Caring for Our Mental Health
Hello friends!
In early March we welcomed our second baby, Cora Quinn, to our family. It has been a big life transition for us yet again, but the last few months have been full of loving support from all sides. All changes come with their own challenges and learnings, but more on that to come! Everyone is doing great and we’re so grateful for the support of our friends, family, and community.
I intend on sharing more personal stories about the birth and my postpartum journey down the road, but for now, I wanted to share that I am currently accepting health coaching clients to start in August! You will be seeing more from me through blogs and on social media a little over the summer, but I plan on enjoying time with my family. As always, if you have questions about my work or have a referral, please reach out!
Every year, May turns out to be one of the busiest months between end-of-year school events, activities, and family celebrations. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. For many families, and moms in particular, it can feel hard to continue being intentional about mental health between packed schedules, trying to tie up the end of the school year, and taking care of others. If you’re feeling pulled in all directions or running on empty, what are some small ways you can cultivate a refuge from the chaos? What would your go-to list of ideas include?
Have you ever spent your time and energy on activities that didn’t bring you fulfillment and joy? As women, we’re often sent the message that we should be taking time for “self-care” and that these quick fixes (i.e. manicures, baths, yoga) should help us feel better. When we don’t feel better, we end up beating ourselves up. While there is nothing inherently wrong with some of these activities, the goal is discovering what fills you up and leaves you feeling rejuvenated or ready to take on the world, not just checking off something on a checklist found on social media. We are multifaceted humans, and our needs will differ based on our unique circumstances. If the self-care you’re taking part in is leaving you less than satisfied, what can you do about it?
It might be worth taking a broader look at what regular practices or actions help you feel at home in your body and in alignment with your values. This is the type of work you can expect to do in health coaching - uncovering what helps YOU improve your well-being versus being driven by external forces (i.e. other people, capitalism). Health and wellness coaching moves from the inside out and is how I help clients connect with their authentic selves. If that sounds like something you are interested in or that someone you know might be, go to the connect page on my website or email me at lauren@laurenpaynecoaching.com to start a conversation.
I’ve learned quite a lot during my second time around postpartum, and two major lessons have been and continue to be I deserve the same care and compassion that I try to offer to others, and that I am more than enough as I am. In fact, taking care of me in ways that are personally meaningful and impactful is what allows me to show up for my loved ones in the best possible way.
If you have a chance, drop me a line to let me know how you are taking care of your mental health right now, or let me know something you are looking forward to this summer.
Resources:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more specific or local resources, reach out to me.
