Are you constantly feeling tired? Silly question right, you’re a mother after all – it’s your God given right to be tired! If you feel drained on a regular basis, it’s time to take a deeper look as to why – and make some simple changes to your lifestyle.
A little while ago I felt like my knuckles were dragging on the floor behind me as I walked to collect my kids from school and nursery – and the idea of doing the bedtime routine exhausted me. I tracked down the things that were perhaps zapping my energy – made a few changes and reaped the remedies…
1.Dehydration. Water is SO IMPORTANT! Usually I drink 1-2 litres of water a day, but if I don’t (which is easily done when you’re spinning lots of plates) I can feel my body turn sluggish. Not drinking enough water is one the main offenders for draining your energy sources. Without the superior H2O formula, dehydration begins to strip cells of their energy making you feel shattered and fruitless. I just got myself a glass of water…
2.Lack of sleep. This is obvious I know, and something that can’t really be avoided when you have a new born baby or a toddler going the sleep regression whilst you’re back at work. These times are tough – but they DO PASS (thank goodness) but to take the edge off a little more – stay away from technology at night time (Facebook, Instagram etc can wait until the morning). Instead dive into a good book – reading text down a page is the perfect way to relax and for your eyes to close naturally.
3.Technology. Adding to the above, technology always seeps into your lives, whether is your smart phone, a tablet or a laptop. We are all guilty of this – how can you blame us we live in a digital age for crying out loud! Thing is, our brains aren’t designed to be ‘on’ all the time and with so many bright lights, moving images and such fast information in front of our eyes before we sleep will inevitably effect the way we fall asleep. Try to keep all devices in a separate room and have a digital detox every evening when you sleep. Maybe buy an alarm clock instead of using your phone too!
4. Exercise. I know it feels like we running a marathon when we’re power walking to get to school on time, or rugby tackling your toddler to get his shoes on, and the idea of crashing on the sofa after a long tiring day is heavenly, but try to incorporate some exercise just for you. A local yoga class? Kick boxing, swimming or just running around the block a few times will energise you both physically and mentally – and of course create endorphins which are little magical cells that can only do good things to us!
I’ve recently gone back to my tap dancing every Monday night and I love the fact that once a week I have my own event – and I sleep so well afterwards.
5. Too much sugar A good diet is key. I know it’s always tempting to have that slice of cake or portion of chips (Yes please) but this sugar rush quickly follows by a sugar crash. These days it’s so much easier to buy gluten free, organic, dairy free foods, so try these foods out and feel the difference.
6. Vitamins. I went to my local health food shop asking what vitamins I should be taking. I explained about how tired I’ve been feeling and bought vitamins that are right for me. They made a huge difference to how I feel and have also improved the whites of my eyes and my skin. Go to your local health food shop and ask them what is the best for you. All women should be taking a daily multi vitamin, and I also swear by taking Magnesium and B vitamins. If you’re not taking these already – maybe you should be? It worked for me!
7. Your home pollution. You don’t have to be an environmental psychologist to understand that plants look attractive. But dig a little deeper beneath their beauty and you’ll discover that the benefits of interior landscaping go far beyond the aesthetic. There is more pollution in your home than you think – so to remedy this, invest in green plants in your home. Indoor plants ooze oxygen and take away carbon dioxide, which means the green plants help to filter cleaner air in your home… and who doesn’t love greenery in their home?
8. Alcohol – I love to indulge in a cold glass of wine in the evenings – usually when I’m writing blog posts (yes there is wine on my desk right now) but inevitably I’ll wake up slightly more sluggish and dehydrated than if I just drank green tea the night before. Have some days off from any form of alcohol and see how it makes a difference to your get up and go.
9.You skip breakfast The food you eat fuels your body, and when you sleep, your body continues using what you consumed at dinner the night before to keep your blood pumping and oxygen flowing. So, when you wake up in the morning, you need to refuel with breakfast. Skip it, and you’ll feel sluggish. I recommends a breakfast that includes whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fat. Good examples include oatmeal, a smoothie made with fruit, or eggs with two slices of whole-wheat toast and low-fat Greek yogurt.
10. You have trouble saying ‘No’. People-pleasing often comes at the expense of your own energy and happiness. To make matters worse, it can make you resentful and angry over time. So whether it’s your kid’s coach asking you to bake cookies for his football team or your boss seeing if you can work on a Saturday, you don’t have to say yes.
Train yourself to say ‘no’ out loud, and don’t feel guilty by saying it.
Thanks for reading, I really hope this has been helpful!!
See you next week. Louise xx
