Being a mum is the most important and rewarding job you will ever have. It is also the most demanding and challenging job in the world. To keep up with life as a mum you need to be functioning at your best.
Here are 5 things mums need to do to feel their best…
1. Look after your child’s mother aka YOU!!!
As mums we tend to put the needs of everyone else before our own which can NEVER sustain us long term. Eventually it drains us – physically, mentally and emotionally. Putting ourselves first is necessary for our wellbeing AND the wellbeing of our family. Just as the safety talk goes before the aeroplane takes off, if there is an emergency, put YOUR oxygen mask on first, THEN see to your children. They won’t have any chance of survival if they don’t have you to look after them. The same goes with your wellbeing, you need to prioritize time to look after yourself so that you can be more present, energetic and balanced as a mother. We need to make time to do the things that make us feel good, that bring us joy and make us laugh, things that fill up our emotional fuel tanks, only then can we look after our children and the rest of our family to our best ability!
2. Fuel
Skipping breakfast? Eating on the run? Munching out on sugary, starchy foods to keep you going? This is no way to treat the finely tuned vehicle that is your body. To have the energy to keep up with your children you need to fuel your body with real food. Forget reading food labels and navigating your way around confusing health claims. Just eat real food, straight from a plant or animal as much as possible. This is food as nature intended, think vegetables, salads, fruit, nuts and seeds, eggs, fish and meat. Add flavour using sea salt, fresh herbs, garlic, ginger, chilli, nut butters, tamari and healthy oils.
3. Move
Move your body in a way that you love every single day. You don’t have to do formal exercise, join a gym or run if that is not your thing! Do something you enjoy so that it doesn’t feel like another thing to add to your to-do list. Moving your body makes you feel good, strengthens your body physically, heightens your mood, enhances your energy levels and improves the health of every single system of your body. Get out of the mindset that you have to exercise to lose weight or you should exercise to flatten your tummy. Move your body because it makes you feel good and it will become something you actually look forward to!
4. Pause
When was the last time you stopped? Not to go to bed or to check Facebook or to drive the kids to their football match! I mean stopped, sat down, taken some deep breaths and tuned into yourself. Most of us live our lives in fast forward, multi-tasking to get everything done and thinking ahead to all of the things we have to do. This is living reactively, feeling like we only have time to do the things that need to be done and missing out on the important things in life like spending quality time with the people we love. The first step in making life more manageable is slowing down within yourself. It doesn’t have to be a long meditation, just commit to simply sitting down for 5 minutes, taking a few deep breaths, quietening your mind and tuning in to yourself.
5. Connect
What is life without the people we love? Surround yourself with positive, supportive people and get together with them regularly. Connect with your children by doing things you all enjoy on a regular basis. Go on date nights with your partner. Call your parents just to chat. Go on outings with other families. Organise a get together with your girlfriends and have a laugh. Remember to listen as much as you talk and be honest and open in your relationships.
Focus on one tip every week, building on the last week and before long these healthy habits will become a natural, effortless part of your daily life.
Jessica is an Energetic Mama and created her free guide ’10 mistakes mums make that keep them overwhelmed, exhausted and out of balance’ to help mums feel great again. Grab your copy here [http://energeticmama.com]
