My grandmother died recently, and although she was 101 and in hospice, so we knew she wasn't well, if threw me off. Life can throw unexpected things our way, making it difficult to stay on top of our mental, physical and emotional health. When we are thrown off by the unexpected, we often get overwhelmed. Our emotions can show up in many different ways. This time, for me, I didn't really want to do anything and had low energy.
I've learned over the years that it's ok to take time to feel your emotions. It is ok to take a break. So I did. Here are a few things that are helping me get through. Looking at holistic approaches to combat the stressors of everyday life can be extremely beneficial!
Here are some holistic options to use when life happens:
- Essential Oils - Studies suggest that essential oils can help reduce stress and improve sleep. Try diffusing calming scents like lavender or orange in your bedroom or living room for a calming aroma and a sense of comfort.
- Prayer & Meditation - Taking time for prayer and/or meditation every day is an incredibly powerful way to start and end each day on a positive note, as well as helping you stay connected with God and yourself on a spiritual level. Even just five minutes of uninterrupted time spent in stillness can make all the difference!
- Get Support From Friends & Family - When life throws you curveballs, having people around us who truly understand us can be invaluable in reducing stress and anxiety levels; why not call a friend or family member for a chat when things get tough? And getting physical hugs from loved ones can be a miracle worker when we need it, so let yourself melt into a hug and feel the comfort it brings.
- Be Mindful Of Your Diet - Eating nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains provides the body with essential vitamins, minerals and healthy fats needed for proper functioning — so try to swap processed foods with healthier alternatives wherever possible! These can often be quick and easy to prepare, and they make you feel so much better overall.
- Find Time For Self-Care - When times are hard it’s important to remember that taking care of ourselves should always remain a priority — so make sure you schedule in ‘me-time’ regularly; take a nap, go for a walk, go out for lunch with friends or take an hour off to enjoy your favorite hobby!
Life happens to all of us, and can throw us out of our groove. Adopting these holistic practices into your daily routine may seem daunting at first– but stick with them and you’ll likely notice a positive shift in your wellbeing soon enough!
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Our sleep cycles are incredibly important — and getting enough restful sleep can make the world of difference when it comes to our energy levels! But with the pressures of modern life such as work, family and social commitments piling up, hitting the proverbial pillow at a regular hour is becoming an increasingly distant dream.
The thing is — without proper sleep, our productivity and well-being take a serious hit. So, what do our sleep cycles have to do with all this?
When we’re asleep, we go through different stages of being awake or being in deep restorative slumber. These stages are known as Non-REM (rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycles and they each play their own vital role in replenishing the body’s energy reserves.
During Non-REM sleep, which makes up about 75 percent of one's entire sleeping time, heart rate and breathing slow down significantly; meaning that cells can properly regenerate during this time. Furthermore, proper tissue growth in muscles and bones occurs during Non-REM sleep — making it key for athletes or anyone who requires physical strength for their job! On top of that, hormones like HGH (human growth hormone) are released during Non-REM; helping us stay leaner longer!
In REM sleep meanwhile — we experience vivid dreams due to heightened brainwave activity — which helps keep our brains sharp! Most importantly however — non-REM AND REM gets repeated throughout the night several times over until we finally wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
So chronic lack of the right hours of rest can set off a wave of patterns such as fatigue during the day; hormonal imbalances setting you up for mood swings or weight gain; poor concentration making your work suffer; weakened immunity preventing your body from fighting off disease etc. It is safe to say that getting adequate amounts of quality shuteye is essential for optimal energy levels!
To ensure that you get enough restful sleep every night — establishing a regular bedtime routine is key. Aim to turn off all screens at least an hour before going to bed and start winding down by reading a book or engaging in a light stretching session; relative darkness should be enforced within the bedroom too so opt out from having lights on while trying to snooze if possible. And lastly don’t forget to avoid large meals before hitting the sack as digestion problems might disrupt your slumber!
Need more tips on getting better sleep? Check out: 11 steps to a better night's sleep.
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Being a mom can be overwhelming at times, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life can make it difficult to find time for meal planning and preparation. However, with some simple strategies and plant-based nutrition in mind, you can provide your family with nutritious meals even on time-crunched days!
Here are some tips for eating plant-based nutrition when you don’t have much time:
- Stock up on Easily Accessible Plant-Based Foods - Keeping staples like beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and frozen fruits & veggies in the house makes it easier to whip up meals quickly without having to grocery shop often. And they won't go bad in the back of the fridge.
- Pre-Cook Larger Portions - Try batch cooking large portions of whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice over the weekend so they’re ready to heat up later in the week. Batch cook more complicated meals and freeze for an easy meal you can time bake on a crazy day. Make several meal portions of bean burgers and freeze to use later. Enjoy them alongside cooked veggies, leafy greens and easy sauces/dressings for flavorful meals that come together in no time!
- Use Convenient Alternatives - If you’re pressed for time, pull out those frozen bean burgers or casseroles! Just pop them into the oven or air fryer before serving with a quick side salad or roasted vegetables.
