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Aug 03
2017

4 Ways For Busy Moms To Stay Healthy This Fall

Mamas unite! It’s that time of year where the family is embracing a new routine, hitting the road early, getting home late and trying to keep up with crazy new school schedules. Whether it is a fall family outing, extracurricular activities, games or practice schedules, fall can be a busy time for families. When life gets busy, mom often puts her needs last after everyone else’s. So what are some ways for busy moms to stay healthy this fall?

If you have ever flown on an airplane, you’ve heard the flight attendant say in their safety guidelines at the beginning of the flight “in case of an emergency, put on your own oxygen mask before assisting a child or anyone else.” Why? Because if you’re not taken care of, how can you take care of anyone else?

The same theory applies in day-to-day life. A mom must take care of herself first to be able to provide care for her family. Unfortunately for many moms, this just doesn’t seem to be the case. A recent survey shows that your lack of sleep increases incrementally for each child in your household. Many mothers are far from getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Consequences of sleep deprivation can be dangerous, including leading to an estimated 100,000 car accidents each year.

So how do you keep up with care for yourself while caring for your family this fall? Here are 4 ways moms can prioritize their own health this fall.

Feel Good with Endorphins

Much needed endorphins are released when you exercise. Exercising regularly can keep you going when life with little ones demands a lot from you. Endorphins do a world of good in our bodies including acting as analgesics (painkillers), boost positivity, reduce stress and anxiety and help you sleep better at night. What mama couldn’t use a little more of all of that?

Beat Adrenal Fatigue

If you have not yet heard of it, adrenal fatigue is newer (relatively speaking) to the health and fitness scene. It explains why so many of us cannot beat tiredness, even if we have a good night’s sleep. While some medical professionals do not necessarily claim this as a medical diagnosis, some believe that adrenal fatigue can be brought on by chronic stress.

Replacing much needed vitamins in your body — especially vitamins B & D — hydrating, reducing inflammation and getting some much needed rest, are all ways to help beat adrenal fatigue.

Set Aside Time For Meal Prep

Typically, what is ready to grab-and-go in your kitchen is the first thing to be eaten when you are in a pinch or short on time. Why not make those choices the healthiest ones that you can? Set aside some time in your week to prepare ingredients for snacks and meals to increase your chances of healthful eating on the run.

Pick one day (or half a day) each week to shop the local farmer’s market and bring home fresh produce or wash and cut veggies. What’s ready to go will be what you grab for snacks or feed your family so make sure that what is in your kitchen is healthy. Ingredient prep early in the week will also help you save time with preparing meals later in the week when schedules get busy.

Visit our blog for healthy slow cooker recipes for the mom on the go.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Lack of water causes tiredness, improper nutrient handling in your body and a host of other issues. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women consume 2.2 liters of water per day. Keep in mind that environment (climate) and lifestyle factors (such as exercise, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or illness) may be a factor in needing to adjust your average daily intake.

These are all ways for busy moms to stay healthy this fall. Keep the above tips in mind to maintain general health and wellness when life gets busy, to make sure you are taking care of yourself. In certain cases, adding physical therapy to your health and wellness routine can also help to improve your quality of life. If you or your family would like to know more about the benefits of physical therapy, contact us today.