Everyday moments of Zen
Sudocrem has teamed up with yoga and wellness coach, Lydia Sasse, who will share tips and guide parents on how to self-soothe, even in the most trying of times, across the Sudocrem Ireland social channels: “As a mum myself, I know only too well the pressures parents are currently facing and am happy to support Sudocrem with their Soothing Families campaign. We’re inviting parents to take some well-earned time to re-calibrate – whether it’s getting some getting some movement at home by practicing yoga or tai chi, having a relaxing cup of chamomile tea or taking a few moments to meditate – it’s all about allowing yourself little soothing moments throughout the day that will enable you to take on the next challenge.”
Sudocrem recently commissioned research* amongst the parents of Ireland to support its Soothing Families campaign in a bid to uncover the main causes of worry or concern in their daily lives and what kind of soothing moments help alleviate the everyday pressures of parenthood.
While parents are currently struggling with trying to master juggling working from home and looking after their little ones, the results revealed that most parents (43%) often find themselves feeling stressed, with mums feeling stressed more frequently (49%) compared to dads (36%).
To counter the stresses and worries of parenthood, Sudocrem - a trusted brand that has been soothing families for over 85 years - also set out to unearth how parents self-soothe and savour every-day moments of zen, even in the most challenging of times. The research found that most parents (60%) find getting outdoors and enjoying some fresh air is self-soothing, with nearly half (49%) agreeing that getting exercise helps them to relax. Thirty-seven per cent love to listen to soothing music, 18% enjoy cooking or baking, while 17% practice deep breathing or meditation to tune out the noise around them.
SOOTHING TIPS FOR PARENTS BY WELLNESS COACH LYDIA SASSE*
Take a movement break every day. Taking at least 15 minutes twice a day to move your body can promote positive changes in the brain that improve concentration and creativity, but also releases endorphins that lift your mood and make you feel good. This could be a simple yoga routine, some gentle tai chi or just dancing to your favourite music in the kitchen with your kids.
Find some time to slow down and connect to your breath. Take a few minutes every couple of hours just to place your hand on your stomach. Check that when you inhale, your belly fills with air and on exhale, your belly button is drawing back towards the spine. This can do wonders for a frazzled nervous system.
Create a nightly ritual before bed for better quality sleep. The actions that we take in the hours before bed can directly affect the quality of our sleep and simple changes can make a huge difference. Things like switching off electronic devices an hour before bed, using a lavender essential oil in a diffuser in your room or having a relaxing cup of chamomile tea are some of the ways we can build a pathway to a more restorative nights rest.
Ground yourself in nature. Get outside when you can and stand with your bare feet on the earth. You can also connect with nature when counting daisies with your children or in the quiet of the evening while you gaze at the stars. Research shows that when we are grounded, our stress hormones reduce, our sleep and circulation improves and inflammation decreases.
Create a gratitude journal. Make a list of things that bring you joy and do one every day. It’s such a simple task and yet it can shift your whole mindset in a short amount of time. To get started make a list of all the things big or small that bring you joy. This could be making overnight oats for your breakfast the next day, reading a favourite book or baking with your little ones.
*If undertaking any of these activities, please adhere to current government guidelines