I'm putting my feet up… literally.

Supper is in the oven on a 10 minute timer. The kids are playing, or at least not currently fighting. I could find something else to do, but I could also take a break.

So I’m laying on my son’s bed—where nobody will look for me—with my feet propped against the wall. (It’s a yoga pose.) The view is actually quite interesting, if you consider colorful clingy stickers a good design choice for the ceiling. My kids obviously thought so!

You don’t need a lot of time on the clock to rest or recharge. You need mindful time.

That’s what I told a coaching client who was wondering why she felt so drained and irritated after bedtime. She stayed with her kids while they fell asleep in the dark, quiet room… but scrolled on her phone the whole time.

(No judgment! I’ve definitely done that. Still do, especially if I don’t want to accidentally fall asleep.)

But hanging out with a phone won’t regulate us or allow the body to enter the rest-and-digest state, where the mind is quiet, breathing is regular, and the body is relaxed.

On the contrary, scrolling through social media, checking WhatsApp statuses, or opening notifications keeps us dysregulated. Our senses become heightened, aroused, and on high alert for whatever pops up next. Dopamine and adrenaline keep the body in fight-or-flight mode, leaving us feeling tense and stressed.

Got just 3 minutes for a break? Make them count.

Close your eyes and massage your neck. Take a deep breath, or get a bonus bracha and smell besamim. Drink hot tea, slowly. Put your legs up on the wall :) Do something that brings you back into your body and connects you with your five senses.

Whether it’s pre-Pesach or the daily 5pm witching hour, sneak away for a little rest… and let yourself actually rest.

ps - speaking of Pesach, don’t miss my FREE live workshop next Tuesday: turning cleaning and cooking into engaging, hands-on teaching moments. Sign up here for free to watch it and all the other fabulous workshops at Power Up for Pesach.

pps - Looking for personalized parenting support? I’ve got a few spots for private coaching, only until Lag B’Omer! Book a time here.