Mums are personal chefs, Uber drivers, housemaids, walking calendar reminders, the steady tracks keeping everyone on course.
It is an almost, and often is, an impossible load to bear. Mothers are busy, physically and mentally.
Local Susanne Gerstmyer, wife, mother of four, lawyer, entrepreneur, has taken it upon herself to write “Breaking Free of Busy: A Mum’s Guide to Living with Ease and Confidence”. Susanne is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling and has used her own journey towards peace – which included therapy and podcasts and coaching and reading a plethora of books – along with her observations on the lives of other women, to help mothers create a life that is healthy and fulfilling.
“Breaking Free of Busy” was launched on the 5th of February, with a book signing the following night at Berkelouw Books in Hornsby. The book is for those overwhelmed, chronically busy, burnout Mums who feel undervalued.
‘I’ve always been really challenged with busyness, taking on too many things, having a hard time saying no, and having high standards for everything that I’ve done,’ says author Susanne Gerstmyer. ‘It wasn’t until I started to understand myself better and some of the thoughts and beliefs that were under the surface that kept me really busy, I learned how to say no and live with healthy limits.’
“Breaking Free of Busy” aims to make the hectic, fast-paced, unsustainable lives calmer and more grounded. Susanne gives women a practical “Busy Toolkit” to work through their deep-set attitudes of trying to unnecessarily achieve too much and break the habit of busyness. The Toolkit teaches women strategies for making the best use of their time, how to share the load with family, scripts outlining how the ask family for help, how to say “no” with confidence, and how to recognise their own needs.
‘If we want to address busyness, we have to look at all aspects of busyness, says Susanne. ‘The book is designed to have women understand themselves better, the things that keep us over functioning, and then look at a practical “Busy Toolkit”.’
Susanne has learned to be self-aware, to live intentionally, to be self-compassionate, and how to connect with other people. She is sharing this knowledge with the local community, and with all mothers.
‘We’re all in the same boat,’ says Susanne. ‘We all have the same challenges.’
To find out more, visit www.susannegerstmyer.com
