Embracing the Chaos: Navigating Life as a Busy Mum with Possible ADHD

It's time to reflect that 2024 already feels like it's a lot.  As an art teacher, middle leader in a secondary school, and devoted mum, life has been a whirlwind of creativity, chaos, and love and lately it has felt rather overwhelming. Today, I wanted to engage in an open and honest conversation about something that many of us may be quietly grappling with – the potential presence of ADHD in our lives, adding an extra layer of complexity to our bustling routines.

Living in the Fast Lane: Being a mother, a teacher, and an avid blogger is a unique blend of roles, each with its own set of challenges. When you introduce the possibility of ADHD into this dynamic, life can feel like a constant balancing act. From managing the daily to-do lists to navigating the intricacies of household responsibilities, it often feels like we should be able to do it all. It's just laundry, just a quick drive to drop off the children at the next club of the week, a pop to the shop to get tomorrows ingredients for the eldests food tech lesson - so why does it all feel like it continuously takes a toll?

Recognising the Signs: For many of us, the thought of having ADHD has likely crossed our minds more than once. Forgetfulness, impulsivity, and an insatiable need for stimulation can make our daily routines feel like an overwhelming battlefield. It is crucial to recognise these signs and, more importantly, to allow ourselves the grace to seek the support we may need.

Tips for a Stress-Less Life

Time Management Strategies: Managing time effectively is crucial for everyone, but especially for those navigating the challenges of potential ADHD. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, prioritising responsibilities, and utilising tools such as timers or productivity apps can significantly improve our ability to stay on track. Quite often it's helpful to reduce the steps a task may take. For me, my arch nemesis is the weekly food shop and what to have for tea. I have removed that step by using meal subscription boxes like Gousto. This has removed a number of steps that send me into an overwhelmed state. I no longer have to come up with exciting meals we will all love, I don't have to shop for the ingredients either - and, quite frankly I'm saving a ton of money too. No more dopamine-hitting extras in my trolly. 

Mindful Supplementation: Exploring things like lions mane supplement, renowned for their potential cognitive benefits, may offer support in managing ADHD-related challenges. However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any new supplements into our daily routines to ensure they align with our unique needs. It's something I have added and it is definitely helping to clear my brain fog.

Embrace the Outdoors: Incorporating outdoor activities into our daily lives can have transformative effects on our mental well-being. Short breaks outside can serve as moments of rejuvenation, and integrating outdoor family activities not only promotes family bonding but also contributes to a holistic approach to well-being.

Mindful Meditation: The practice of mindfulness and meditation has been proven to be effective in managing the symptoms associated with ADHD. Starting with short, guided meditation sessions and gradually increasing their duration can help us develop the skills to stay present and reduce mental clutter.

Delegate and Seek Support: A superhero doesn't need to carry the weight of the world alone. It's crucial to acknowledge when we need help and not be afraid to ask for it. Delegating tasks, whether at home or work, and seeking support from family members or colleagues can lighten our load and contribute to a more balanced life. Having a chat with my husband, just last night, he said "how can I help" and I said just taking the dog for a walk for me will help me to manage my morning routine and getting the children ready for school - sure enough, even before I had woken this morning, the dog had been walked. Simple and tiny little delegation completely shaped my headspace this morning- let's see how long it lasts 😉

Structured Routine: Establishing a daily routine with set times for work, family, and self-care can be a powerful tool in managing ADHD-related challenges. Consistency provides a sense of structure that helps us navigate our responsibilities more efficiently and reduces the overwhelm that can accompany the unpredictability of daily life.

Life as a busy mum with the potential for ADHD in the mix can undoubtedly be overwhelming, but it's crucial to remember that you're not alone on this journey. By acknowledging our unique experiences and incorporating these practical tips into our daily lives, we can create a more stress-less and fulfilling experience for ourselves and our families.

K Elizabeth xoxox

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