In my previous blog, I addressed the need to take care of one’s spiritual needs in order to thrive. Taking care of one’s physical needs is important as well. This involves sleep, healthy food and drink, and exercise.
Sleep – easier said than done if you have babies, toddlers, or children that wake you up at night. One secret is to go to bed early – so if your sleep is interrupted, you will still end up getting more sleep than if you had gone to bed late. (Full disclosure: I am not very good at the going-to-bed-early thing, but I am trying.)
The children’s nap time (which many moms turn into children having a quiet time on their beds when they outgrow their naps) is a good time to make up for lost sleep. If you are tired, I recommend that you don’t use nap time or quiet time to catch up on email, go on Facebook, or even clean the house. Use it to sleep!
Eating healthy food is essential to your well being. Snack on healthy things such as fruit and raw veggie sticks, cheese, etc. Prepare food ahead of time – perhaps cut up veggies when you are making supper, and place them in the fridge for the next day.
And drink, drink, drink…water! Lots! Even slight dehydration will make you tired, give you headaches, and just not feel well. This is another area that I am trying to improve in. Attach a glass of water to many regular events of the day. When you wake up in the morning, have a glass of water. At snack time, have a glass of water. When you are making lunch, have a glass of water. You will notice an improvement in how you feel.
Exercise – who has time? If you are a mother of babies and toddlers, you probably get a lot more exercise than you realize. My daughter-in-law wore a Fitbit for a while and noted that as she simply lived her life, she took thousands more steps than the recommended fitness level for her age, with no extra effort at all! If you don’t have young children and need to move more, then do it! Go outside with the children, as fresh air tends to make everyone feel better. If you live in a northern climate as I do – build a snowman or a snow fort with your children. Go for a walk, go tobogganing (walking back up a hill is great exercise!) Go skating. In the appropriate climate/season, jump rope with your kids. Go to the park. The important thing is to move. Move with your children or move without your children, but move!
Think of areas you need to improve on and little steps you can take to improve your sleep, your eating and drinking, or your exercise. Then make yourself accountable by telling your husband or a friend. And feel free to let me know as well!