“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your estimate of it—and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
— Marcus Aurelius
Let’s be real, I’m a Papa of 5 and I know being a mum is harder and it isn’t just a job. It’s an unpaid, 24/7, no clocking off, no HR department kinda deal. You’re holding it all together: the emotional load, the schedules, the moods, the mess, the work (whether in or out the home), and somehow still expected to show up smiling, calm, and in control.
And the truth is you’re doing an incredible job. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. You feel stretched thin. Snappy. Disconnected from yourself. Tired… but wired.
That’s why I want to share something a bit different with you today.
Not more hacks, not more pressure to optimise your day, just a way back to yourself. A way to feel grounded, strong, steady, even when everything around you feels chaotic.
It’s what we live and breathe at Stoic Training. Using Stoicism, movement, breathwork and nature to reconnect with our power. And yes, it’s for mums too. This isn’t about six-packs and mountain hikes (unless that’s your thing). It’s about building a quiet strength from the inside out.
Let me show you how.
1. Control the Controllables (Even When the Kids Are Screaming)
There’s a Stoic quote I come back to often, especially in those parenting moments when everything feels like it’s on fire.
“If you are distressed by anything external… the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it.”
For me, so often, it’s not just what’s happening that causes stress it’s the stories we attach to it.
“They’re misbehaving because I’m a bad parent.”
“I can’t keep up. I’m failing.”
“This is too much. I can’t do this.”
And the Stoics remind us: we always have a choice. Not to control the chaos, but to control our response to it. That’s where your power is.
Try this next time you feel the pressure building:
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask yourself: “Can I control this?”
If not, can I soften my grip on it?
You’d be surprised how much peace that little moment can create, because I find it’s the expectation of our perceived perfection that we hold to.
2. Move to Remember Your Strength
You don’t need to smash a gym session or run 10K to feel strong. I’m a big believer in keeping it simple, and that’s why calisthenics is such a powerful tool, especially for mums.
Bodyweight training can literally be done in your kitchen, next to the pram, or in the park while the kids play. No equipment. No pressure. Just you, your body, and a few minutes of focused movement.
It’s not about aesthetics. It’s about identity.
Every squat, push-up or hang says:
“I matter. I’m showing up for me.”
Give this a go:
- 5 squats
- 5 incline push-ups (hands on kitchen counter)
- 20 second doorframe hang (More of a stretch if your tiny like my wife and barley reach the frame)
- 3 rounds. Done in under 10 minutes.
And hey, get the kids involved if you want. Let them see you take your power back.
3. Breathe Before You Break
When everything feels too much, don’t underestimate your breath.
You don’t need a meditation cushion or an hour of silence (let’s be honest, where would you find that?). You just need a few conscious breaths to reset your nervous system.
Because when you’re overwhelmed, your body’s in fight-or-flight, and that’s not a mum problem, that’s a human physiology thing. The fix? Breath.
Here’s the reset I give people:
- Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds
- Exhale slowly through the mouth for 6 seconds
- Repeat for 2–3 minutes
Easy! Do it while the kettle boils. Or sitting in the car before pick-up. Or hiding in the bathroom (no judgement).
You’ll feel calmer, clearer, and more like yourself again. It’s wild how quickly it works.
4. Reclaim Your Wild (Even If You Don’t Leave the House)
When I say “adventure training,” most people picture mountains and mud runs. And sure, we do that. But adventure is really about choosing challenge on purpose. It’s reconnecting with your edge, not to prove anything, but to feel alive again.
For mums, adventure might look different, and that’s perfect.
It might be:
- A cold shower when you’d rather not
- A barefoot walk in the garden
- Leaving your phone at home for a walk
- Dancing in the rain with your kids
It’s about tapping back into something primal, something fun. You. Before the roles. Before the noise. That wild woman is still there. She’s just waiting to be let out.
5. What Will You Revoke Today?
Let’s circle back to that quote from earlier.
“The pain is not due to the thing itself… but to your estimate of it.”
There’s so much you carry that isn’t yours. The pressure to be everything. The guilt when you can’t. The belief that taking time for yourself is selfish.
What if you revoked that today?
What if strength wasn’t about holding it all, but knowing when to put something down?
You don’t have to overhaul your life.
Just pick one thing from this blog and give it a go:
- A few push-ups in the kitchen
- Two minutes of focused breath
- A walk without your phone
- A shift in perspective
Start there. Small actions, done consistently, change everything.
Want a Bit More Support?
If this resonates, we’ve built a free 5-Day Foundations Challenge just for people like you. It introduces Stoic Training in real, doable ways. You’ll get guided support in:
- Breathwork
- Movement
- Mindset
- Cold exposure
- And reconnecting with your edge
You don’t need to be fit or “sorted”, just ready to explore something different.
Click here to join the free challenge, or message me directly if you want to chat through it first.
You’ve got more strength in you than you know.
Let’s wake it up.