Feel healthy, happy and beautiful

healthy, happy

 The realities of motherhood often make it difficult for mums to feel in tip top condition all of the time.

Sleepless nights, the juggle of home and work, and relentless domestic chores leave you feeling depleted of energy. However, by adopting some of these tips, you can begin to change your life for the better and start to feel healthier, happier and more beautiful than ever before!

Sleep!
A good night’s sleep and young children rarely go hand in hand. However, by allowing yourself more time to catch up on some much-needed zeds, the more likely you are to feel refreshed and focused the next day. It is recommended that women get around eight hours of sleep per night. If you’re in for a broken night’s sleep due to your feeding routine or teething, make every effort to go to bed earlier. I’ve known mums who hit the sack straight after their children’s bedtime just to catch up on much-missed sleep. If you find it difficult to actually sleep when going to bed earlier, settle down and relax by reading a book or lazily chatting with your partner. Avoid taking work to bed or watching too much TV, as this can increase stress levels and prevent you from switching off.

Eat Well
Most mums try to lose as much weight as they can following the birth of their child but this can have a detrimental impact on energy levels. Rather than dramatically cutting calories, opt for a healthier plate of food at meal times and snacks. Ensure you take the time to sit down and enjoy your meals, rather than eating them around your other tasks. Balance your nutrients so you are getting a good boost of vitamins and minerals; vital to maintaining focus and motivation. Eating healthily is especially important for breastfeeding mums. If you have older children, eating healthily will encourage them to do the same. Don’t forget to top up on Council Pop: drinking plenty of water helps you maintain a healthy body, clear skin and a focused mind!

Exercise
My articles this month have focused on self-care and taking time out to exercise is a great way to enjoy essential me-time and reinvigorate your body and soul. However, you don’t have to get a gym membership to fulfil your exercise needs, you can get plenty of exercise when you’re with your kids. You might be lucky enough to have a Mums & Buggy exercise class in your area or you can simply catch up with your friends with a walk through a local park. Walking your children to school is a great form of exercise, and having to dash when you’re running late helps all the more!

Stay Positive
Many mums rely on a good network of supportive friends to share stories and parenting tips. Unfortunately, some people do not positively enhance our lives. Sometimes, friends can be continually negative about their situation and constant doom and gloom can impact on your outlook and the way you view your life. Some people get a kick from making other people feel small. If you find yourself with these sorts of people, continual negative influences and opinions can leave you feeling drained and devalued. Try to step away from such black clouds that tend to hover around when you least want or need them. Instead, try spending time with positive people who share your interests, values and opinions. Don’t feel you have to stay stuck in a rut with negativity: you always have a choice about the people with whom you spend your time.

Invest In Yourself
You may have enjoyed a wealth of hobbies, interests and activities before you started a family. Welcome these pleasures back into your life so they can reinvigorate you and reawaken your lust for life. If you have returned to work, decide how to achieve your best work/life balance, especially if you want to progress your career or achieve some work-based goals. Investing in your personal interests and goals will enable you to become the woman you truly want to be.

Doing all of these things will give you the energy you need to focus on you. Once you have introduced these elements into your life, you will start to notice how uplifted you feel. Your appearance will probably change and seem much more like the old you. If you are enjoying a healthier diet with more sleep and exercise, your hair and skin will become radiant. You will start to glow, which will inevitably give you the confidence boost you need to go out there and achieve your lifelong goals!

Guest Post from: Kiran Singh from Passion For Food.
Kiran believes “Each and every step leads you to the next, and every person in your life leads you to the next as well… look how far you have come, not how far you have to go… you are not who you were… you are who you’ve become. Stay positive, stay determined, and you will keep being a better version of you.”