How one mom gets productive rest - even with kids around

Brooke Cagle

For three months, she didn't feel like a person.

After finding out she was pregnant at 20 weeks along (!), my client's baby boy arrived without warning, two months early. He was born a preemie with developmental delays.

The three months after her son was born were a blur of appointments and drives to and from the neonatal unit at the hospital.

Now, getting back into a rhythm of work and caring for her son's needs, she reached out for help.

Today, I'd like to share her story. Because it IS possible to care for yourself while caring for others, and my client is proof.

Name: Rachel
(name and photo changed by request)
Age: 33
Kids: One 1 year old, born a preemie with developmental delays
Goal: Make a do-able and exciting plan to get productive rest throughout the day.

Rachel continued to be in an intense season.

​Her son needed a lot of care. She wondered, "How I'm acting as a mother - is that a good example for him?" "Am I being the person in my day-to-day life that I want to be?"

She and her husband worked from home.

​Though she work and her son, getting rest was hard.
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What coaching helped her realize:

• She had a mental picture of 'resting' meaning sitting on the couch, which would have felt "like a time-out".
• Getting rest at home didn't seem realistic.
• Being out on walks always helped.

Rachel realized that getting rest didn't have to look like sitting on the couch.
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​She learned it was crucial for her to get out of the house to let her mind rest from seeing all the unfinished "to-dos" of the day.

​The main problem was getting time outside without being interrupted by her sweet, retired neighbors (who always stopped her to chat about her baby).

As with all my clients, Rachel got to pick action steps at the end of our session.

Rachel's action steps:

• Take lunch breaks on the patio to enjoy being outside.
• Take daily walks with her son - turning right instead of left - so she wouldn't run into neighbors and could enjoy some solitude.
• Buy a coathook for her jacket to make getting ready to go out even easier.

One week later I heard from Rachel

"I've taken lots of practical steps toward my goal!! So many steps that I've actually surprised myself :)

I have a strong tendency to think and think and think about change but never actually do anything. In the week since we talked, I've been much more conscious of my choices with my down time and I've been excited to choose to go on a walk whenever possible."

One YEAR later

Not only did Rachel do ALL of her action steps listed above, but she's kept up the practice of walking in her neighborhood. In the time that's passed, she and her husband had a baby girl.

She says, "Strapping both kids in the double stroller and taking a long walk in the afternoon has been a true saving grace. I've established a long route that takes me out of my neighborhood, so I don't have to talk to anyone and I can zone out completely."

This is why I love coaching conscientious, caring moms like you!

You may be running on empty. Yet with a compassionate coach, you are able to come up with the best solutions and refuel for the journey ahead.

With just a couple weeks of coaching, Rachel learned how to get productive rest right away and for over a YEAR afterwards. Talk about return on investment!

Are you ready to figure out what recharges your batteries and make a plan you're excited about - so you can have energy for what you love and care about most?

Me too. :)  Click the button below to get started.

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​P.S. This is a perfect introduction to self care coaching - hop on it!