When your own wellbeing is compromised, it’s incredibly difficult to look after your children’s wellbeing. Especially in the longer term. Self care is not a luxury. It’s not selfish and it doesn’t mean you don’t love your children as much as yourself. Self care is something all mums need and deserve. Think “me too” rather than “me first”. I am passionate about making self care manageable and realistic in the midst of the chaos of motherhood. Here you’ll find lots of inspiration, tips and examples to help you look after yourself. You matter too.
5 reasons you should know and accept your strengths
One of the things that regularly strikes me in conversations with mums, is that so many of us are reluctant to acknowledge our own strengths. We've created some clever strategies for avoiding it. We deflect with humour, point out the things that are wrong with us,...
The most important question for practicing self care in the moment
Take a moment and think about all the questions you ask yourself as you care for your children. Are they hungry or thirsty? Is he cold? Does she need a hug? Do they need some quiet time? Do they need to run around outside? Is she scared or overwhelmed? Will they enjoy...
How to sleep better: 10 practical strategies
Let’s face it, sleep disruptions start in pregnancy, but motherhood takes it up another level. Of course, we all know that we’re going to miss out on some sleep with a new baby but I'm not sure we all realise how deeply impacting sleep deprivation can be. I certainly...
What you need to know to change your relationship with anxiety
The relationship that the majority of the population has with their anxiety is definitely not a very good one. It is often toxic, fractured and built up on a foundation of fear. I can already hear you ask, “Why would I have a good relationship with my anxiety??” or...
15 helpful ways to deal with not feeling good enough
So many mums feel like they are not good enough, every day. This feeling goes beyond mum guilt (which is already a challenge). Feeling not good enough creates shame within us. Brene Brown defines the difference between guilt and shame: “I believe that guilt is...
32 ways to stay calm in the moment (Part 2)
This is part 2 of my 2-part blog post series on staying calm in the moment. Part 1 contains the first 16 strategies. You can find it here. I certainly needed my strategies for staying calm this week. How about you? Every mum experiences times when she doesn't feel...
32 ways to stay calm in the moment (Part 1)
This is part 1 of my two-part blog post series on staying calm in the moment. You can find part 2 here. When I asked the mums in the More to Mum community to describe how they would like to feel in motherhood, calm was one of the top responses. Before we have...
How to accept things as they are (without giving up)
My son is starting 4 year old kindergarten in just 3 weeks. I’m feeling a mixture of pride, excitement and trepidation. He seems so ready but at the same time he’s still so little. After 4 and a half years of being with me nearly all the time, he’s off into the world...
4 shifts that brought me more happiness, peace and confidence
Do you ever think about how you’ve changed and evolved throughout your life? As I turn 40 this week, I’ve been reflecting on exactly that. Whilst my core values haven’t really changed, I’m definitely not the same person I was in my 20s. Last weekend, I was blessed to...
The secrets to managing your time and energy in a more feminine way
Everyone wants to have more time and more energy! But perhaps no one needs them more than mums? There’s plenty of time and energy management trainings available in books, on courses and at workshops. These trainings usually come from a mostly masculine viewpoint. I’m...
Practise self-awareness for your best Christmas yet
Does the thought of the Christmas season make you feel excited or does it fill you with dread? I am totally obsessed with Christmas. As one of my friends pointed out, I’m one of those people, who puts their Christmas tree and decorations up as soon as it hits...
Self care that fits the season of your life: my first mums’ retreat
Have you ever been in a situation where someone suggested that you do a particular self care activity and you just felt like laughing because it seemed so impossible? Or maybe you felt like crying. Over the last 4 years since my son was born, a number of people have...
The unspoken pelvic health truths you need to know
We usually don’t talk about it. After birth, support for pelvic health is seriously lacking, and it can be difficult to find someone who takes concerns seriously. However, pelvic health contributes significantly to our overall wellbeing and impacts so many parts of...
You can learn to love your body as it is
Do you love your body? Like REALLY love it? Becoming a mum is one of the most amazing journeys of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s not without its ups and downs. The changes in your body image and how you see yourself can be some of the toughest to deal with and...
Why you need to speak kindly to yourself (and how to do it!)
Imagine that your partner said to you: “You look awful today. I can see your stomach bulging over your pants and you haven’t even bothered to put any makeup on. You’ve really let yourself go.” Imagine that your best friend said to you: “Wow your house looks...
How to get more energy to make it through the day
One afternoon recently, I was reading to my son and feeling more than a little tired. My eyelids were getting heavy. It was difficult to concentrate on the story, even though I’d read it at least 25 times before. Suddenly, my son leaned over, looked at me intently and...