January is often a month of resolutions or goals. Many of these have to do with improving health. As moms, we often neglect ourselves because we are just so busy. Caring for our families, homes, and careers is a lot of work. So much so that it can be hard to remember to focus on ourselves. We tend to put healthy habits on the back burner to get ALL THE THINGS done.
Healthy Habits for Busy Moms
There are some simple healthy habits that you can adopt to improve your health. These are things that you can do daily or weekly. Many of them don’t take too long but will make you feel better, especially in combination. Try incorporating some (or all!) of these healthy habits into your routine.
1. Make sure to drink enough water.
Water can make us feel better and (bonus) help us lose weight. If you’re breastfeeding, extra water intake is critical in not getting dehydrated, which is easy to do during this time. Drinking a glass of water every time you breastfeed is a good guideline to combat this. Some people also get dehydration headaches. Motherhood is hard enough without your body feeling worse.
2. Get sleep when you can.
Sleep can be rough and segmented with kids, but getting it when you can is essential. This may mean going to bed earlier some nights or catching a nap yourself occasionally during their naptime. Listen to your body and let it rest when it needs to.
3. Breathe some fresh air.
Getting fresh air can do wonders for your body and mind. On milder days, be sure to bundle up and get outside. Not only will your kids enjoy it, but you will also, too, after being stuck inside. Even if the cold is too much for extended periods, just stepping out for a couple of breaths can be helpful.
4. Talk to your mom.
Adult conversation can be hard to come by when you’re a mom. Kids are challenging, and having someone to commiserate with your feelings is invaluable. No one understands quite like your own mom. She can be a great sounding board for your feelings about motherhood and anything else in your life.
5. Take your vitamins/eat well.
It can be hard to eat great all the time. Eating healthy food is essential to feel your best and get what you and your baby need. If you find you’re deficient in specific vitamins, be sure to supplement them to help you feel your best.
6. Socialize with a friend.
It can be hard to foster adult conversation when knee-deep in motherhood. Reconnecting with friends is a great way to vent or talk about something unrelated to kids. It will also remind you of the person you were before your kids.
7. Meal prep.
When we are hungry, it is easy to reach for something unhealthy. Taking time to prepare meals will help you have food ready to go when needed. This also lets you control what is in your meals to keep them healthier.
8. Find a way to relieve stress.
Kids can cause a lot of stress. They may be fighting with you, whining, or fighting each other. It can be overwhelming. Finding a way to relieve stress is essential to your health. This could be taking a long shower, walking, reading a book, getting a massage, stretching, or doing yoga. Find something that works for you.
9. Know when to take a movie day.
Giving kids too much screen time is a hot-button issue. Of course, you don’t want your kids just camped out in front of the TV all day, but once in a while, having a chill family movie day can be good for everyone. Whether you don’t feel good, are tired, or just need an unscripted day, a movie day may just be what you need.
10. Make a routine.
Sticking to a routine most days can help foster good habits in you and your kids. Kids thrive on routines, and keeping one in place will help avoid fights and ensure you get to everything you need to do.
11. Eat breakfast.
It may seem like skipping breakfast is a way to get a headstart on the day, but it will only make you hungry and cranky.
12. Plan family time.
We are constantly in motion, and losing sight of family time can be easy. Plan time that you can spend together doing different activities.
13. Practice what you preach.
We all want our kids to be happy and healthy. Getting them to listen is rooted in the things that we do. If we want them to eat better, we must also eat better. They will take on all our bad habits, so demonstrate some good ones too.
14. Communicate with your partner and take date nights when you can.
Taking care of kids is all-consuming and can be super overwhelming. Some nights, we may need to turn in early, but other times, it’s important to connect with your partner. Keeping these relationships strong is an important aspect of our lives.
15. Move your body.
Even if you don’t have time for a full-fledged workout, move your body daily. This could be something as simple as indoor fitness activities for kids, having a dance party, or taking a walk with your kids, which will benefit everyone. Sitting for too long is bad for you, so try to do what you can.
16. Play with your kids.
It can be tempting to send your kids off to play by themselves. While this can be helpful and important, it is also a good idea to take the time to play with them sometimes, too. Not only is this fun for your kids, but it also benefits you. Taking out time to pretend will help you bond with your kids. Plus, it’s just fun.
17. Take breaks from your phone.
We all spend too much time on our phones. Detoxing from them for a few hours will help you feel better.
18. Set boundaries for work.
Many of us have work email access on our phones. Answering emails or calls outside of work can be tempting, but you need to set boundaries. When you’re off of work, be off of work. Everything will be there tomorrow, and nothing terrible will happen if you take some time away to pay attention to your family entirely.
19. Ask for help.
All of us get overwhelmed and need a break. When you need help with something, ask. Trying to take everything on when you’re burned out will end poorly.
Many factors go into being and staying healthy. Keeping ourselves at our best takes a lot of work. Even if you can only focus on a few things at a time, you will still feel better than you would have otherwise. These healthy habits may seem simple, but they will go a long way to helping you feel your best.
