What’s the number one complaint about being a mom? Isn’t it that it is so tiring. Don’t you commiserate with your mom friends about how exhausting the mom life is? It’s a 24/7 job! We don’t get a vacation from being “Mom”. Even when they’re not physically with us, they’re still with us. It makes sense that we can get physically and emotionally drained. But, that doesn’t mean that we have to feel like this. It might take some effort and planning, however there are simple ways to improve the “tired mom” condition.
Are You Ready to Stop Being a “Tired Mom”?
There are several things in out lives that make us feel tired all the time, not just the kids. A lot of it has to do with not caring for our own needs. If we start to take care of ourselves we can make a big impact on how we feel and how successful we feel as a mom.
First Step
Let’s start with the most obvious one. Are you getting enough sleep? Yes, I know it can be tempting to stay up late or get up way before the kids, so you can have your alone time or get all the stuff done that you can’t do when you’re busy caring for them. But, the truth is, sleep really is essential.
Sleep is a human necessity, we actually can’t survive without it. So, that means we can’t live well without enough good quality sleep either. I’m talking about 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep on a consistent basis. Trying to counteract the exhaustion from lack of sleep with caffeine and/or sugar is not going to solve your problems. It will probably just lead to bigger problems, like cravings, weight gain, moodiness, high blood pressure and several other related health issues.
Yeah, you might not get that long list of things done on your to-do list everyday (were you going to anyway?) if you focus on getting enough sleep. However, you will find that you are more organized, focused, have more energy and are less irritable with your family. You actually might even get more done than you used to because your are feeling better and enjoying life more.
Second Step
Right after getting enough sleep, your next priority should be your nutrition. How you fuel your body has a huge impact on how much energy you have. If you don’t want to be a “tired mom” you need to feed yourself with the foods/drinks that will keep you going for a longer amount of time. I’m not talking about caffeine and other chemical energy boosters here either. They are just a band-aid, not a solution to the problem. I’m talking about eating foods that are nutrient dense not calorie dense. Yes, technically calories are energy, but all calories are not created equal.
Have you ever heard of the term, empty calories? These come from foods that give you calories, but little to none of the nutrients that our bodies needs to function properly. These foods might fill us up for a little while and give us some energy short term, but then we crash and whatever calories we didn’t use right away get stored as fat. These foods are easily processed by the body, so we don’t burn much when we eat them. On the other hand, when we eat foods that are nutrient dense, we get prolonged energy, fullness, and the things we need to maintain a healthy body.
Think of it this way, you can’t put junk gas in your car and expect it to run perfectly. Just like, you can’t put junk food into your body and expect to feel good and energized, right?
And don’t forget to drink that water too. Staying hydrated actually helps you feel energized as well. Those sugary and caffeinated drinks actually dehydrate you, so you’ll need even more water if you’re drinking them.
Third Step to Not Being a “Tired Mom”
It might seem counterintuitive, but getting exercise on a consistent basis will help you not be a tired mom too. It seems like expending more energy would drain your energy and make you more tired, but the opposite is actually true. Since exercise can build your endurance, make you stronger, and make you healthier overall, it makes you feel better and more energized on a regular basis.
The key word is consistency here. If you just get some exercise every once in a while and spend a majority of your time sitting, then you’re not going to feel more energized from it. It takes time and consistency to see improvement.
Remember, sleep and good nutrition/hydration come first. You will get a much better workout as well as better results from exercising if you are well rested and fueling your body properly. Consistent exercise will also help with the quality of sleep you get.
Fourth Step
Setting priorities and scheduling down time are also extremely important. It’s one thing to know what you need or want to do. It’s a whole other thing to actually make time for it and do it. If you feel like you are too busy and too tired to do the above steps, then it’s time to take a look at your priorities and make time for the things that are truly important.
As moms, even as “tired moms”, we try to do it all and say yes to so many things. But, most likely there are things taking up your time that don’t need to be. Make a list of all the things you do in a typical day/week. Are all of those things serving you or your family? If they’re not helping you live the life you want and are only causing you stress, get rid of them. Are there things that could take less time if you just put a little effort and advanced planning in place? Planning and prepping for things like meals, can save you a bunch of time later.
Once you’ve eliminated time wasting activities and made daily activities more time efficient, not only will you have more time and energy to spend on the more important things, but you will also feel the mental weight lifted as well. Stress can be a big energy drainer.
Fifth Step
Now that your feeling more organized and energized, you’ll want to keep it that way. That means you’ll need to add some self care to your schedule as well. Self care isn’t selfish. It helps you recharge and reset, so you can continue to feel good mentally and physically. Having time to do the things we enjoy makes us better people and therefore better Moms. We all need down time! It makes us happier and healthier.
It doesn’t have to be anything grand, like a week long vacation. “You time”, could just mean thirty minutes of solitude or a lunch out with a friend. The important thing is to schedule this time for yourself and make it happen without feeling guilty about it. I don’t know what’s worse, being a tired mom or feeling guilty for taking care of ourselves. Let’s just eliminate both.
Putting a Stop to Being a Tired Mom
Being a tired mom can feel like an endless cycle, but it really doesn’t have to be. You have to be willing to make yourself a priority though. Nobody is going to do it for you. You have to make a plan, put in some effort, and make a change in your habits. Getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, exercising, getting more organized, and having some down time are all essential when it comes to getting your energy back. You want to feel good and do the things that make life better for you and your family, right?
If you want to stop being a tired mom, but think you might need some more personal support and guidance, feel free to book a call with me. Just click below!
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