Self-care Stories: A Conversation with Kody

Welcome to Self-care Stories. In this series, we are spotlighting real-life persons and their self-care lifestyle.

Each month, our featured guests will share their unique experiences, insights, and practices that have helped them cultivate a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them. From mindfulness and self-reflection to intentional habits and rituals, we'll dive into the ways our guests prioritize their well-being and make self-care a vital part of their journey.

This month we're talking to a homeschooling mom, wife and recruitment agency owner, Kody. Read her self-care story here.

What does slow living mean to you?

Slow living for me is stepping away from a microwaveable lifestyle that requires everything to happen now, and walking into a more present slow-paced lifestyle that enjoys the small moments.

How has slow living impacted your family life and parenting style?

Once I started to slow down, I recognized that everything is connected. My family life is impacted by my mental state; I am the center of the emotions that spur within the home. Slowing down helped me to understand my triggers and recognize, as well as heal from childhood traumas and hurt that was being buried throughout my life - prior to becoming a mother. The truth is, once I hit the postpartum period, I ended up feeling quite low and I knew something was wrong, when I didn't like motherhood and wanted long breaks from my child and (also) when my spouse and I started having a lot of arguments. Slowing down and healing has helped me to be more graceful to my son, and my marriage has started to flourish postpartum.

How do you navigate self-care when overwhelmed or exhausted?

I prioritize the most important needs. When I'm exhausted (I've noticed that) my mental health needs the most care - so I started doing bible studies and made God my first line of defense. Once I realize I'm getting overwhelmed, I will sing a praise song, pause to pray and try to remember scriptures from my study. I also started doing things that made me feel good, like gardening, coloring, running/walking or simply sitting outside in nature. 

What intentional habits help you stay present and focused?

Definitely, putting my phone down. I intentionally stopped posting a lot on socials, and decided to do other things that brought me peace of mind, like those mentioned above. I've realized that once I'm on my phone, I no longer appreciate what is in front of me, and sometimes I miss out on meaningful moments by scrolling mindlessly. I also try to intentionally quiet my mind and listen more; therefore I am able to be more present and focused on whatever I'm doing.

How do you handle societal pressure to constantly produce and achieve, while still making time for rest?

I am still struggling with this - I want to be the stay-at-home-mom, homemaker and also homeschool my son, but I also want to be a serial entrepreneur and content creator. What I have recognized though, is that once I start leaning on God as my guide, I am reminded that there is a time and season for everything. Slowing down and shedding a lot of what I thought I needed, has impacted my mental health and relationships positively. I've started to prioritize breaks, fasts and rest periods.

What lessons have you learned from embracing slow living?

There is greater gain in the slow and steady. It is best to let go and let God lead my days; the weight gets lighter. I thrive on the slow moments: admiring the bees getting nectar, playing with my child, having long embraces with my spouse, my quiet moments with God and social moments with my family. These have a more lasting impact than how much money I am making, the achievements that I have or want, the clothes/house that needs to be washed/cleaned, or information regarding the latest social media influencer's life. Lastly, I've been able to identify the root cause of my emotions, triggers and mental struggles, just by slowing down.

What advice would you give to mothers struggling to balance the demands of parenting with the desire for a more mindful, slower pace of life?

You will have bad days, but forgive yourself and move forward. Give God your burdens and He will help clear your mind so you can find true balance, create routines, budget and control your emotions. 

Connect with Kody

Instagram: @kodykodez 

(The same handle on Youtube and Tiktok)