thishouseofseven

It can be challenging to be a present mom in today’s world. Do you find yourself looking down at your phone while your kids are talking to you? I know I do. I have caught myself listening to my kids while I’m scrolling social media or sending a text message. It’s not something I’m proud of but it is something I’ve become aware of. Here are three simple things you can do to be a more present mom.

1.No cell phone Sunday

This can be challenging but I encourage you to find one day of the week where you can leave your cell phone behind and enjoy the day.

I chose Sunday because it’s typically a relaxing day for us, we go to church, go out to eat, Sundays we are usually together and it’s the perfect day for me to not carry my cell phone.

Sunday may not work for you, choose a day that will and commit. Start one day at a time, then commit the next week and so on. You’ll eventually get used to the idea and you’ll stop reaching for your phone. If you’re like me and love to take photos, take your camera 😉 you don’t need your phone.

2.Block your social media

I confessed that I can catch myself “listening” and “having a conversation,” with my boys while I am scrolling social media, that’s not fair to our kids or to the person who is trying to speak to you. I am currently using the app: Refocus (this is not an ad) it’s not free, but it has cut back my time on social media. I have a set time to block my social media and it has been life changing and has helped me with non stop scrolling.

3.Rest

I know this sounds weird, but a rested mama is a present mama. As a mom to five, I find that when I’m exhausted, I cannot be present. I’m overstimulated, I’m cranky, I cannot focus. I now work from home, I’m very blessed to be able to do that, I create my own schedule, so if my two under two nap, I take a 20 minute nap and that has helped. When I worked, I’d go sit in my car and take a power nap after I ate lunch and pumped (nursing mom here). I used to also have a very strict bedtime for both my kids and myself. Rest is important and a must.

Change can be hard, our brain doesn’t like change, it gets used to patterns, we have to try over and over to create new habits. I want to challenge you to reflect on your current life and find what is stopping you from being a present mom and apply one or all three of these principles and come back and let me know how it’s going.