Today we’re going to talk parenting hacks for HSPs (Highly Sensitive People).
Otherwise known as introvert recharging tactics.
Ready? This is going to be gold.
When you’re overwhelmed: take care of yourself first.
Don’t beat yourself up for not making it through the day (or outing) before your energy stores ran out.
It is what it is. You have finite resources.
Right now, pause. Take a step back.
What do you need to do to fix the situation? (Even if it’s not what the parenting experts would say.)
- Do you need the kids to be somewhere else (and be quiet about it) for 45 minutes?
- Do you need an extra cup of coffee today?
- Are your physical energy reserves low? (Freezer snack to the rescue, anyone?)
- Do you need movement to get out of your own head and off the computer? (Walk time! Insert favorite physical activity of choice here.)
- Or does a hot cup of your favorite tea sound more your style?
- 30 minutes to catch up on all your favorite bloggers, no guilt?
- An hour with your latest library book?
Whatever it is, you need to state what you need and take it.
Supper can wait 30 minutes.
The kids can play by themselves.
You can drag the whole family out for a 2nd walk.
You’re not doing them any favors by keeping on parenting when you know you’re about to snap.
When you know you’re one straw away from yelling at anyone and everyone.
Let them know you need them to do ___ (and do it right now), and breathe. Just breathe.
You’ve carved out your own eye in the hurricane.
Now refresh.
You’re not doing your kids any favors by keeping on parenting when you know you’re about to snap.
Here’s what this looks like:
So here’s what I do: I sweep everyone off to their rooms (or outside) for quiet time. Get them all set up with a room-friendly activity, a stack of library books, or the magna-tile box.
Then I do a 5-minute living room pickup (so my eyes aren’t assaulted by clutter during quiet time), and decide what I need most in the moment.
- A hot drink?
- The latest podcast episode from one of my favorite shows?
- A library read of my own?
And go do that for an hour or two.
Bonus Points:
If you really want to be a high achiever about this reset system, brainstorm what you could do differently before the crazy mommy shows up.
But do this sometime later today; it’s not for right now, in your hit-the-reset-button time.
- Should you pack a snack for yourself every week?
- Do you need to cut the outing 40 minutes short as your new normal?
- Do you need to drop that activity altogether?
- Should the kids have outside “recess” every day at a particular time?
- What about “afternoon tea” (or coffee) for you, every day? (book + drink = happy introvert, am I right?)
- Do you need to put on your own music on the way home, instead of listening to the kids’ tunes one. more. time?
Try one thing – just one thing – and make a difference for next week.
You already hit the reset button for today; you already took care of yourself this time.
So what could you do for next time? How could you help next week’s self?
This is what we talk about all the time in my coaching framework – because you can’t show up as your best self in your business (or for your kids!) when you’re running on fumes.
And I’ve got the mom-of-5 kids, 4-in-homeschool, plus running-a-business-at-home chops to prove it.
I run my life in such a way that being a work-at-home, homeschooling mom is easy, and fun – so that’s what I want for you.
A life you love.
A tomorrow you look forward to.
So here’s your challenge for today: What do you commit to doing next time you feel that mommy overwhelm coming on?
What’s going to be your go-to “time to myself” refresh hack?
Pick something, and do it. Every day. All week.
And see what a difference that makes.
Are you ready to turn your low-energy, hate-being-an-introvert days around? I hope so – and all it takes is one small thing.
Taking care of yourself first.
Do it.
