Day 9: Get off the Google.

It was when I found myself frantically searching for pictures of babies' sunken fontanelles that I knew I had to stop. Was my baby's fontanelle sunken?? I don't know. There's a bump there! This was after I had come across information that a sunken fontanelle may indicate dehydration while on a completely unrelated hunt for information about...I couldn't even tell you I was so deep down the internet vortex.

Google is a dangerous attention snatcher that will suck you away from the present and into a web of disasters and problems you never even knew could happen. I strongly suspect it exacerbates postpartum anxiety that this generation of moms experiences at a rate unknown to previous generations.

Come back. Save yourselves. Look at this beautiful little being in front of you and soak it in. Be wary of endlessly comparing him or her to the laundry list concerns and woes on the internet.

If you feel compelled to google search, ask yourself: is this going to help me?

Then, ask yourself: No, but is this really going to help me?

Then ask yourself, No, but is this REALLY going to help me?

Mindfulness doesn't really prescribe a set of behaviors, and wouldn't have an opinion one way or the other about your googling habits. It is about the quality of attention you bring to your moment-to-moment experiences. BUT, if you bring your compassionate attention to this habit and notice it isn't serving you, it’s best to consider limiting it or cutting it out entirely.