What’s one thing that lifts your mood? What’s your go to if you feel like you need a bit of a boost? It’s important for all of us to know how to take care of ourselves and manage our physical and mental health.
Annette Spur is an author and blogger who loves to inspire parents with her ‘Mum Daily’ blog. She equips and inspires mums to discover the power of gratitude journalling, and encourages them to ask for help if they need it.
Annette recently joined us on Rise & Shine to share her tips on how to take time out from parenting. She believes it’s important that we allow ourselves to rest and recuperate from the constant demands.
“I love going out for a walk,” Annette says. “Getting out into nature, being amongst trees and birds and whatever else I might encounter along the way. It just connects me directly to God, and I always come back refreshed and ready to take on the world.”
It’s not always easy to negotiate time away for yourself, but the benefits are huge. Annette says it helps both parents and families flourish. She will often take her children with her and finds that it’s a great incentive to get out of the house.
“I’ve created a bit of a life hack for mums,” says Annette. “The kids might say no to just coming for a walk. But if you say ‘do you want to come for a Pokemon hunt with me’ they get a bit more excited. They want to know where they can go and what they might find.”
Annette says that when her kids were little she would stop the pram every few metres. Her boys would get excited about everything they saw, and loved finding things like sticks and flowers. By the time they got home, the pram would be full!
“I didn’t burn as many calories, but that time taught me to literally stop and smell the roses. A lot of people love running with the headphones on, but I love being engaged with what’s happening around me. It’s a good gauge for me. If the thoughts in my head are too loud and I can’t hear the birds, I know I need to quiet myself.”
Going for a walk is a simple yet effective way to help keep yourself physically, mentally and emotionally well. How can you develop your own self-care plan today? What connects you back to God?
