Say Bye-Bye to Burnout: Special Tips for Moms
by Susie Michelle Cortright
author, More Energy Now!
I'm about to tell you a fundamental secret to preventing and
treating mommy burnout.
Ask yourself: When was the last time you were "in the zone"?
When was the last time you experienced that hypnotic feeling of
being so utterly concentrated that you lost track of the rest
of the world?
When was the last time you were completely task-oriented,
enveloped in a self-induced trance, hypnotized by the joy of
just doing something - of being entirely focused on a single
task?
It takes a great deal of discipline, but it is possible to
cultivate this awareness - this attention - and to elevate the
ordinary to the extraordinary. This mindfulness is meditation
in itself.
When you are able to lavish this kind of singular attention on
your kids, you honor them with the greatest gift in the world.
And you unleash enormous focus, creativity, and energy for
yourself.
Single-task orientation
We develop this present moment awareness, in part, by ending
the multi-tasking that pervades a typical mom's day.
When we live a life that has us cleaning the fridge while
talking on the phone while baking cookies while toting a
toddler, days, weeks, and our children's birthdays slip by.
Ask yourself: Are you multi-tasking yourself into more stress?
When you try to do too much at once, you raise your stress
level, which diminishes your energy and puts you on the fast
track to burnout.
Only mindless tasks should be multi-tasked, and there aren't a
lot of mindless tasks when kids are present. Decide which tasks
(and people) deserve your full attention. Then give it.
As you do so, work on full-sensory awareness. What does your
child's hair smell like? How does she look at you? How does her
hand feel in yours? What will you remember about this moment
for years to come?
Think about how much better it is to slow down, to get lost in
the moment, to appreciate every one of our God-given,
miraculous moments by creating an environment of serenity,
peace, and pure productivity. A place where there is no
frantic, frenzied rushing but only a singular focus that guides
us to the next task and the next, throughout the day.
Your life is made up of ordinary moments, and it's foolish to
rush them in an attempt to find a bigger, better, more dramatic
moment. Joy exists in the mundane tasks, and learning to
immerse yourself in them brings a quiet, powerful form of
energy.
You will learn, gradually, how to savor this "everydayness."
Begin now.
Whenever you feel your attention start to shift away from the
present, gently remind yourself to return. Focus on each of
your senses in turn. At this very moment, what do you see,
smell, hear, feel, taste?
Start small. Begin practicing mindfulness with a simple routine
you do every day, such as brushing your teeth or making your
bed. As you go through the routine, focus on what your body is
feeling at each moment. Once those simple tasks can hold your
full awareness, shift that awareness to the other tasks in your
life.
When you start to feel as though your mind is slipping away
from the present, bring yourself back by asking yourself "what
am I doing?" Once again, focus on the physical sensations the
activity produces.
It takes a great deal of discipline (and many, many reminders)
to cultivate this level of awareness and attention, but you'll
feel more creative, focused, and alive if you can master it. I
promise.
Copyright 2001 Susie Michelle Cortright
About the Author
This article is excerpted with permission from "More Energy
Now! How to Beat Mommy Burnout and Live with Vitality, Passion,
and Joy," by Susie Michelle Cortright.
Click here to find out how you can
have more energy - by this afternoon!
