I love crazy. Well, not really, but I do love to stay active (which can sometimes equate to crazy).
I learned a long time ago that Isaac Newton was on to something when he introduced us to the Laws of Motion. To paraphrase Sir Isaac – a body in motion, stays in motion and a body at rest, stays at rest.
Since my husband and I both work outside of the home, our 16 month old son is in childcare M-F from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. When I pick him up each evening, my first instinct is to race home (safely, of course!) and soak up the two hours I have with him before bedtime. Although we do that often, some weeks just don’t allow it. Take last week for example….
Our evenings went something like this:
- Monday: Swim lessons for my future fish
- Tuesday: National Night Out at our neighborhood elementary school
- Wednesday: A much needed Mom’s Night Out!
- Thursday: Mommy & me dinner with some dear friends
- Friday: Grocery store (my 95th percentile boy has to eat!)
Back in my post-married but pre-baby days, a week like this would have mortified me. You see, I have a confession. I’m a homebody at heart. I love being in the comfort and security of my home. I love being in my pajamas. I love hanging out in the kitchen with my hubby or ordering take out and eating on our TV trays in front of the tube (gasp!). Can I still call it the “tube?”
I speak from experience when I say that too much of this is a recipe for a RUT. On my most exhausted days, I remind myself that energy begets energy. The more you do, the more you want to do. A body in motion, stays in motion.
Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of days when I’d much rather sit at home and do nothing (nothing=chasing a toddler around the house). This is certainly a work in progress for me, but all I have to do is remind myself that one of my goals as a mother is to raise a productive, joyful, social child who makes positive contributions to the world around him.
Although I want him to have a healthy self-esteem, I also need him to know that he will not be the center of attention everywhere he goes. I need him to know that he is actually part of something much bigger than him, much bigger than the small space he lives in. The more he is exposed to the world outside the comfort of his own home, the easier it will be for him to grasp such a critical concept.
Whether you’re a working mom or a SAHM or someone in between and you’re relatively healthy, use that health to your advantage. Embrace it. Be grateful for it.
There will certainly be good days and bad, ups and downs, highs and lows. But in case you missed the memo: Moms can do anything! Make that your mantra, and you will find that you have more untapped energy than you knew existed, more strength and perseverance than you thought possible and even more to give than you receive. What a wonderful way to teach our children admirable behavior – by modeling it ourselves.
The biggest bonus of all: staying social will keep mama sane!
So where do we track down this sought-after energy?
Google will give you endless ideas for boosting your energy naturally, but here are my top five favorite that I’ve found to be most effective:
- Exercise: I know, I know. Time, energy, motivation, etc, etc. Just get moving! Be as active as you can, as often as you can.
- Drink Water: Nothing new here, but I’ll be the first to admit that I can tell when I’m not getting enough water. Not to mention – proper hydration is the cure for so many other ailments!
- Sleep: Here’s the catch – you should be getting just enough sleep but not too much. This can be tricky, but there are ways to figure out how much sleep you really need – or don’t need – per night.
Eat right at lunch to avoid the mid-afternoon slump - Eat Right: Don’t skip breakfast! Eat a light lunch, and if possible eat more often (you don’t have to tell me that twice).
- Vitamins: via a pill or if you’re more diligent than me, via the foods you eat. And as far as energy is concerned, make sure you’re getting enough of the almighty B vitamins.
On your best days as a mother, where do you find the energy to get moving and to get out of the house?
What motivates you?
Great post Michelle! I love all the practical tips you offered!
Great article and so timely for me as I was just thinking how EXHAUSTED I am after a week full of, well, life. My kids, job and school keep me hopping, but I actually have more energy the more I stay “plugged in” to my family and friends. I make it a point to get up an hour before my kids wake to go to the gym or yoga, or even for a walk. I always feel more alert and ready to tackle my day.