It is so easy to put ourselves to the bottom of the pile when it comes to looking after ourselves. There is always something or (most likely) someone demanding our attention.
We tend to make sure everyone else is okay and have their needs met, before finally turning to our own and usually by then we have run out of steam and that workout or that little bit of self-care gets put on to the list of ‘thing’s I will do tomorrow’, and somehow ‘tomorrow’ doesn’t come around as often as it maybe should!
As hard as it is, the best thing you can do is prioritise yourself a bit more!
When you are having your needs met it makes everything so much easier, parenting becomes easier and you just feel that you have much more energy and patience to parent in the way that you want to.
So here are my tips for simple things you can do to that will make a big difference!
10 HEALTHY TIPS:
1. FOCUS ON ADDING IN, NOT TAKING AWAY.
Restriction is a slippery slope to bingeing. As soon as somebody tells you that you can’t eat something, I can guarantee you it’s all you will be able to think about!
Instead, focus on adding in extra fruit and vegetables to try and hit your 5 a day, or focus on adding in the other healthy foods that should be in your diet – like wholegrains, healthy fats, more water etc.
2. REMEMBER THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ‘GOOD’ OR ‘BAD’ FOOD.
When we start labelling foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, it makes the good ones seem less appealing and the bad ones seem like the nicest things in the world. Yet another slippery slope!
The important thing to remember is that all foods fit in a healthy balanced diet…yes even the odd few biscuits or that chocolate bar.
3. FIND A WORKOUT THAT YOU LOVE.
When you love the activity you are doing, it is so much easier to keep doing it.
Try to stop thinking about exercise as a way to ‘burn more calories’, and see it as a way to de-stress or as something you can do for yourself.
Exercise is so important as it has so many health benefits, we should be aiming for about 150 minutes a week, so roughly about 30 mins everyday.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, you don’t even need to buy active wear – just chuck a pair of trainers on and go for a walk!
4. EAT REGULAR MEALS.
It’s so easy to be rushing around and not eat lunch. I am very guilty of just grabbing something random because I don’t want to stop what I’m doing so I can finish by the time the kids get home from school, and then I end up eating everything in sight by 4pm.
Eating regular meals, 3 meals a day and a healthy snack (if needed) is a good aim.
Eating regularly will keep your blood sugar balanced and keep your energy up all day to run around with the kids.
5. HEALTHY SNACKS.
Following on from the last point, it’s a good idea to choose a healthy snack to keep your blood sugar balanced and to keep your energy levels going for longer.
As a general aim, aim for either a piece of fruit or some veggies, and a protein source.
Some examples could be:
- Hummus and Carrot sticks/Cucumber sticks/ Sliced Peppers
- Apple and Almond butter
- Banana and Peanut butter
- Yoghurt and Berries
6. MEAL PLAN
Having a plan of what you are going to eat and when will make such a difference to how stressful the week is.
There is nothing worse than it getting to 4pm and having no idea what to cook for dinner.
Make a plan for what you are going to eat for the week, make sure you use your calendar so that on busy nights you can have something simple or have something in the slow cooker, make a grocery list for your meals – and you are good to go!
7. MEAL PREP
Some people like to make meals for the week on a Sunday so that all they need to do is re-heat the food throughout the week.
Others like to just prep ingredients. Such as chopping up veggies so that there is less prep work to be done throughout the week.
Or, if you tend to miss breakfast or lunch, why not make them the night before and that way you know you are going to have a healthy one instead of either missing it or grabbing something not so nutritious!
8. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Easier said than done sometimes as a mum, but sleep is so important for loads of reasons that it’s worth trying to get as much as you possibly can.
Try and get into a relaxing evening routine to unwind ready for sleep, and try and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep (or as many as you can if you have little ones!)
9. SELF-CARE
How much me-time do you get to have?
Self-care doesn’t have to be hour long bubble baths or spa days. Self-care can be reading your book for just 5 minutes. Having a cup of tea in peace and quiet and just savouring the moment.
Try and get at least 5 minutes everyday.
Your mental health will thank you for it.
10. DRINK YOUR WATER.
6-8 glasses minimum.
We don’t realise how much of an impact not drinking enough water makes on our body and our mind. I always find I get very irritable if I don’t drink enough.
As tempting as it is to just drink all the coffee when you are a bit sleep deprived from the kids, try and make it every other with a glass of water in between.
Don’t like water? That’s fine, add some fruit or some sugar free squash.
Health really doesn’t need to be complicated!
How many of these do you do on a regular basis? Which ones do you need to work on?
Beth x
