Think you’re too busy to take care of your physical and emotional well-being? These six healthy tips for busy moms will help you get healthy in a hurry!
In the rush to make sure kids and other family members have everything they need, busy moms often end up putting their health needs last. That can be a big mistake, because balancing work demands, household chores, school schedules, and childcare activities can become impossible if you’re sick or run down. To help make sure you have the stamina to stay on task, we have put together our favorite healthy tips for busy moms on the go. Try them today!
#1: Make time every day for exercise
Exercising at least 30 minutes a day provides a ton of health benefits for busy moms on the go. It can even lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other serious conditions. To make sure exercising doesn’t get lost in your daily rush, create a busy mom workout schedule that fits in with your family’s lifestyle. Some suggestions:
- Fit in an early morning workout or yoga session before getting the kids ready for school
- Get your kids to join your workout
- Hit the treadmill after kids are asleep
- Do an upper body workout at the playground
- Break up your workout throughout the day: 10 leg raises while cooking dinner, 20 wall planks between helping with homework assignments, and so on. Just make sure to write out a workout schedule you can check off as you complete your tasks.
#2: Block out time for yourself
Be sure to block out time for yourself when you are writing out the family schedule. Busy moms tend to put everyone else’s needs before their own, but that’s not a smart strategy in the long run. Take the time to meet a friend for coffee, get a mani-pedi, or go for a massage. The time you spend doing something for yourself will leave you recharged, relaxed, and better able to keep up with the demands of caring for your family.
#3: Pack healthy snacks
Grabbing empty calories from the vending machine at work is the wrong way to combat afternoon fatigue. Packing healthy snacks will help you keep your weight under control while making sure you can get an energy boost whenever you need it. Some healthy snack ideas for work include nuts and raisins, whole grain granola bars, yogurt, and string cheese.
#4: Get enough sleep
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that most people need around 7.5 hours of sleep each night. Sleep plays a vital role in our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Skimping on sleep doesn’t just make it harder for moms to keep up with their busy schedule; it can also lead to unintended weight gain and increase the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Turning off TVs, tablets, and cellphone use an hour before bedtime will help you get to sleep faster.
#5: Plan the week’s menu
Without a healthy meal plan in place, busy school and work schedules can make it all too tempting to turn to a fast food drive-thru to feed your family. Plan the entire week’s menu and use it to create your shopping list. This can save you time and money, and reduce undesired weight gain from impulse buys in the grocery store.
#6: Drink more water
No matter how busy you get, take the time to drink water and other fluids throughout the day. Staying well hydrated boosts your metabolism, sharpens concentration and focus, and increases energy levels, all essential benefits that will help moms keep up with even the busiest schedules. According to the Institute of Medicine, women should consume around 2.7 liters of fluids a day. That translates to nine 8-oz glasses or four standard containers of bottled water every day.