Have you ever wished your motherhood journey felt slower? You're attracted to the slow living aesthetics you see on socials, want to take up a cozy hobby, or feel the need to drop everything and move to a homestead.

And on a deeper level, you know a slower pace of life when you are at home and with your children would improve your presence with them, and ensure you don't miss a moment of their ever-changing childhood. And you know you'd feel true contentment if you leaned into a softer, slower version of motherhood.

But...real life gets in the way. You've got a job, your kids are young and rambunctious, you've got chores, and who has time for all that slowing down anyways?

Slow Mothering in a Fast-paced World

Choosing to slow down in your motherhood journey is an intentional motherhood decision. It's a way of quietly aligning your values of presence and purpose with a life that reflects them.

In a world that moves faster than human brains were ever wired to think, leaning into a slower pace in your relationship with your children gently rejects society's standard. It offers your children something so many miss out on: true, unrestricted presence and attention.

How do you approach a slower pace when your reality moves a mile a minute? Don't discount the mothering style you find most aligned with your values just because society's pace differs. Your belief that slow motherhood is possible amidst a busy life is your first step toward making it happen.

The Mindset around Slow Motherhood

Ugh, another wellness person talking about mindset, am I right?

The thing is, mindset really is a critical component in achieving anything, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, finishing a marathon, or, indeed, implementing a less than common motherhood style. Whether you think you can do something influences whether you do it.

I wanted to start with mindset in this series because, even when you strive to implement tangible change, mindset has the power to block that initiative and snap you back into your old rhythms. Don't skip the subtle but powerful practice of editing your thoughts and words to reflect the lifestyle you are embodying.

Your belief that you can find a slower path at home and with your children is crucial to actually finding said path. I know you're skeptical, so start by editing your mindset over the next few weeks with the suggestions below.

Three Mindset Shifts to Lean into Slow Motherhood

1. We don't have time -> We have time. Watch your thoughts and your words over the next couple of weeks. How often do you tell your family you don't have time for something? Is it true? Start the rewiring process by deciding, actively, that you do indeed have time to read a book, listen to a story, or examine a leaf, bug, or rock. Okay, but what about the times we really, really don't have time like when the oven is beeping while the pasta boils over and we all know mornings can get a little hectic? Well, if it's true, you can say it. But taking a moment to pause before you do ensures you're not solidifying a state of rushing into your head (and your family's) when the reality is different.

2. I'll slow down when X happens -> I'm slowing down now. Ah, the age-old achievement cycle. We're pushing for something that we just know we can reach in the future, but by the time we do, we're already so set on the next milestone, we don't even realize we are sitting on something that used to feel so important. You can live your whole life pushing for milestones or you can live it experiencing the journey to those milestones. When the in-between is watching your kids pass through their own milestones, finding purpose in "smaller" pursuits like a craft project or garden task, and simply feeling good in your day to day, you realize X thing happening for you is not the end all and be all. When you catch yourself rationalizing opting out of your values because you need X to happen first, take mental note and provide yourself a new rationale for leaning into your values instead.

3. I can't actually have a slow lifestyle like X person -> My slow motherhood journey is my own. We all know comparison is the thief of joy! The mindset that you can't have a slow lifestyle like someone else does have some truth to it. You can't live that way because you're not them. You're starting where you are now, with everything that encompasses, and they started somewhere else. Journeying into a slower, more intentional path is a deeply personal choice rooted in your own values and your own understanding of what is important in your life, for your family, and as a mother. Watch when your thoughts fall into the comparison trap and do what you can to avoid triggers (like reducing your scroll time on social media). When you find you're comparing yourself to someone else, recognize what's happening and offer a gentle internal reminder that you are where you're supposed to be.

More Ways to Slow Down

• Two-minute Reset Meditations for Routine Calm Days includes ten completely free two-minute meditations for you to capture a moment of calm right now, without spending an hour at the yoga studio or taking paid leave.

• The Mama Naturalist on my website and Substack is a space where I share both conceptual and practical guidance on slowing down, connecting to nature, and living seasonally.

• Mindful Moms Digest offers exclusive yoga and meditation classes, nature stories from a wildlife biologist (me!), and free, supportive resources including links back to every blog post for busy, working moms journeying toward a slower, more seasonal way of life.

• Cultivate Calm Mornings is a structured series of three yoga workshops that supports you in transforming your morning routine from chaotic to calm.