2. Tired Girls guide to mindfulness
This week I’m sharing my guide to mindfulness for when you are exhausted.
I was going to call it ‘the lazy girls guide to mindfulness’, but we are millennials and Gen X’ers - we are not lazy, were are just exhausted from trying to “have it all”! We missed the living-life-in-balance memo.
When we are tired our brain plays tricks on us and often everything can feel so much more overwhelming. Our resilience is low. Our tolerance is non existent. And crying in the shower seems totally valid.
BUT with a few tools in place, you can take serious steps to shift overwhelm with some simple nurturing.
Unfortunately it is so easy to skip self-care when we are tired, maybe:
It feels like a waste of time
You might feel like you actually don’t have time
You pretend doom-scrolling is healthy downtime
Everyone and everything else takes priority
But there is hope. There are super simple striped back ways to build resilience and de-stress when you feel like you can’t.
Save your favourites
If you use an app like InsightTimer or YouTube for meditations you’ll know there are 1000’s and 1000’s of different teachers and their meditations to choose from.
A tired brain does NOT need the added pressure of making decisions.
Save 1 or 2 meditations that you vibe with and make them your go-to’s when you’re cooked.
I have a note on my phone with my favourites saved. I have meditations, breath work, playlists and yoga practices that help me rest.
Scroll down for a screenshot of my list.Brain Dump
Get it all out! There is nothing more a weary brain loves than rehashing un-useful thoughts. It’s like crack for the mind to keep looping thoughts and situations and to-do lists with no resolution!
There are two ways I do this, journalling and post-it notes.
Try journalling for just 5 minutes to break the cycle of the receptive thoughts. Seeing thoughts on paper can take away the potency and it’s also a productive way to examine what is going on.
Remember journalling for better mental health isn’t pretty. You’re not writing a novel or letter for anyone to read!
SO LET IT ALL OUT!
My second way is the post-it note method. I use this when my tired brain is too full and I feel like I can’t grasp what is important and what is not.
Grab a pack of post-it’s and a texta and put one item on each note. Tasks and thoughts don’t need to be in any order as you write them, just get it out!
If you’re anything like me you will then have about 20 post-its in front of you… sort these into categories then prioritise and schedule, palm off to someone else or add to your journal to explore later.Yoga Nirda
Babes this is the tired girls bff of meditation. Even though the name has yoga in it, there is absolutely no movement involved! I describe this meditation as “the best power nap you’ve ever had”.
It’s done laying down, so make yourself super comfy. If I’m feeling extra bougie I make myself a little nest of pillows and blankets to meditate in, but you can just lay on the couch or bed.
There are 100’s of Yoga Nidra meditations on InsightTimer and YouTube, but my absolute favourites are from Jennifer Piercy and Nid’s Nidra
I hope this guide gives you some ideas for how you can look after your mental health when you’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed.
Remember, choice is overwhelming, so create the short cuts for yourself when you’re feeling rested and calm.
If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, I would LOVE to hear from you! Hit reply or find me on instagram.
Libby x
PS Feel free to forward this to a friend who might need a little self-care nudge.
This is what my favourites list looks like in notes. Nothing fancy, but it helps me make a decision quickly!
Dr Tara Swart on Diary of a CEO
My good friend Jaya was so positively affected by this episode that there was no way I wasn’t going to listen! It’s a big one at 2 hours long, but so worth every second. Dr Tara is a neuroscientist, which sounds dry, but her way of explaining the brain and how we can improve our lives via thoughts, trusting our gut and choosing who we spend the most time with, is amazing!Running River by John Butler
This is the latest album from JB and it’s pretty magical. Mainly instrumental, it is soothing and meditative. I love playing it on the way home from a full day at work, such a lovely way to wind down.InsightTimer
I recommend InsightTimer a lot! It’s been my preferred medi app for years, because there is so much amazing free content from meditation teacher all over the world. You will always be able to find the right meds for your mood on InsightTimer.
I also have some guided meditations on there 😉