Things to do this week in your garden- February Week 3

Mindful Gardening and Floristry activities to calm your mind and soothe your soul

I glanced at my watch, 00.58am staring tauntingly back at me as the baby kicked me for the millionth time.

I had a hard and fast rule with the eldest- no sleeping in our bed ever.

But with my second (and last) who is a far worse sleeper than her sister, it seemed easier to bring her into our bed when she’s ill and waking multiple times a night.

So back to the middle of the night and me stressing about how the hell I was going to entertain two energetic little girls solo the next day on minimal sleep while Dave continues building my greenhouse. (Yes its finally happening! Check my instagram stories for progress updates).

I decided she needed to go back into her own bed. And do you know the minute I put her in there, she settled and went straight back to sleep, until a brief wake at 5am and then up for the day at 6.30am.

It made me think about routine and how we use places and things to calm our nervous systems and help us drop off to sleep. My little one is also partial to a dummy and a cuddly ‘Mucky’ (Monkey), but I’m not sure either of those are socially acceptable for a 37 year old woman!

There has been many a time over the last 10 years that i’ve been laid awake in the middle of the night, my mind whirring. My most effect tool has been visualising myself in my garden. After 10 years of connecting with my garden and spending as many stolen moments out there as I can muster, I can place myself out there in my mind to almost instantaneously slow my brain down and fall into a deep and peaceful slumber.

Do you struggle to sleep?

I can’t promise this is an overnight fix, but by allowing yourself to build up that association over time, it’s a hugely powerful one.

The first step is committing to spending regular time out in your garden. My weekly mindful gardening activities start at just 5 minutes long, so you don’t need to try and find loads of time to begin cultivating this new mind quieting habit.

Why not give them a try this week? You can even put your intention in the comments below and we can hold you accountable and support you to make it happen.