'A message for the loving mum who just can't slow down.'

When I shared my story about postnatal depletion, I wasn’t sure what the response would be as I’m not used to writing such personal blogs. It resonated with thousands of mums as this subject is rarely discussed but it has left me questioning something: Why is it we continue to push ourselves when we are both physically and mentally exhausted? Who is to blame?

Is it social media?

Are we trying to prove to others that we are actually a real-life SUPERHERO?!

Or

Is it our own high expectations?

LISTEN: Robin Bailey, mum-of-three, shares tricks on getting more sleep. (Post continues…)

I have an idea that it’s probably a combination of all three, with a focus more on individual personality. So if you’re a little bit like me, a naturally strong-willed person, what does it take to actually slow down?

• Sickness?
• Infertility issues?
• Constant injuries?
• Breakdown in relationship?
• Depression?

Unfortunately, we could be dealing with several of the above issues, but speaking from experiences, we dig a bit deeper into what’s left of our dwindling reserves and push on anyway! Are we crazy or what? We can be exhausted and dreaming of sleep every waking moment, yet we get the vacuum cleaner out when we have a spare minute, or because ‘so and so’ looks AMAZING on Instagram we follow a 10-minute HIIT app? What the hell… I mean, seriously?

It shouldn’t be like this, and if it’s social media adding pressure, then it may be time to unfollow some of the accounts that make you feel stressed or inadequate.  If it’s your own expectations try to learn to let go a little, it’s normal not to get things done when you have pre-schoolers and babies. What isn’t normal is being able to exercise for an hour a day when you are only getting two-to-four hours of sleep.

I wrote this post on Facebook a couple of years ago when I had finally figured ‘things’ out. It’s a favourite so I had it printed and made into wall art for my studio. It’s something that as busy fit mums we need to regularly read to remind ourselves that what we doing is enough. And do you want to know a secret? The less you do now, the more energy you will actually have in the future.

I certainly haven’t got all the answers but I’m pretty sure that as a strong and independent woman myself I personally made it increasingly hard to rest as much as I should have, it was almost as if I was allowing myself to self-destruct and as a coach and trainer I should have known better.

The thing is that we have to make the change and slow down our self because no one else can do it for us - only you can make the decision to do this.

Think about it like this:

If you are currently speeding around each day at full gas, lift your foot off the accelerator and take things steady for a while - because if you can’t slow down or reach for the brakes (breaks) when you need them, then you are undoubtedly going to crash. Remember that you are in control of this and slowing down is not forever.

The younger years are tough but I promise you that your children make it all worth it. What you also learn from this period as a mother is quite life-changing, it's probably preparing us all for the teenage years!

This post originally appeared Pregnancy Exercise. You can read the original post here.

Lorraine Scapens is the founder of  Pregnancy Exercise and has more than 20+ years’ experience in the Fitness Industry. Mum to three girls Lorraine knows exactly how hard it can be to juggle everything which is why she developed her popular online fit mum programs.