When it comes to wellness, meditating with kids around is easier said than done

My toddler is not a fan of me looking too relaxed.

The last year I've seen a lot of articles and posts being shared on social media recommending that we all that time to look after our mental wellbeing. I think this is great. I'm 100 per cent for it, but when you have small kids around, taking time for yourself is easier said than done. The last week I've been trying to take 15 minutes out of each day to meditate. I've always found that meditation helps with my anxiety and being in and out of lockdown has had me particularly anxious. Now, while planning to take 15 minutes out of each day to have some 'me time' is all well and good, actually getting to do it is quite a different story. Yesterday's meditation out the back garden involved me closing my eyes only to seconds later find a BabyBel being placed in my hand for me to open. My toddler also likes to shout 'MAMMY WAKE UP' when she sees me with my eyes closed, which is not the most calming thing in the world. Honestly, some days I'm lucky if I can have a cup of tea without being asked for a snack, let alone have more than ten minutes to sit quietly and focus on myself. Still, when I can get those few minutes, it is bliss, as self care is now more important than ever. Saying that, self care doesn't always have to be meditation or yoga. It can be sitting in the garden and ignoring our phone. It can be having a shower with our favourite lotions and potions. It can be taking the time to eat our favourite foods. As a parent, I take what I can get when it comes to self care. Parenting under quarantine isn't easy but it is essential right now. Don't worry if you can't keep up with all the suggestions of meditation and wellness exercises that you're seeing splashed all over social media. Focus on doing one small nice thing for yourself each day, even if it's just putting nice clean sheets on your bed.