Letting go is a lesson and practice we live through over and over again. Life continues to present us with new opportunities to let go and sometimes we have such a tight grip on things, it takes several attempts to fully release. I love this quote from Ahjan Chah: “If...
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How to stop rushing through life
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I’ll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
Are your expectations creating the reality you want?
When my son was about 16 months old, I started to think about returning to work. I'd always expected I would return to the demanding corporate job that I loved. That’s what career women do. I expected I would place my son in childcare. That’s what working mothers do....
How to deal with a bad day
I know that we’re expected to be loving motherhood, sailing through each day with a smile on our faces. That’s the myth of the perfect mum. In reality, we all have bad days and we don’t have to pretend that everything is wonderful when it’s not. Allowing ourselves to...
When self-care feels like another thing you have to get right
Ever feel like you’re getting this self-care thing wrong? Not doing enough or doing too much. Not wanting to do it, not enjoying it enough or doing it with so much guilt. Not being consistent, not sticking to your plans or not starting at all. Not doing the right...
Goodbye perfectionism, I don’t need you anymore
Dear Perfectionism, I’ve decided it’s time we parted ways. We’ve been together a long time. I’m not even sure how it happened, but somewhere in childhood you became my constant companion. You came with me into adulthood and by that time I thought you were an asset. I...
When you feel like you’ve lost your identity in motherhood
I don't know about you, but no one ever mentioned to me that motherhood might change who I am. I received plenty of advice and information about how to care for my baby and some guidance around how to tend to my own practical needs, like sleep, nutrition and...
How to deal with anger in motherhood – Part 2
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I’ll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
How to deal with anger in motherhood – Part 1
I’m fascinated by volcanoes. My heart raced with excitement and awe when I stood in the hot steam rising from the ground, walked across kilometres of lava rock, and flew in a helicopter over the crater of the active volcano in Hawaii. When...
5 things that help create balance in your life
Balance. It can be a tricky topic. Some women idealise the concept of balance and are constantly trying to achieve it. Others reject the idea that it’s possible and refuse to use the word at all. Some prefer to call it integration or harmony. Let's have a quick look...
The value of connection when motherhood throws you a curveball
In this blog, I'm delighted to introduce you to Hayley Thiele, mum, step mum and Founder of Mummy Matcher. Hayley was thrown a curve ball in her motherhood journey and is now using her experiences to help other mums who are craving connection with someone who...
The beliefs that are making it hard for you to take a break
Does taking a break feel impossible? The sheer thought it makes you anxious or uncomfortable? Motherhood can feel all consuming, and when you add all the other responsibilities you're carrying, there just doesn’t seem to be time for a break. I’m not even necessarily...
How to make exercise easier and boost your mood
Many mums have told me that while they know exercise is important for wellbeing, they struggle to make it a part of their regular activities. That's why I've invited Claire Cole, Personal Trainer and Founder of Movement for Mums, to share her insights into how to make...
Journalling tips: how to make it easy, manageable and enjoyable
Ever thought about journaling but don’t know where to start, how to find the time or how to get it right? Maybe you're reluctant to confront those emotions and thoughts you’re currently keeping under wraps? Maybe you’ve tried it, and weren’t able to be...
Gut health – why is it so important?
You may have heard the buzz around gut health lately. It seems like gut health is the new “in vogue” thing when it comes to the health industry and the products marketed to us at the moment. Luckily, this is one trend that I can really get behind, because the...
Why a good enough mother is truly good enough
Do you feel like you’re constantly comparing yourself or being compared to the ideal of a perfect mother? With so much information and advice out there “helping” us to get things “right” so that our children will be the most intelligent, happiest and the most...
How self-compassion can help you feel happier and more content
When things aren't going the way we want them to, or we aren't coping as well as we think we should be, we can get caught up in criticising and judging ourselves. This can seem like a helpful and productive way to motivate ourselves to better actions and outcomes but...
How to find alone time when you’re never alone
Alone time is an important part of caring for our wellbeing. Having time to just be who we are, to rest and relax, helps us feel happier, healthier, more energised and refreshed. Without it, in the long run, we can start to see negative impacts to our mental,...
Confirmation bias: why your brain wants to prove you right
There's something important you need to know about your brain. It likes to be right. Being right feels good (thanks to the chemicals released in your brain) and it takes way less energy than always challenging your current view of the world. This means that, thanks...
How to be a calmer, more connected parent
Do you ever wish you were a calmer parent? A more connected parent? I think we all have moments where we miss the bar we set for ourselves in these areas. Parenting challenges us in ways we've never been challenged before and with every new child, and every new...
How to ease loneliness in motherhood
Since late last year, I’ve had the privilege of looking after my stepdaughter’s beautiful baby girl once a week. It’s a pretty fortunate position to be in; I get to enjoy all the cuddles, smiles and fun, and build a lovely connection with her, but then (providing my...
Is this the life you really want?
When you think about your life as it is now, how do you feel? How do you want to feel? How similar or different are your two responses? I don’t know about you, but motherhood was not quite what I thought it would be. Somehow, I thought it would be easier and...
