Natural Ways to Boost a Parents Energy

We all know how busy a mom’s schedule is. Parents are running errands, keeping up with appointments and chasing their little ones but when do they sleep?

Often times, they don’t but still need the energy to do it again every day. What’s the secret to keep from collapsing from exhaustion? Well, there really isn’t one. But there are a few tips to make your day just a bit easier.

Maintaining a Balance

 

Eating a balanced diet seems pretty obvious but yet it seems so unobtainable. Everyone knows the benefits, including preventing common health issues, weight control and more energy. But the convenience of easy foods can be a hard habit to break. Not to mention, the cost of eating healthy can also be expensive.

One way to get on the right track of a healthy lifestyle is by making really small changes one step at a time. This means things like cutting back on soda, making your snack portions a little smaller or adding vegetables to every dinner. If you try and make huge changes then you are setting yourself up for failure.

People don’t need major life changes to make a difference. Slow, manageable commitments become habits over time and can eventually change your lifestyle one day at a time.

Water Intake

Similarly to the first tip, another way to boost your energy in a healthy way is by drinking enough water. It makes up 60-70% of our body yet we still forget to keep hydrated.

Not drinking enough water can cause headaches and makes it difficult for your body to maintain normal functions like digestion. Staying hydrated allows your body to spend less energy on basic functions and more energy on chasing toddlers.

If you are waiting until you are thirsty to drink water, you’re probably already dehydrated. You can take small steps to staying on top of being hydrated by doing things like bringing a water bottle with you out and eating foods rich in water. These foods include tomatoes, oranges, soups and melons and can help you stay on top of your fluid intake.

Exercise

 

All types of exercise can be used to increase your energy but Yoga is a favorite among mothers. This type of exercise combines movement with breathing for a full body experience. It gets your blood circulating which really wakes up your brain. The best part is how practicing yoga is more about self love and working with your body instead of for it.

Yoga pushes a person to gain physical strength and flexibility while decreasing stress. Reducing stress alone can boost your energy while the combination of everything involved with yoga can greatly invigorate your day. After a busy day, the last thing you want to do is something that feels like a punishment.

Fitting yoga into a busy routine can also be easier than you’d think! Because of its popularity, there are many studios and gyms that can give you a lot of options. There are also at home programs that you can do in your pajamas, and at your convenience.

Get Outside!

Sunshine can also be a great, natural way to increase your energy and your mood. There is also science behind getting 15 to 20 minutes of sun to add a little boost to your day. Although sunlight can have other negative effects, like skin cancer, it can also increase serotonin and vitamin D.

This can prevent things like different forms of depression and even cancer. By decreasing mood disorders and increasing your health, adding a bit of light into your daily routine can truly help boost your energy.

Check Your Habits

There is some research that suggests smelling mint or cinnamon can boost your mood. Throwing a pack of gum in your purse can give you that little boost when the grocery lines are just a little too long. The act of chewing gum can also stimulate your brain and prevent you from over indulging in calories.

It may seem strange but simply chewing gum for 15 to 20 minutes throughout the day can make you feel more alert and less hungry. Avoiding those extra snacks can help you feel less sluggish while still getting the same feelings of snacking.

If someone is tired, they should probably get some more sleep. But all parents know how difficult that can be, especially if your infant is under 6 months. If you can’t improve the quantity of sleep, improve the quality. Doing things like decreasing stress, stretching and overall relaxing will help you fall asleep faster.

Light can trigger your brain to stay awake, so make sure you shut off your phone for the night. Wearing a sleeping mask will also relax your face, cut out light and give you the best sleep possible.

There are many great options to fit your personal needs. Consider things like material, thickness and shape. It may take some experimentation but most types are pretty wallet friendly.

If you’re going to drink coffee, use caffeine to your advantage. It can really give you a morning boost but the crash can be really difficult to combat. The added sugar and creamer in coffee can also give you a spike of energy followed by a crash as well.

A great alternative to coffee is drinking tea. Some teas are caffeinated and can provide a great pick me up. Just make sure you stop drinking all caffeine products after 2pm. The effects can last up to 12 hours and if you are not sleeping well, you will still be tired no matter how much coffee you drink the next morning.

Keeping Your Brain Engaged

 

Keeping your brain stimulated throughout the day can also help bust that drowsiness cycle. Listening to inspiring music can keep you motivated and on track as you focus on your tasks ahead of you. It’s pretty hard to fall asleep while your singing along to your favorite tunes beausse your brain and your body is engaged.

It can also reduce stress, which will help you conserve energy for the important things to get done. If you have the ability, you can also try splashing cold water on your face or wrists. This can really jolt yourself awake during that 3pm slump.

You can also stimulate your brain through acupressure points. Acupressure works by finding specific nerves and apply pressure. It stems from Acupuncture and was developed over 5,000 years ago and has been a registered medical treatment for many diseases. Studies have found that self applied pressure points can help people stay more alert during the day.

By tapping or rubbing certain points for both relaxation and stimulation. The points for stimulation include the top of your head, the top of the back of your neck, the back of your hand between your thumb and forefinger and the arches of your feet.

The points for relaxation are between the eyebrows, below the ear lobes, the front of the wrists and on the top of the feet between the large and second toe.

Make sure to rub both clockwise and counterclockwise and for at least 6 minutes for each spot. Taking the time for acupressure will help you remain alert and relaxed.

Overall, there are many natural methods to beat the daily drowsiness. It can be easy sometimes to reach for that cup of coffee every day but trying to get out of the ups and downs. By having a few tips to fall back on when you really need that boost of energy, you can figure out what works for you and your busy schedule.