Weekly Wins 36: The 15 Minute Mind Unwind

For the last long while, I’ve been trialling something on myself. My sleep has never been worse in the last 6 ish months. Not even when I had newborns – the theory there is that I was so exhausted with newborns that I’d go back to sleep so fast after I’d feed them overnight, but sometimes nowadays I’d wake up to wee (thanks previous pregnancies) and I’d be awake for ages, or I’d wake up to a noise and that’d be it (my previous self was such a deep sleeper!) I’d be awake for ages, or I wake up thinking of all the things I didn’t do, or all the things I forgot, or all the things I have to do, or my husband would roll over, and THAT’S IT, I’M UP!! 😅 String a few of these nights together and I’d end up walking around like the dishevelled mother I felt, and worse still, I’d make silly mistakes that were out of character. That’s when the self esteem would go down, productivity would go down, efficiency would go down and one by one I’d drop all the balls… Gosh that sounded dramatic but it kinda was?!?!?!?!

All the socials seemed to focus on your ideal “morning routine” that’d set you up for the day…. My morning routine looks like this, it’s super duper simple.

• Get up
• Get kids dressed, fed, packed for the day ahead
• Get kids to school
• Get myself ready
• Start work (whatever work that’d be, house work / paid work / appointments etc)

There was no peaceful morning walks, no cups of tea in my special spot (I don’t have a special spot), no gratitude journal writing… just get up and straight into it…. My day also starts when the kids wake (usually BLOODY EARLY) so already the lack of sleep, and the cooler weather, and the fact that I am not an early bird getting up to get the worms, means I don’t have the capacity to have a lovely slow start to my day.

What it did mean though was that I had a chance to decide how I wanted at least 15 minutes of my night time to look like! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stretched thin by the end of the day. In the midst of living life with all it’s responsibilities, it's crucial to carve out moments of peace and relaxation for ourselves. That's where the concept of the "15 Minute Mind Unwind" comes in—a simple yet powerful practice I designed to help parents unwind, destress, and reconnect with themselves at the end of each day.

What is the 15 Minute Mind Unwind?

The 15 Minute Mind Unwind is a dedicated time at the end of the day to focus on your mental and emotional well-being. It's a chance to step away from the chaos of daily life, quiet the mind, and indulge in activities that promote relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation. The activities are simple. The activities can be done with or without children in the room (obviously better to be able to focus on yourself without them in the room, but hey, this is real life!). From stretching to deep breathing exercises and inspirational reading, and simple journaling (not as you might know it though!), the 15 Minute Mind Unwind offers a holistic approach to self-care that nourishes the body, mind, and soul.

Why Take 15 Minutes for Yourself?

Taking just 15 minutes for yourself at the end of each day may seem like a small gesture, but the benefits are profound. The changes I have noticed have been truly wild. My brain is more decluttered, my body is more stretched out, my muscles are more relaxed and my day the next day is more streamlined.

Here's some other reasons why it's important to prioritise this 15 minutes of time:

1. Stress Relief: 
The demands of parenthood and daily life can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. By taking 15 minutes to unwind and relax, we can effectively reduce stress levels and promote a sense of calm and tranquillity.

2. Mindfulness and Presence:
The 15 Minute Mind Unwind encourages us to be present in the moment and cultivate mindfulness in our daily lives. By focusing on activities like deep breathing or my simplified journaling activity, we can quiet the mind and foster a greater sense of awareness and presence.

3. Self-Reflection and Growth:
Use this time to reflect on the events of the day, express gratitude (again, not as you probably know it!), and set intentions for the future (that don’t stress you out and make you more anxious!). By engaging in self-reflection, we can gain valuable insights into ourselves and our experiences, leading to personal growth and development.

4. Better Sleep:
Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine can help improve the quality of our sleep. By winding down with the 15 Minute Mind Unwind, we signal to our bodies that it's time to relax and prepare for restful sleep.

5. Reconnection with Yourself:
In the hustle and bustle of parent life, it's easy to lose sight of ourselves and our needs. The 15 Minute Mind Unwind provides an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves on a deeper level, fostering self-awareness, self-love, and self-care, and not in a cheesy / cliché way I promise. I’m too practical and literal for that hahahaha!

Incorporating the 15 Minute Mind Unwind into your daily routine doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Simply set aside 15 minutes at the end of each day (whatever time you can work into your schedule) to engage in activities that promote relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation. If you need help with accountability – I’ve got you covered!

JOIN ME!

Whether you're seeking a moment of relaxation amidst the chaos of daily life or craving the accountability and support of a community, I invite you to join me! Sign up as a founding member to become a part of my brand new Village!

The Village is a unique approach to family dynamics awareness, parental self-care and personal growth tailored for busy parents and caregivers. The Village offers practical, easy-to-implement routines, resources and programmes designed to help you unwind, and reduce stress, but also to build a strong, genuine, deeply connected family unit with flourishing individuals.

Here’s what sets The Village apart:

1) A portal to house all the contents:
Your intentional dedicated central hub for accessing everything.

2) Access to a growing library of exclusive resources:
Utilise tools and resources alongside guided routines and monthly missions.  

3) The 15 Minute Mind Unwind:
Start your journey with a dedicated evening routine to help you relax, reflect and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.

4) Comprehensive Monthly Missions and Guided Routines:
Engage in practical, evidence-based missions ranging from simple tasks to significant family improvements.

5) Live Accountability Sessions:
Join live sessions to discuss family dynamics and neurodiversities, keeping everyone on track towards their goals.

6) Community Support:
Connect with like-minded parents and caregivers who understand your challenges and share you desire for incremental shifts towards a more genuine family unit. 

7) A Bonus ADHD Tracker Diary:
Track your real life!

8) Special Discount Codes and Early Access:  
Enjoy exclusive discounts and early access to coaching, events, programs, resources and workshops.

9) A Book Club where you actually don’t read the books:
How many times have people said “Have you read X, gosh it’d be so good for your situation!” and you’ve thought, “Sure thing, I’ll add it to my never ending TO DO LIST!”.  This book club is like no other!  It’s a book club where I read the books (you are totally welcome to as well though!), and you benefit from summaries and key insights on books tailored to your needs, saving you time whilst gaining valuable knowledge!.

Benefits of Joining:

1. Individual and Family Well-being:
- Address all aspects of your and your family’s well-being—mental, emotional, and physical—through a balanced and comprehensive approach.

2. Practical and Achievable:
- Designed for busy schedules, our routines and resources are simple to integrate into your daily life without adding extra stress.

3. Community and Connection:
- Build meaningful connections with others who understand your struggles and successes, fostering a sense of belonging and support.

4. Continuous Improvement:
- Regular updates and new content ensure that you always have fresh ideas and tools to enhance your self-care practice.

Speaking of content, I have content drafted on the following topics, you can have the deciding vote in what I should create for you first!

• Busting Burnout!
• Emotional Intelligence for kids (big and little ones!)
• Help me parent my under 6 year old!
• Help me parent my 7-13 year old!
• Supporting Neurodiversity: How can we do it effectively?
• Raising Resilient Kids
• 28 Days of Simple Self Care
• And lots more….

Are you ready to make small incremental changes to your family's dynamics and your personal well-being? Join The Village today and experience a unique approach to self-care, family connection, and personal growth.

Start making the small impactful changes that will lead to profound connections and results. For a limited time, join as a founding member for just $7/month! Remember, your well-being is not a luxury—it's essential.

Visit my store to join The Village and take the first step towards a balanced, stress-free, and fulfilling family life. Let’s build a strong, genuine, deeply connected family unit together.

I would love to see you there!

Much love,

Alison xx