Burnout - Part 2 where you will receive more guidance in how to overcome the feelings of mommy burnout. I will also include a free recipe to help you feel more relaxed, calm and relieved from all these intense emotions.
This recipe has brought me so much help, more peace, self forgiveness and release.
You will want to use this recipe again and again!
Let's get to it.
1. Asses Your Stress
1. Asses Your StressStress, according to Wikipedia is the condition that results when person-environmental transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy between the demands of a situation and the resources of a persons biological, psychological, or social systems.
Stress can come from many things. It can be your wellness, lack of sleep, a messy house, a to do list that is not getting done, your hubby, kids fighting or even just getting out of the house.
Over the next three days track your stress levels throughout the day. Chart your stress hourly and in point form to make note of what is causing you stress at different times of the day. This will help to better prepare you for the most stressful times. When you discover and understand your biggest stressors ahead of time it will help with the feelings of overwhelm.
I have attached this worksheet to help you pin point these high stress times during your day.
2. Perfectionism
Remember to always strive for progress not perfection.
Remember to always strive for progress not perfection.
No one was made to be perfect. We are not perfect and that is ok!
Brene Brown says:
“Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact it is the thing that is really preventing us from taking flight.”
Let go of the idea of perfection and fly!
Having a good support system and ASKING for the HELP when things are getting difficult is a must.
Webster defines distraction as something that distracts a person from an object that directs one's attention away from something else or the act of being distracted.When we hear the word distraction we automatically think of it as a bad thing. When we are distracted we become unfocused, we loose interest in something that is important and don't get the things we need to get done. That's not great.
But...
Let's look at distraction as a GOOD thing. When we become distracted the brain is known to pause. Read that again! The brain is known to PAUSE!
Let's look at distraction as a GOOD thing. When we become distracted the brain is known to pause. Read that again! The brain is known to PAUSE!
That is a good thing.
Right now watching and listening to the news, being told what we should do and not do is not easy to take in. Watching numbers rise, riots and decisions at the moment can really wear down on our bodies, cause stress, anxiety, negativity and grumpy moods. We may act out and be unkind to those around us because of differences in thoughts.
Moments of being distracted is good and healthy for us. Pausing is a good thing. Doing the things we enjoy is a good thing. It can help bring more focus, reduce stress, help with moods, encourage, motivate and increase our productivity!
Distractions can make us better.
Distractions can help our moods.
Distractions can help ease pain. Distractions can help with fears.
Distractions can help reduce stress.
Distractions can help decrease anxiety.
Distractions can help in times of grief.
Distractions can help improve our performance.
Distractions can help remove us from a situation we can not control.
Distractions can bring joy.
My favorite ways to distract myself include:
Listening to music
Treating myself to a favorite snack in moderation
Moving my body - walking, dancing, excersize
Reading
Tv and movies
Playing games, cards, apps
Aromatherapy
Cuddling my daughters and cat
Writing or journaling
Art - drawing, colouring or being creative
Puzzles
Saying affirmations, thinking positive thoughts, meditating, prayer and visualizing
Getting outside
Playing games
Resting and soaking up the quietness
Laughing
Right now watching and listening to the news, being told what we should do and not do is not easy to take in. Watching numbers rise, riots and decisions at the moment can really wear down on our bodies, cause stress, anxiety, negativity and grumpy moods. We may act out and be unkind to those around us because of differences in thoughts.
Moments of being distracted is good and healthy for us. Pausing is a good thing. Doing the things we enjoy is a good thing. It can help bring more focus, reduce stress, help with moods, encourage, motivate and increase our productivity!
Distractions can make us better.
Distractions can help our moods.
Distractions can help ease pain. Distractions can help with fears.
Distractions can help reduce stress.
Distractions can help decrease anxiety.
Distractions can help in times of grief.
Distractions can help improve our performance.
Distractions can help remove us from a situation we can not control.
Distractions can bring joy.
My favorite ways to distract myself include:
Listening to music
Treating myself to a favorite snack in moderation
Moving my body - walking, dancing, excersize
Reading
Tv and movies
Playing games, cards, apps
Aromatherapy
Cuddling my daughters and cat
Writing or journaling
Art - drawing, colouring or being creative
Puzzles
Saying affirmations, thinking positive thoughts, meditating, prayer and visualizing
Getting outside
Playing games
Resting and soaking up the quietness
Laughing
I always come back to life after using these distractions. It helps me regroup, feel more calm and relaxed, happier, motivated and encouraged!Think of distraction like self care. Take care of yourself so you can continue to give back to the ones you love. A little bit of distraction allows us to take that pause, that break we need so we can come back stronger and take on the world!
Let me know in the comments...
Do you use distraction in a good way?
What are your favorite ways to distract yourself when you need to get-away from all that is going around you?
Let me know in the comments...
Do you use distraction in a good way?
What are your favorite ways to distract yourself when you need to get-away from all that is going around you?
An empath is a person who absorbs other peoples emotions and experiences them as if the emotions are their own.
Are you an empath?
Let's do a little quiz...Give yourself a point for each of these apply to you:
Cry when others cry
Feed off of others energy
Worry about what others think
Feel everything deeply
Friends and strangers come to you for advice
Children and animals are drawn to you
You have many highs and lows
You pick up on vibes
You are a natural healer
You feel drained from social situations
You treat pets like humans
Highly sensitive
Emotions have made you physically sick
You put others needs over your own
You love over the top
Human lie detector
You prefer deep meaningful conversation over small talk
Overthinking everything
The news is painful to watch
You absorb emotions
Your a great listener
Commercials make you cry
You feel drawn to others
You can feel things before they happen
The weather affects your mood
Your intuition is usually accurate
If you gave yourself 5 or more points YOU are very much an empath!
I love using essential oils to support my emotions. As an empath even more. Essential oils help ground us, calm, balance, energize, increase moods and help with negativity.
A few oils that are perfect for empathy include Vetiver, Neroli, Lavender, Basil, German Chamomile, Jasmine, Patchouli, Marjoram, Valor, Stress Away and White Angelica.
Try this Balancing Spray and spritz yourself and the space around you!
8 drops Lavender
8 drops Valor
8 drops Vetiver
8 drops Stress Away
8 drops Patchouli
Add oils into glass spray bottle. 1 onz of witch hazel and fill remaining of the bottle with water. If desired, add crystals like rose quartz, amethyst, obsidian, sodalite, smoky quartz, hematite, black tourmaline and Flourite to help balance and protect your space.
As you apply or spray oils repeat with an affirmation... I am strong. I am loving. I am positive. I have the power to clear the negative energy from my body. I embrace my physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. Allow me to see beauty of my life and those around me today. Today will because great day!
