A mum’s life in 2020 looks like finely tuned chaos held together by happy thoughts, duct tape made up of hope, and wine.

Let’s be real. Sometimes, lots of wine

A mum’s life feels terrifying.

At times, like you’re trying to hold everything together with the micromanagement skills of Martha Stewart. And it gets so tiring and overwhelming because, with one wrong move or one forgetful moment, you could fall face-first onto the ground, with every ball you have been madly juggling crashing down around you.

Then, there are the bazillion things we have on our never-ending to-do lists—kitchen benches to wipe down (again, and again, and again), dinners to cook (why can’t kids just be happy with tinned soup?), another trip to the supermarket, emails and text messages to reply to and…and…sigh.

It’s enough to make you want to crawl back under the warm blankets of your bed and pray for a fairy godmother, robotic butler, or even a miracle.

I know exactly how that feels.

Sucky, frustrating, overwhelming, tiring, and like you’re being pulled in 100 directions and nearing a breaking point.

There is no magical or robotic creature that will help you, but there are some tools to help you go from feeling trapped in chaos, to finding your place of calm. A few ways to make your life easier and a whole lot more fun.

Five tips to help mums move from chaos to calm:

1. Create more joy in your day.

Create pockets of time to experience more joy in your day. Get out of your pj’s and put on something that makes you feel great. Wear your best earrings, shave your legs (crazy how this can make us feel better), eat off your best crockery (yes, the good stuff that is in the back of the cupboard and only used for when special people come to dinner), jump on the trampoline (if your pelvic floor can cope), or stir the spaghetti bolognese while rocking out to your favourite song.

2. Take longer in the bathroom.

Crazy? Maybe. However, this is the perfect place to gain peace from the noise, because nobody’s going to bother you if they think you’re on the toilet.

3. Write your thoughts and feelings.

At the end of every day, write down your thoughts and feelings—the good, the bad, and the ugly. This helps you validate your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and give them a voice. 

4. Create a gratitude practice.

Create a gratitude practice by writing down five things you’re grateful for each day. Take pen to paper and write down all you have seen, felt, watched, or experienced in the past 24 hours. This helps you look for more things that help you feel joyful and connected throughout your day.

 5. Move your body every day.

It’s not about body image—it’s about releasing those feel-good hormones that are totally free. You don’t need to be a gym junkie. Simply pop on some runners, a funky pair of activewear tights, and move your booty. This will help you lift those buttocks (wink, wink), and it will leave you feeling on a natural high and ready to focus on all you want to get done.

Now it’s your turn to move from chaos to calm; fill your cup with a little self-love and remove that duct tape of hope because, woman, you’ve got this!

I can already see you zoned out in the loo with the door shut.

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