Being a mom is a lot of work, y’all. I have always led a pretty active lifestyle, and I thought that after kids that I could just continue pushing myself in addition to the daily mom thing and it wouldn’t be an issue. After the first kid it was relatively easy and I still kept up my active regimen for the most part and then after Kaia came along I started having trouble keeping up with life. I know some of it is due to not being in my 20’s anymore, but the rest is because the kids and life in general run me ragged. I feel more drained after a day with these two than I ever did being a hiking buff. Oh, and I still have to run a business from home and somehow manage to find time to keep myself showered and nourished so that I can do it all. If you’re a mom too, then you know that personal care is low on the totem pole when you have a family to run. You know that I try to eat well, but that alone doesn’t keep me at my best so I’ve come up with a few extra things that will help me tackle each day the best way I can. You know I love sharing, so here are my favorite easy tips to sneak in smart choices for winter wellness!
MOVE WHEN YOU CAN.
I’ve written before about how I sneak in exercise during chores and other such topics, but what about when you really don’t have the time or energy to do anything extra? Well, that’s a challenge. Sometimes you just don’t have time to get in a 15 minute workout, and that’s okay. Maybe when I’m watching tv with the kids we can have a dance party whenever music comes on, or I can jog or skip around the house while I do chores or even go outside with the kids instead of watching them from the kitchen window while I’m doing dishes. It isn’t hard to find extra opportunities throughout the day to get in more movement, and as long as you are doing something, it’s better than sitting around. I know how tempting it is to just not move, but that’s something that I personally need to fight because I feel so much better after a day of moving rather than a day of sitting on my butt.
MONITOR YOURSELF.
I know this sounds a little weird, but if I am wearing a pedometer or have a movement tracking app on my phone then I know I’m going to move more that day. I don’t know why, but I love trying to top my step counts and calories burned so on the days I wear my iBitz I know that I’ll take extra steps throughout the day just to reach my goal. When I don’t wear it I find that I don’t put in the extra effort to pack in all the steps I can. Crazy, right? But it’s true – if you monitor yourself or hold yourself accountable to a certain amount of movement or steps each day then there is a much better chance that you will try to reach that goal. Nobody loves coming up short, and this is a perfect example of that. Even if I don’t make time to get a workout in I will take extra steps in the parking lot, or walk around the inside of my house a few extra times while I watch my step count go up. It’s fun seeing how many I can take and I love topping myself each day!
Go Probiotic.
Digestive health isn’t something that we usually think about. Why would we? With everything going on in life, who has time to sit down and wonder if their digestion is weighing them down from their health potential? Not me! But, as much as I don’t think about it, I know it is important. And that is where OLLY comes in. OLLY quick melt probiotic sticks are the most convenient pick-me-up that you can do for your body! They have both adult and kid versions, and we always pack a few sticks when we are on the go, just in case.
They are designed to give you the proper balance of beneficial bacteria, and contain 4 of the most beneficial probiotic strains around. Want to know more? Here they are:
• The Regulator (aka Bifidobacterium Lactis HN019)- When it comes to digestion, this good guy makes all systems go
• The Booster (aka Bifidobacterium Lactis BL04) – This tough guys helps boost the body’s natural defenses.
• The Multitasker (aka Lactobacillus Acidophilus NCFM) – This whiz helps support both digestive and immune health.
• The Superstar (aka Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG) – This wise guy is one of the most studied probiotics in the world.
Like the sound of that? Try it for yourself with a FREE sample here.
So that’s what I have committed myself to doing now that the new year is in full swing. There are tons of other ways that I can make my health a priority this year, but I’m starting small so that I can stay on top of succeeding at it. I feel like each day I’m able to do more and more, and one day soon I can add on an actual workout to my daily routine, but for now, these are helping me stay on track.