- Get Creative With Smoothies - Smoothies are an ideal way to get an energy boost during busy mornings; blend together some frozen fruit (even some veggies) with non-dairy milk or yoghurt and add superfoods like chia seeds or flaxseed meal for added nutrients! Kids love these frozen into popsicles, too!
- Prepare Quick Snacks - Healthy snacks like trail mix, kale chips or overnight oats are easy to put together ahead of time. Pre-chop your veggies and fruits and put them in the fridge in individual servings. Just grab them as you head out the door!
Eating plant based nutrition doesn't have to be hard when you're short on time– just remember to keep some healthy staples handy so you can easily create delicious meals that everyone will love!
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Being a mom is a full-time job, and it can be exhausting. Between taking care of the kids, managing the household, and finding time for your spouse and yourself, there's barely enough energy left over to keep up with your daily tasks. If you find yourself feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get or how often you take breaks, then it might be time to look into why you have no energy as a mom.
Identifying the Cause of Your Fatigue
The first step in getting your energy back is determining what’s causing it to dip in the first place. It could be something as simple as an unhealthy diet or too much stress. On the other hand, there could be underlying medical reasons why you’re feeling so tired all the time. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about possible tests to find the underlying cause and solutions or lifestyle changes that may help. Sometimes a simple allergy or food sensitivity test can uncover a food that is causing issues.
Finding Ways to Recharge
Once you know what’s causing your fatigue, it’s time to find ways to recharge. This will look different for everyone but generally speaking, holistic moms should focus on eating healthy foods that are high in nutrients and antioxidants as well as incorporating exercise into their daily routine. Removing foods that cause issues can also make a big difference. Additionally, taking some “me time” each day—whether it's reading a book or taking a hot bath—can also help you feel more energized and relaxed overall.
Boosting Your Energy Levels
Finally, try boosting your energy levels naturally by adding certain supplements into your diet such as B vitamins or iron if needed. A multivitamincan also be beneficial for providing extra nutrients and minerals that many busy moms don't get enough of in their diets alone. Taking these types of supplements can make all the difference when it comes to increasing energy levels and improving overall health and wellness.
It's no secret that being a mom takes a lot out of us physically and mentally - but there are things we can do to help us stay energized throughout our hectic days! By identifying what's causing our fatigue and making some necessary lifestyle changes such as eating better and exercising regularly, we can boost our energy levels naturally - which in turn helps us become better moms! As long as we remember to take care of ourselves first, we'll have plenty of energy left over for everything else!
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Being a mom is the most rewarding job in the world. But let’s face it, it can also be incredibly emotionally and physically draining. That’s why today, we are talking about the unspoken secret of being a mom: mom-brain. Let’s explore the science behind this all too common phenomenon.
The Science Behind Mom-Brain
The term “mom-brain” has become popular amongst moms to describe when they feel like their brain is foggy and their memory isn’t what it used to be. To some extent, this is normal for any person who gets less sleep than usual or experiences high levels of stress. But for moms, this feeling seems to occur more frequently because there are always little ones around needing care and attention that can easily take precedence over everything else.
Hormones also play an important role in why being a mom can feel so draining on the brain. During pregnancy and after childbirth, hormonal fluctuations can affect your mental state as well as your energy levels. Hormones like oxytocin (which helps you bond with your baby and causing you to focus on his/her needs) and cortisol (which is released during stress and overwhelm) are especially important in this regard – both come into play when you become a mom and can make the experience even more emotionally taxing than ever before, especially if you do not have a good support system. All these work together to create mom-brain.
The Impact of Self Care on Mom-Brain
It’s easy for moms to get caught up in taking care of everyone else first before themselves – but that won’t help you stay energized! That’s why taking time for yourself every day is essential if you want to avoid feeling drained all the time as a mom. Taking just 10 minutes each day to do something you enjoy – whether it be reading a book, going for a walk, or just meditating – can help restore your energy levels and improve your overall mental health. Holistic approaches such as yoga, meditation & prayer, proper nutrition, herbal remedies, essential oils – whatever works best for you - should also be part of your self-care routine to ensure that you remain happy and healthy while parenting small children!
Ask For Help
Moms need more support, period. Spouses must step up - ask and be specific with what you need, whether it's washing dishes, folding laundry, or enabling you to take a break. Extended family and friends in the area are usually more than happy to help out - just ask. If you don't have a village to help and support you, start now to develop friendships. Join a church, community organization, or bookclub, go to the library or the park, or reach out and meet your neighbors. This may seem counterintuitive, since it takes time and energy, but when you develop friendships, you will have support when you need it, and you can also reciprocate! Create your village.
Being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world but unfortunately, it can also be pretty draining at times, causing the all too familiar mom-brain. Understanding why being a mom is so emotionally taxing will help you manage better through those tough moments! From hormones to lack of sleep and everything in between, there are many reasons behind why being a parent feels so exhausting sometimes - but don't forget that self-care and support play an important role too! If you take some time out everyday for yourself and have others helping, then chances are you'll be able to handle the anything that comes with motherhood better than ever before! So go ahead and give yourself some much deserved TLC - because when mama's happy everybody's happy!
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