Fueling Tips for Busy Moms

Mother’s Day is coming up, and it’s the one time every year where we can sit back and say thank you to all of the wonderful, hard working mamas! Being a mom in and of itself is a full-time job, and one you never get to use your PTO for. Whether you’re carrying a baby or running around taking your kids to practices or games (or doing both!), you know that the mom life can get a little bit crazy. Moms tend to put the needs of others first, and many times completely forget to take care of themselves. Use this holiday as a time to reflect and check in with yourself. If you’re a mama, are you remembering to take care of your needs too? Here are a few tips for busy moms to lead a healthier lifestyle:

Plan for your meals, too! Moms often put so much effort into planning and crafting delicious, nutritious meals for their kids, but then when it comes to themselves, they are sometimes left with scraps and leftovers from their kids’ meals. Plan what you’re going to eat along with your kiddos. That could mean simply making extra for yourself, or maybe making a more “adult-friendly” version of their favorite meal. When you pack your kids lunch in the morning, don’t forget to pack one for yourself!

Find an exercise routine that works for you. When you’re trying to manage lots of things at once, exercise can fall to the bottom of your priority list. To many moms, it can seem daunting to find time to get to the gym. But the reality is, you can still find ways to incorporate exercise into your day without having to carve out a lot of time for going to the gym. Maybe you walk laps around the field during your kids’ practice, do a few simple exercises while dinner is in the oven, or even just follow along to a quick YouTube video before the kids are up in the morning or after they’ve been put to bed.

Pack snacks for both you and the kids. Not only are moms worried about packing breakfasts and lunches for their kids, but often they are preparing for snack time too. Snacks can be a great tool to get in some extra nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals from fruits or veggies, fiber from whole grain crackers, or high-quality protein from beef jerky or string cheese. Plus, snacks can help to “bridge the gap” between meals and keep your energy levels consistent throughout the day. Which in turn can help prevent you from overeating once you get home.

Practice mindful minutes. Mindful minutes can look different for everybody, but the goal here is to find a few minutes to practice an activity that grounds you. Whether that be one minute of breathing exercises or taking a 5 minute stretch break at work, it’s important to take a few minutes of the day to relax your mind. This can help manage stress levels, which can be harmful to our overall health if left unchecked. Mamas, remember to take care of yourself too! It doesn’t have to be rocket science to incorporate more wellness into your day. Find something that works for you, and stick to it!