As a mom, one of your primary concerns will always be your children’s health and wellbeing. Often, this means you put them before yourself. However, if you do not take care of yourself, you will be unable to take care of them in the same way. With that in mind, it is important to start the new year on the right foot – by setting up a new, healthy routine that the whole family will enjoy.
Here’s how!
Prioritize sleep.
Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, poor focus and can have serious implications on your health – no matter your age. Therefore, you must establish a nighttime routine – for yourself, your partner, and your children. If you want to get more sleep set a bedtime for each member of your household – which will likely vary depending upon their age, and encourage them to stick to it. When you go to bed at the same time each night, your body will naturally begin to feel tired around this time, meaning you will fall asleep quicker.
If you struggle to sleep, consider yoga, or mediation before bed, which can help your mind wind down, relieving any feelings of stress and anxiety.
Exercise daily.
Exercise is a great way to improve your physical and mental wellbeing, but it can be difficult to find the motivation to get started. One way you can get excited about exercising is by ensuring you take part in various activities – such as hiking, dance fitness, and tennis. Each day, let a different member of the family chose the activity you will partake in. This is a great way to get fit while also spending quality time together!
Drink more water.
There are many benefits associated with drinking more water. It increases your energy levels significantly, meaning you can fight off fatigue quicker. It flushes out toxins and can even promote weight loss. However, for children, a cold glass of water will seem significantly less appealing than a can of soda. Encourage them to make healthy decisions by allowing them to drink soda in moderation, teaching them just how important water is. If a child is reluctant to drink water, why not make it into a small contest to see who in the family can drink the most water in a day? (Within reason, of course).
Find healthier snacks
Cooking healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a great way to improve your family’s health. However, you should not forget about the dangers of snacking, either. Chocolates, candies, and chips taste delicious – but they aren’t the best thing to have if you feel hungry. However, they are easy to access, and you don’t have to put any effort into preparing them. Therefore, ensure you always prepare a range of healthy alternatives for yourself and your children to snack on, such as simple oatmeal bars recipes that anyone can make. They will provide you with a much-needed boost of energy while satisfying any cravings you might have at the same time. Additionally, if you have a sweet tooth, you might want to try preparing snacks such as simple parfaits with granola for a nutritious yet delicious bite to eat!
Encourage everyone to practice self-care.
Self-care should be a part of everybody’s routine – whether they are children, teenagers, or adults. Therefore, you should lead by example by setting aside a certain amount of time each day to focus on yourself, ensuring you are listening to your body and giving it what it needs. Indulge in your favorite hobbies, take a relaxing bath, develop a skincare routine. You may also want to consider journaling. You’d be surprised about how much better you will feel once you add self-care to your daily routine.
Talk about how you are feeling.
We can continue to destigmatize mental health by speaking candidly about how we are feeling or how different things affect us. However, this can be particularly difficult, especially for teenagers who may be going through a lot of changes that they don’t really want to speak to their parents about. One way in which you can encourage an open conversation is leading by example and being honest when you are having a bad day. This will also encourage your children to be more receptive and responsive to other people’s feelings, helping them grow into kind, conscientious adults. You should strive to let your children know they are never alone – and even if they cannot speak directly to you – there is always somebody who will listen.
