11 Tips for Staying Healthy as a Busy Mom

Life as a mama can get busy. Caring for your child (or children) and maintaining your own health and fitness can seem nearly impossible at times. 

Did you know that prioritizing your health will boost your energy levels, giving you more fuel in the tank to care for your little one(s)? To do so, making small, incremental changes usually works best. Adjusting a few simple habits can drastically improve your overall health and wellbeing. Today, we want to share 11 tips for staying healthy as a busy mom.

1. Prioritize Movement Over Exercise 


a. Getting exercise doesn’t always have to mean “working out”. Simply moving your body should be the goal! Break out the stroller and go for a walk or jog around the block. Park in the back of a parking lot to get more steps in on your way to the grocery store. Try to remember that all forms of movement are exercise.  
  

2. Try to Keep Healthy Snacks Around 


a. Keep healthy snacks around your kitchen to be prepared when hunger strikes! Almonds, popcorn, dried meat, yogurt smoothies, string cheese, and granola bars are great to have on hand to avoid a mid-morning or afternoon crash. 
  

3. Include the Kids in Your Daily Movement 


a. If you’re doing a workout, it may take longer than usual but involving your kids is one way to keep an eye on them while keeping them occupied. Running or walking with a stroller is helpful. If your child is old enough to count, have he or she count your reps of exercises. Checkout this post with a list of 12 home workouts to do with your kids. 
  

4. Get Creative 


a. You may need to get creative with daily movement. Make household chores into a workout! A 150-pound person can burn around 170 calories per hour doing light house cleaning. Tougher cleaning jobs can burn up to 200 calories per hour. 
  

5. Stay Hydrated 


a. Don’t discount staying hydrated! Hydration will keep you feeling more satisfied and energized throughout the day. To aid in hydration, carry a water bottle with you and sip on it during the day. We love these water bottles with time markers on them that help you stay motivated to drink water. 
  

6. Plan Ahead as Best as You Can 


a. Planning a schedule with young children can be tough, especially with an infant. Try to write your daily schedule out the night before, scheduling in time to get outside and move, cook a healthy meal, and rest. With a schedule in mind, you can have an idea of when you’ll fit in healthy habits each day. 
  

7. Breathe 


a. As a mom, breathing can sometimes be the most difficult part of the day. Between planning and juggling your daily tasks, you may often forget to take a moment to just breathe. 


b. When life seems to be going a million miles a minute, take a minute to yourself. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Do this for as long as it takes to regain your mental clarity. 
  

8. Find Movement That You Love 


a. Who says that health and fitness need to be boring? When getting exercise, find an activity (or a variety of activities) that you love. If you get bored of one exercise, move on to the next. There are a variety of activities that will keep your body moving, such as running, yoga, weightlifting, kickboxing, dancing, and more. 
  

9. Reduce Stress with Meditation 


a. Parenting can be stressful between working, cooking, and childcare. Before the children wake up or after they go to bed at night, take some time to meditate and clear your mind. Breathe deeply. Read a book. Do something simple for a few minutes that helps to soothe your mind. 
  

10. Invest in a Few Pieces of Equipment 


a. It may be easiest to do your workout at home during a child’s nap. In this case, it will be extremely helpful to invest in a few pieces of at-home equipment. A jogging stroller, TRX straps, a yoga mat, medium and heavy dumbbells, and a stability ball make exercising at home a little easier. 
  

11. Ask for Help 


a. Sometimes, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to be able to cook a healthy meal or squeeze in some movement. On these days, don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you have a partner to tag team with, ask if they would watch the children for a bit. If this is not the case, it’s important to find someone to help you at least once a week for a few hours, such as a babysitter or friend. Asking for help may seem daunting but know that it is a sign of strength that you are making enough time for yourself.