How to beat procrastination right now
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I’ll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
Self compassionate alternatives to new year’s resolutions
From mid December and all the way through January we are surrounded by messages about reflecting on the year that is coming to an end and creating new year's resolutions. What did you achieve? What didn’t you achieve? How will you improve? What will you do next? Who...
Create the life you want by being 100% responsible
It’s nearly the end of the year and many of us are reflecting, thinking about what we’ve accomplished (or not quite achieved), enjoyed, found challenging and what we want to be different for the coming year. How has 2019 been for you? Has it fulfilled you? Brought you...
Set clear boundaries to stay sane and enjoy Christmas
The Christmas season provides plenty of opportunities to go beyond your usual limits. For example: How much you spend How often you socialise How much alcohol you drink How many responsibilities you take on How much sleep you get What you eat Who you spend time with....
Exhausted all the time? 7 types of rest you need
“How are you?” “I'm exhausted all the time” “Well, that’s to be expected, you’re a mum!” Have you ever had a conversation like that? It seems to be a commonly held belief that once you enter motherhood, you are destined to be exhausted for a looooong time. At...
How to stop people pleasing
In my previous blog post, I wrote about how to say no with kindness and respect. While exploring the reasons that saying no is difficult, something came up that really resonated with the More to Mum community – people pleasing. I received numerous messages from mums,...
How to say no with kindness and respect
I get asked for advice on how to say no all the time and I realised I hadn’t actually written a blog about it! So, here we are. Do you ever think “no, no, no, no, no “ and then hear the word “yes” slip out of your mouth? Or, do you say yes, and then spend ages feeling...
How to practice mindfulness for a happier, calmer you
Do you: Find it hard to focus or be present with the people you love? Notice your mind always racing, thinking of what’s next, worrying about the future and replaying the past? Find yourself on autopilot, not really conscious of what you're doing? Feel exhausted,...
Build Your Tribe With People Who Are Right For You
Have you found your tribe? "You know, the ones that make you feel the most YOU. The ones that lift you up and help you remember who you really are. The ones that remind you that a blip in the road is just that, a blip. They are the ones that when you walk out...
What are you saying yes and no to?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I'll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the links. I'll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
Matrescence: why mothers are feeling lost and confused
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I’ll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
How to make and stick to a budget
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I'll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I'll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
What’s your definition of a successful day?
Life comes with a multitude of definitions of success In my years as a corporate workaholic, my success was defined by a whole lot of external measures. The number of hours I worked, the company I worked at, the hierarchical level of my position, the targets I hit,...
Healthy lunch and snack ideas for busy mums with little kids
Are you so busy making sure that everyone else is looked after that you forget to look after yourself? Do you often forget to eat, or eat meals that are quick and easy, but lack nutrition? As mums, we tend to put everyone else’s needs and nutrition in front of our...
How to be more present in your life – Part 2
This is part 2 in a 2 part blog post series on how to be more present in your life. You can find part 1 here. In the first part of this blog series on how to be more present in your life, I shared this statistic with you: People are thinking about something...
How to be more present in your life – Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2 part series on how to be more present in your life. You can find part 2 here. Where are you right now? Physically, you might be at home, in the car, at work, at the park. Sitting, standing, lying down, rocking, walking. And you’re...
8 surprising and effective ways to overcome overwhelm
I’ve had quite a lot of practice at dealing with overwhelm over the years. When I was younger, I was always so keen to be involved in everything and to do everything to my perfectionistic standards, that sometimes it all just became too much. I also had a tendency to...
How to improve your relationships with mindful communication
We are communicating all the time, with our significant other, our children, our friends and co-workers, but are we doing it in a mindful manner or are we just saying the first thing that comes to mind? Communication should be easy right? We hear someone say...
How to Get That Sexy Spark Back After Kids
Turn up the heat in your bedroom Being parents is a lot of fun, and stress, but mainly fun. But, let’s not pretend it doesn’t make it hard when it comes to feeling sexy and finding “mummy and daddy” time. I know. I have three kids, I get it. So, let’s look at how we...
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
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you decide to purchase after clicking through the link. I’ll only ever recommend things that I love and believe will help you, and the decision to...
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...
How to organise and tidy your kitchen so you like being in it
Whether we like it or not, caring for children involves constantly preparing and serving food and then cleaning up afterwards. Not only do our children (and partners) have to eat, and preferably eat well, we have to eat well to be able to function at our best,...
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...
Practice 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...
How to ease stress in motherhood with EFT (tapping)
I'm always interested in learning about how to ease stress and any other negative emotions such as overwhelm, fear, anxiety or worry. There's nothing wrong with having these emotions. They're completely normal and human, and we all experience them. But it is helpful...
How to look after yourself by showing kindness
Last week, my son suddenly became really ill. He went from bouncing around, and being his normal self, to being in pain, with a fever and hardly able to sit upright or keep his eyes open, within 30 minutes. After speaking to the Nurse on Call service, we ended up at...