How in the world is a SAHM with small children supposed to find time to pee much less to meditate? Excellent question. I’ve asked it, too! The trick is to erase whatever preconceived notions you have about meditation. You don’t have to be a monk, chant, or practice yoga to be able to meditate. If you can breathe, you can meditate. I’m proof that meditation is for moms.

Then, meditation can become your #1 parenting tool.

Listed below are three super simple steps that ALL MOMS can use to develop a meditation practice.

Step 1: Embrace the Repetition

By listening to, Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children, by Sarah Napthali, I got a game changing piece of advice. She suggested that moms could turn their mundane repetitive tasks into a chance to meditate.

What does that mean? Meditation is for MOMS!

Well, we all have dishes, vacuuming, and laundry that must be done, right?Most of us just zone out while tackling these chores, or continue adding to our mental to-do list. But, she suggests embracing the repetitive nature of the tasks instead.

Focus on the present task. Breathe. Slow your thoughts. Let everything else fall to the wayside. Basically, turn the MONOTONY into a chance to think MINDFULLY.

Think: Mr. Miyagi teaching the Karate Kid “wax-on” “wax-off.”

You may not be a monk scrubbing a floor in a monastery, but you can get some of the same benefits. The trick is to embrace the repetition and focus on your breathing. It may not seem like “meditation,” but it actually is!

And just like that–you’re well on your way to establishing a meditation practice!

Step 2: There’s an APP for that

Once you’ve been using your repetitive tasks as a chance to practice your deep breathing and mind clearing, then it’s time to move on to a more traditional meditation practice.

Now, again, we’re NOT talking about 30 minutes of silence–we’re just talking about giving yourself a “mommy time-out.”

For this, I highly recommend a MEDITATION APP. These apps are perfect to help support meditation for moms.

There are so many great meditation apps out there. But, I like the guided meditation* offerings that Calm and Headspace offer for newbies.

**A guided meditation talks you through the actual meditation. Don’t worry if you don’t have a clue what to do! I didn’t either! It will baby step you through the whole thing.

A TWO minute session is LITERALLY all it takes.

SERIOUSLY.

STEP 3: Meditation Practice

Once you’ve been practicing the two steps above, then you may start getting a real taste of the benefits of meditation. You may finally start to understand what all the fuss is about!

For me, getting rid of the “mystery” behind the practice of meditation was the key.

I thought a mystical 3 hour enlightenment session was required to reap the benefits. SO NOT TRUE! A few minutes of breathing, slowing your thoughts, and refocusing your energy can be a game changer.

Solo quiet time is the next step. Take the things you’ve learned in the guided sessions and make them your OWN. Start slow—just as you do with the guided meditation practice. Keep it manageable!

Try times when you know you’ll have at least 10 minutes to sit (I am partial to the first few minutes of nap time, the first hour after preschool drop off, or even the clutch late afternoon Paw Patrol session—do what you’ve got to do).

Meditation IS for MOMS

As busy moms of little ones, meditation doesn’t seem like a realistic endeavor. BUT, it definitely can be if we change our ideas of WHO can practice meditation and HOW meditation is practiced.

FIRST: Repetitive tasks can be the gateway to mindfulness and to a realistic meditation practice. That’s not a sink full of dishes: that’s a solid meditation practice waiting for you!

SECOND: Simple to use Meditation Apps can guide even the newest of newbies through a meditation session.

THIRD, when you’re ready, you’ll be able to use meditation as you need it to focus your day and yourself.

Just remember–if you can breathe, you can meditate!

“There’s no such thing as a BAD meditation. Any time you spend in silence is valuable, even if your inner voice is persistent and loud.” 

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Want to remember this? Post A SAHM’s Quick Guide to Meditation to your favorite Pinterest board!