7 Ways to Recharge When You’re Exhausted: A Mom’s Guide
We all want to be good parents and take the best care of our kids. But we also must be thoughtful of ourselves. While it’s an obvious thing, unfortunately, we often ignore our needs. For some exhausted moms of toddlers, quality rest and relaxation is an almost impossible thing, and they can’t squeeze it into an already full schedule. I’m no stranger to full time working mom exhaustion! However, such an unhealthy lifestyle leaves them less productive and less happy. With time, they won’t have the mental and physical energy to parent. Therefore, effective ways to recharge are a must-know for all parents.
Here are 7 things you can do to revitalize in a short amount of time.
1. Go To Bed Earlier
If you want to know how to recharge without sleeping, here is our opinion – you can’t rev up without an adequate amount of sleep! Yes, we know how tempting it is to watch TV or do household chores after the baby nods off. But, please, hold back! There is nothing more important than a quality night’s sleep, especially if you are an exhausted mom of a toddler.
If you rest well at night, you’ll have more energy to parent and tackle the chores during daylight hours. We share a lot of tips here on this tired working mom blog post and other articles that remind us how important sleep is for moms.
2. Nap With Your Little One
Do nap when your little one naps! After a 2-hour snooze, you’ll feel wonderfully refreshed, we promise! Or, at least, compromise with a 20-minute catnap; it’ll still invigorate you and gives you some time to read a book or meditate. But maybe don’t nap with a toddler in the same bed.
3. Practice Yoga
An exhausted mom survival kit should include a yoga for beginners DVD. Why is yoga good for new mommies? Only a 20-minute session will let your body relax, release muscle tension, practice breathing, focus on strength and flexibility. Besides, while practicing, you can listen to your body and draw on your inner strength. Yoga will definitely give you the energy to tackle all the new responsibilities that come with motherhood.
On top of that, studies have shown that meditation helps find purpose in life when you feel down or stressed.
4. Make Sure To Move Or Exercise
Many people, when tired, tend to sit in front of the TV or do something passive. However, it usually makes them feel even more tired. While this may sound controversial, one of the best ways to recharge is exercising. Just try to get up and move around. Simple, 20-minute exercises like walking, biking, jogging, dancing, stretching, vigorous stroll on a treadmill, etc., can leave you feeling energized for hours.
5. Eat Smartly
To feel less exhausted, make sure to eat healthy foods every 4 hours during the day. Consume more protein-rich products (peanut butter, cottage cheese, string cheese, etc.) since they are great for an energy boost. Other anti-fatigue foods to try are whole-grain cereals, trail mix, bananas, and yogurt with strawberries. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water.
6. Do Ask For Help!
Involving your partner in night wakings or household duties is non-negotiable! You are having this baby together; it’s only natural to share duties and responsibilities. Especially since becoming an exhausted working mom could be hazardous.
However, if you are a solo parent, send out an SOS. If your budget allows, hire a babysitter, housekeeper, or an au pair. Are there any of the baby’s grandparents, aunts, or uncles nearby or willing to arrive? Don’t hesitate to ask them for help! You can also swap caregiving with a friend or neighbor.
Sleep and rest are essential, especially when mom is feeling exhausted, so get creative! Yes, asking for help is much harder than giving it, but you’ll definitely be rewarded if you get over this hurdle.
7. Splurge On Yourself
While we, as caring mommies, constantly try to do our best so that our kids feel comfortable and have everything they need and even more, we often leave ourselves out. It doesn’t have to be like that! Line up the babysitting and spoil yourself with anything you like: eat out with your friends, go out for a haircut, go shopping and get something new for yourself, even if it’s just a sweatshirt to wear around the house. Actually, shopping is one of the most effective ways to recharge!
Use these simple but helpful ideas to stay calm and energized as a tired working mom. All in all, your baby needs a happy, smiling mama.
If you know several good tricks on how to recharge as a mom and stay revved up, share them with us in the comment section below!
Author Bio
Lora is a blogger and mother who shares her vast experience in parenting, motherhood and health. She believes that a sport and healthy lifestyle lead to happy and joyful parenting. She draws inspiration from raising kids, sport and blogging. One of the most useful blogs in her list is gym-expert . Check it out!
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