Our Mindful Mamas series spotlights other amazing mindful mamas from all over! The interviews focus on mindfulness and self-care and what it means and looks like for each mama. The goal of this series is to showcase the different ways we mamas get our self-care and mindfulness in and show how it can look/feel/be different for everyone, as well as the creative tips we mamas use to fit it in! We hope this series educates, informs and inspires you on self-care and to take some time for yourself, mama!
Meet Brittany Martin Déjean
Brittany is our next Bliss'd Mindful Mama! Brittany is originally from Phoenixville, PA and after a 20-year break, she is back again, raising her two beautiful kids (ages 2 and 4). Read on for my full interview with Brittany.
What is your definition of self-care? Has this changed since becoming a mom?
Self-care starts with self-awareness. It's the knowledge of what you need in any given situation or moment to recenter or recalibrate. If you just do something "self-care" because someone told you it was a good idea, it won't have the same impact as knowing yourself enough to know what you need and why. I didn't think about self-care enough before becoming a mom, but once I did, I realized that my kids are paying attention to how I take care of myself. Hustle, burnout and overwork aren't the model I wanted to give my children, so it forced me to look inward and figure out why I held onto those toxic habits. It gave me a reason to understand my needs and honor them. Now, self-care is about scheduling intentional time on a weekly or monthly basis, daily habits that contribute to my well-being and the confidence to say 'no' when it's the right thing for me.
What does your self-care routine look like? Feel free to share small practices you do regularly and/or a set routine (morning, evening).
Daily: daily free writing in the morning, at least 10 minutes of yoga/stretching, at least 10 minutes of meditation
Weekly: at least one evening a week to myself to do whatever I want
Monthly: an appointment to take care of myself like a massage or pursue some sort of creative endeavor
Do you practice mindfulness? If so, how?
I aim for at least 10 minutes of guided meditation a day, more if I can, to build the habit. I am intentional to avoid multi-tasking, to be in the moment doing what I'm doing.
What's a "mindful mama" tip you have?
What is your favorite self-care activity for when you have… 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 60+ minutes?
5 minutes - stretching or yoga
30 minutes - meditation
60+ minutes - creative expression - writing, art, etc.
What are your top 3 - 5 self-care and/or wellness products?
Motherhood can be overwhelming! How do you center yourself when you’re feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed?
I have to recognize how I feel and will take centering breaths. I will also remind myself that my kids are kids and bound to have difficult moments and it's my job to guide and support them. If I recognize that I need a moment, I communicate it so I'm able to step back and/or get the support I need.
What is a tip you have for a mom interested in self-care but unsure how to start, or she feels overwhelmed with the idea of fitting it in?
Start small and stick to it. If it becomes another huge thing on the to-do list, it's easy to push it down. Even 5 minutes of meditation before bed is one way to commit to something manageable and grow from there.
When do you feel your most bliss’d out?
When I'm feeling balanced and connected, seen and loved.
What's a mama mantra you live by?
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Thank you, Brittany, for sharing your thoughts! If you'd like to connect further with Brittany, follow her on LinkedIn.
