Today I’m sharing some small changes mums are making to parent better and feel stronger. As a mum, our day-to-day life with kids can still drain you, no matter how fulfilling parenthood can be. That comes hardly as a surprise, as taking care of a child requires more than just physical energy— it demands our mental and emotional energy as well.
It may eventually drive you feeling hopeless as your energy drains while your worries and responsibilities start to compound, but all is not lost. There are many things you can do to restore your vigour without feeling like you’re abandoning your responsibilities as a parent.
Simple steps like moving your body, prioritising yourself, and setting boundaries and routines can dramatically improve how you handle daily life.
In this article, we’ll share some ideas for small changes mums are making to parent better and feel stronger.
Swap Morning Coffee for Protein Shakes
Do you drink coffee to stay afloat every day? Many do rely on caffeine, especially mums that are rearing children. Caffeine is great, but too much of it can be harmful in the long run, especially because caffeine can disrupt restful sleep.
Instead of chugging copious cups of coffee, a healthier alternative could be protein shakes. Protein supplements are not only easy to prepare, they also provide a steadier energy boost that lasts throughout the entire day.
If you are one of those busy parents that can no longer live without coffee, you can try adding protein shakes to your coffee instead of creamers. At least this way, you won’t be drinking caffeine on an empty stomach as the protein can offset the jittery effects of coffee. Better yet, you can opt for coffee-flavoured protein shakes to give you a new boost with that same familiar taste.
However, if you are trying to wean yourself off of that latte, you can try out different flavours now on the market. You can check Maxine’s Burn website. There, you’ll see flavours ranging from cheesecake to banoffee pie.
Whatever flavour you fancy, just remember that protein shakes are great alternatives for coffee, especially for a busy mum who is always on the go.
Start the Day with Stretch Routines
A great morning routine should include at least five minutes of stretching. If you feel stiff and have less energy when you wake up, doing stretches help loosen muscles and make you more mobile and less prone to injury.
It’s best to incorporate your stretching routine once you get out of your bed to jumpstart your brain-muscle connection. Start by choosing a few stretches that target your major muscle groups, such as the hamstring stretch or a standing quad stretch, when crafting a routine. The stretches should consist of the neck and shoulders, upper body, and lower body.
If you’re just trying to build this habit, try basic stretches first, then progress to more complex versions of the basic stretches every two to four weeks.
Have “Non-Negotiable” Me-Time
Have you heard of mum burnout? It typically occurs when a mother is overwhelmed by parenting and the amount of tasks that come with it, leading to stress, depletion, and detachment from their role as a mother.
In addition to the mental burden this causes, there are also physical symptoms like stomach issues and headaches. Disruptions in behaviour, appetite, and sleep are also common. If you feel like you’re nearing mum burnout or you’re already there, consider incorporating a non-negotiable me-time into your everyday life.
Start by carving out 10–15 minutes for yourself. This me-time could happen before your kids wake up, when they’re away from school, or even after bedtime. This should help you reset and rejuvenate your mood and energy.
Carving out me-time is essential for overall mental, physical, and emotional health as it allows mums to recharge, prevent mum burnout, and be much more effective and present mothers to their kids.
Turning Family Time Into Active Time
As a busy parent, you might feel like you no longer have the time to exercise given your commitments, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, you can still be a present mum while also being active.
For example, instead of letting your children stare at their phones or tablets for hours on end, you can invite them for a walk in the park. You can even challenge them for a mini-race if they fancy some friendly competition. Or, you can just let them ride their bikes while you trail along them.
You can kill two birds with one stone by turning exercise sessions into family time. Together with your family, you can improve your mood and physical health, limit screen time, and actively bond.
Set Screen Use Boundaries for Everyone
Too much screen time is becoming an epidemic across all households, and it doesn’t just affect children. It affects parents, too. Thanks to short-form content and the convenience of technology, we are training our brains to focus less.
Furthermore, any information you get from social media and video entertainment could contribute to your anxieties instead of helping you relax. Screen time also interferes with essential activities like homework, meals, and sleep, limiting bonding time with the kids and making them screen-dependent. For that matter, it’s important to set boundaries in everyone’s screentime.
As parents, it’s essential to lead by example by limiting not just your kids’, but your own screentime as well. Kids are less likely to broach an argument since they’d perceive you’re being fair. Then create screen-free times and zones, set daily time limits, and use the built-in features in the screens themselves to schedule downtime. This move can help families sleep better, learn to be more patient, and slowly regain focus.
Final Words
Any mum would agree that when we’re not at our best, it can be pretty challenging to parent well and be present in the moment with our kids. Thankfully, there are ways to change that. Use the list above depending on what works best for you.
