What do you do when everything goes awry? The kids are fighting, the science projects are due but not yet begun, the baby sitter cancels, the dishwasher overflows, and the phone doesn't stop ringing! These are just some of the things that can pile up on you during the day. Hopefully only one situation occurs at a time but there are days when it seems everything happens at once and you want to scream and tear your hair out.
Well, there are a few strategies that help us get through these rough patches.
In the midst of a multitude of chaotic events you must deal with the ones involving safety first. So take a few deep breaths and diffuse any situation that could involve injury or safety.
After that I recommend taking a BREAK!
B - spend a few minutes focused on breathing, take deep, slow breathes and concentrate on the air coming into and out of your body. Fill your whole body up with air.
R - recognize and regroup, look at the individual components and assess what needs your immediate attention and what can be saved for another time.
E - evaluate, at a neutral moment, evaluate how you were feeling. Did that play a role in the escalation? Evaluate the environment, is it conducive to peace and tradquility? Were you trying to take on too much? What can you change?
A - attention - pay attention to how these situations began. Are your children acting out because they are hungry, tired, or need time apart from one another? Take a moment to focus on how it all began and then provide alternative activities, exercise, snack, or quiet time depending on the need.
K - kindness, be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up over the events that have occured. Observe and see what changes are possibe and implement them.
You can take a BREAK at least once a day (it is not only for disasters) and it will help you feel more in control of your life.
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