10 Ways for Moms to Have More Energy
Being a mom is a rewarding job, but it has a way of quickly using up all of your energy. Errands, sleepless nights, extracurricular activities, school projects, laundry and carpool duty are just some of the things that compose a mom’s endless to-do list. By the end of the day, feeling depleted of energy is all too common for many moms. So how does a worn out Wonder Woman recharge? Everyone finds different things give her that added boost to get through the day. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Exercise
Adding exercise to your daily routine seems like it would use up more energy, but the truth is exercise actually can give you more energy. As your body moves, your heart pumps more blood, which delivers more oxygen to your muscles. “As your aerobic fitness increases, your body becomes more adept at moving oxygen into the blood, which makes your muscles more efficient—and more efficiency equals less energy usage,” according to LiveStrong.com. On the other side of things, obesity has been linked to fatigue and low energy levels.
Eat healthier
It’s no surprise that eating a healthy, well balanced diet gives you more energy to get through the day. We’ve all eaten fast food or relished a piece of cake—a choice that tasted good in the moment but left us feeling sick and sluggish later. Although the occasional treat is fine, choosing healthy items gives you the most energy and keeps you feeling your best, according to Health.Harvard.edu.
Spend time with friends
A quick and enjoyable way to recharge your batteries is to spend time with friends. Set aside the worries that go along with parenting for a few hours and talk and laugh with friends. If getting out of the house for dinner is too hard, schedule a coffee date while the kids are at school or a playdate that allows the moms to chat while the kids play happily. Another great way to make sure you get a night out is to schedule a monthly dinner, book club or game night with friends. The predictable date eliminates the effort of figuring out schedules, and the fun is more likely to happen if it is on everyone’s calendar each month.
Get a good night’s sleep
For some moms, this is easier said than done. You may have a child who still wakes at night, or you may be tempted to stay up late or rise early to work on your long list of to-do’s. If you’re like me, you find yourself enjoying a moment of quiet so much that you stay up late watching TV or reading a book and miss out on time you could be catching up on rest. We all know that a full night’s sleep is going to give us more energy the next day. Listen to your body. If you need to go to bed early or take a nap in the afternoon, allow yourself that break so you are rested. The to-do list will be waiting for you tomorrow.
Treat yourself
If you had a few hours to do whatever you wanted, what would it be? Go out to lunch with a friend? Enjoy a spa day? Curl up with a good book? Whatever comes to mind, make it happen. This may not be feasible every week, but on occasion, you have to allow yourself time to do something you really want to do in order to boost your depleted energy. Ask for help from your partner, a friend, or hire a babysitter to make it happen, then treat yourself. Remember that caring for ourselves is part of what makes us able to care for our families better.
Take a quick pause
There are days when I am overwhelmed by the things on my plat and the kids are pushing every button. I find myself struggling to get through the hardest days, and I end up short-tempered and exhausted. A friend suggested that each day I take 10 minutes for myself in the afternoon to reset my attitude. Some days this is simply taking a shower during nap time, other days it is sitting down with my coffee and just taking a moment to focus on my breathing. Sometimes, sitting down and snuggling with my kids while they watch cartoons gives me a moment to rest and recharge.
Schedule a date night
Parenting is hard work for both moms and dads. Many weeks my husband and I find ourselves passing each other like ships in the night as we take kids to different practices and activities, leaving us little time to talk and reconnect. When we begin to feel distant, it’s time to schedule a date night. This helps both of us relax and recharge. If a babysitter isn’t in the budget, put the kids to bed early and enjoy a late dinner or a movie together.
Protect your time
One of the biggest struggles parents face is lack of free time. We have good intentions of spending quality time with those we love, taking care of ourselves and creating a good work/home/life balance, but then we look at our calendar and it feels out of control. Choose carefully what you commit to when it comes to kids’ extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities and other obligations. Overcommitment can cause stress and zap all your energy. Saying no is hard for many of us, but chaos is not good for internal peace.
Self care
As moms, we easily become so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. Do things that maintain your mental and physical health. Practice good hygiene, go to yearly checkups at the dentist and doctor, do monthly breast exams and find things that take care of your mind and body. By choosing to care for yourself, you are teaching your kids that health is a priority and that you want to be an active and energetic part of their lives as long as possible.
Let some things go
The one thing I have learned from being a mom for 14 years is that it’s okay to let some things go. There are only so many hours in the day, and sometimes I find I have no energy for doing the dishes. Although they cannot be ignored indefinitely, they can be ignored for a few hours. If my child wants to wear mismatched clothes, I consider whether a fight is worth my energy and usually decide to let it go. Most household chores can wait until tomorrow if I need to sit down, play with my kids, talk to my spouse and recharge my energy. I know that the to-do list cannot be ignored forever and not every problem can simply be let go. However, when your energy is depleted, it’s okay to let go of some things—even temporarily—in order to be a more attentive, patient and energetic mom. In 10 years, no one will remember whether my house was clean (it isn’t), but they will remember that we laughed, snuggled and did our best each day. They’ll also remember that sometimes Mom needs a break to recharge, and that is important too.
Mom of six Sarah Lyons lives in Olathe with her family.
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