Being a busy mom is an experience you’re probably familiar with. Indeed, managing your work and family life can come with its stress. Statistics reveal that 50% of Canadian mothers are exhausted from attending to work and childcare responsibilities, while a quarter doesn’t take breaks for fear of losing their jobs. Three in five mothers find it challenging to prioritize self-care, although they wish to make it a priority. If you fall in these categories, it’s not all gloom and doom. Fortunately, several self-care hacks are available to help you look and feel good. That said, here are 12 ideas to try out for the best results.
8 Look Good, Feel Good Hacks For Busy Moms
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Make room for physical exercise
Image CreditExercise is an effective way to practice self-care if you’re a busy mom. It enhances your brain’s sensitivity to norepinephrine and serotonin, known to improve your mood and decrease feelings of anxiety and depression. Likewise, research also reveals that regular physical activity can increase your energy levels to help you go through the day. Did you know that exercising can also encourage your kids to adopt this good habit? Seeing these perks, you want to include exercise in your schedule if you haven’t already.
If you’re wondering how to make time for physical activity, several ways are available to help you get the needed daily exercise. You can work out at home and still reap the benefits. For instance, bodyweight exercises like squats, mountain climbers, and push-ups can be done in your home, so keep this in mind. You can also leverage your kids’ playtime as a good workout session. Playing soccer, tag, or running obstacle courses can give you your needed cardio and strength training.
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Try brain exercises
Working with a foggy mind is the last thing you’d want to do as a busy mom. This is because you’re more likely to make bad decisions. What’s worse, you can be stuck with indecision, affecting your time management and overall productivity. However, mental clarity can help you get things done while making it easier to prioritize your tasks. Moreover, it enables you to appreciate the little things that can easily go unnoticed. Fortunately, you can clear your mind by engaging in various brain exercises. According to licensed psychotherapist Rebecca Marcus, brain games can increase your concentration while slowing down age-related cognitive decline.
Several brain games are available, and you can choose the most suitable options. For instance, you can try a jigsaw puzzle in your spare time or with your family can help you challenge and exercise your brain. You can also leverage card games like solitaire and poker for the best results. Dance is also known to reduce depression and improve mental health, so feel free to include it in your daily activity.
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Don’t overlook healthy eating
Can what you eat affect your mood? The answer is yes! Different studies from Canada, Japan, Spain, and Australia revealed that people who eat healthy meals are less likely to develop anxiety and depression symptoms. In comparison, those who consume more junk or ultra-processed foods are likely to experience mental health symptoms like unstable mood, irritability, and explosive rage. Moreover, healthy eating is a great way to get the healthier, more supple, and glowing skin you desire. That said, it’s important to pay attention to what you eat if you want to feel great and look your best.
The good news is, you can incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle, irrespective of how busy you are. You can begin by evaluating your time limitation to create a more feasible meal plan. It’s also helpful to cook in batches when you get the time, so you don’t have to cook from scratch when you’re stressed. Consequently, ensure that you incorporate lots of vegetables, whole grains, healthy proteins, and other nutrient-dense food to reap the full benefits.
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Pamper yourself
Image CreditStress is probably something you experience as a busy mom. But, showing yourself some love can effectively manage your stress levels. However, it gets better! Making time for yourself is also a great way to put yourself first. Moreover, it lowers your blood pressure and balances your blood sugar levels while boosting your mood and increasing mental and physical energy. Therefore, you want to make this a regular activity. Fortunately, there are simple and effective self-pampering activities you can leverage for the best results.
For instance, you can put on relaxing music while having a long and refreshing bubble bath. Another way to pamper yourself is to schedule a spa day, where you can enjoy a deep tissue massage, facials, body treatments, and other activities. You don’t need a specific time to pamper yourself, as you can do it every day. A good example is to fix your hair and makeup nicely to look your best each time you step out. Speaking of hair, ensure that you invest in your favorite curling brush irons to achieve your desired hairstyle without stress.
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Go out with friends
It’s not uncommon to be so caught up in your busy life that you rarely hang out with friends. However, your friends are equally important in making you feel good. Having close social relationships can improve your health while decreasing your chances of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Likewise, your friends can help and encourage you to make lifestyle changes like exercising more and giving up harmful alcohol consumption. Your friends are also there to support you when you’re emotionally down and boost your self-esteem when you feel unsure about yourself. A Harvard Medical School study also indicates that social interaction reduces stress levels.
That said, it’s crucial to create time for your friends. Chances are, your friends have busy schedules just like you. Therefore, it’s important to find out when they are free so that you can plan your dates around those times. Better yet, you can meet each other for breakfast or coffee dates if they live around. Planning weekend getaways, staycations, or spa days are also a great way to strengthen your friendships, so keep this in mind. Consequently, ensure that you call or text them regularly to help them understand that you still love them.
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Try new activities
Being a busy mom doesn’t mean that you should throw fun out the window. Understandably, you have a lot going on. But, trying new things is an excellent way to boost your mood. Moreover, you get the opportunity to create pleasant memories to keep you going during particularly stressful times. Research also shows that learning new things stimulates your brain, sharpening your cognitive abilities, focus, and creativity. You can also leverage the opportunity to acquire skills that would give you an edge in your workplace or business, so keep this in mind.
The first thing is to let go of every fear that would prevent you from stepping out of your comfort zone. Consequently, please make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do and start doing them. For instance, eat that dish you always wanted to try out or watch a new movie genre. Feel free to learn a new and valuable skill, or try going to an opera concert instead of your usual pop or rock concerts. Doing something new can help you relax and increase your happiness levels.
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Take a break
A 2017 research revealed that people considered a busy lifestyle as part of high self-worth, and a busy lifestyle is perceived as higher status. However, being too busy can be detrimental to your physical, emotional, and mental health. You can end up feeling overworked and disconnected from your family and friends. Moreover, you can feel stressed, anxious, frustrated, guilty, angry and overwhelmed. Likewise, you risk compromising your immune system, increasing the risk of developing diseases.
Often, your body sends signals to alert you when you’re overworked. For instance, you know it’s time to take a break when you have difficulty concentrating on your tasks or lack motivation. Therefore, feel free to take a vacation with your family to renew yourself. Better yet, you can opt for a staycation if you want a shorter break. As a tip, let your children entertain you or enjoy a romantic evening with your partner for the best results.
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Ask for help
Admittedly, juggling work or business with family life can be pretty demanding. However, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Although you may have plans to take care of yourself, you may not have the chance to if you have a lot on your hands. Therefore, it makes sense to ask for help. Fortunately, you can reach out to your family and friends to help you with some responsibilities. For instance, you can drop the kids off at your parents’ place to get alone time to unwind and destress. You can also make arrangements with your partner to watch over the kids as you enjoy your me-time. You can also leverage babysitters and friends, although it’s important to research their background to ensure that your kids are in safe hands.
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