Being a mom is no walk in the park.
It is an around the clock job, 24/7, with no days off.
It involves everything from feeding, clothing, and bathing your children with little to no thanks.
Nothing can fully prepare you for stepping on legos in the middle of the night. However, one thing that can make a mom’s life a little easier is developing good daily habits.
Here are our top ten daily habits for moms, to make you feel healthier and happier, while still getting everything done that you need to.
#1 Develop a Morning Routine
Having a solid morning routine is the best way to jump-start a productive day. Get into the habit of waking up at the same time every day. Just do your best to not use the snooze button when your alarm goes off no matter how badly your body is telling you to hit that button — DON’T.
Get up and get at it. Try to get ready soon after you wake up. Don’t just lounge around. Get up and start getting tasks done to get a leg up on the day. Create a morning routine that drives you. Get up from bed and stretch, drink some water, tea, or coffee, brush your teeth, take a cool shower. Start your day off right so you are energized and prepared to take care of your rambunctious kids.
#2 Drink Enough Water
Drinking water is important for anyone’s health, but it’s especially important for a busy mom who is always on the go. I know it sounds like such a simple task, but you would be surprised by how many people do not drink enough water throughout their day. You should be drinking a half-gallon of water a day.
To break that down into even simpler terms, you should be having 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Drinking the recommended amount of water per day has endless benefits for your mental and physical health including preventing headaches, keeping you energized throughout the day, and keeping your skin healthy. You can even come up with fun ways to keep yourself hydrated like:
- Using a crazy straw
- Keeping a fun colored or decorated bottle near you all the time
- Adding flavors to your water like fruit (strawberries, lemons, cucumbers, etc.)
- Make a game out of drinking water by taking a sip every time someone mentions your favorite T.V. show, you spot an orange car, someone mispronounces your name, you see a lizard, etc.
Have fun with drinking water it is key for your health!
#3 Set Aside Time to Get Active
Everybody knows that moms don’t have a lot of free time on their hands. That is why it is important that moms use that limited amount of time on what is essential: physical fitness.
It’s crucial that no matter how busy moms get that they find time to stay active. Find any way to get out there and get your blood pumping whether that be going to the gym, getting a run in, or simply taking a walk.
Getting exercise will help you feel more relaxed, healthier, energized, and put you in a better mood. You won’t always be able to find the time to be active away from your kids, so incorporate them into your exercise.
Depending on how strong your kid might be they probably won’t be able to spot for you at the gym, so try to do simple workouts with them. You can run, walk, jog, or bike with your kids using a jogging stroller or a bike trailer. You can also teach your kids to do yoga with you and make it a family activity.
#4 Prioritize Self Care
Set aside a certain amount of time that is strictly just for yourself. It doesn’t matter how long it is, it could even just be 15 to 20 minutes. It is essential for your well-being that you take time to focus on yourself and your mental health. Do whatever it is that helps you to unwind.
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Hot Bath
- Take a nap
- Have a glass of wine
Don’t feel guilty for taking that time to yourself. Take a deep breath and relax. Take some time to yourself, you deserve it.
#5 Make a Family Meal Plan
Creating a meal plan for the entire family can be tedious, but it helps take tasks off your list of things to do. At the beginning of every week, plan out the family’s meals. They don’t have to be completely original meals every day.
You can do some repeats or even do a leftover day to help you get through the week. It helps to have meals planned out so you don’t have to be throwing things together at the last second and know what’s for dinner that night.
#6 Stay on Top of Laundry
Doing laundry every day can be grueling, but if you skip doing it a couple of days, the dirty clothes will pile up on you… literally. Now it doesn’t mean you have to do laundry every single day, but it helps to try to do a minimum of a load a day so you don’t become overwhelmed. Take your time and do it at a comfortable pace for yourself to get caught up. It is not a race or a marathon. Challenge yourself to do one load a day fold it all and get it put away.
Make sure to stay on top of your laundry, take it one load at a time.
#7 Puts the Kids on a Schedule
Setting routines for your kids like waking them up at a certain time or having set meal times creates good habits for your kids growing up. Make sure that your kids wake up and go to bed at the same time every day.
Try your best to make sure your kids eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the same time every day too. Obviously, unforeseen circumstances will get in the way of this working every time but just try your best.
In terms of chores for your kids, don’t be afraid to have your kids do some cleaning for you. Cleaning is an essential adulting skill that kids should learn from a young age. Here’s how you can get your kids to clean (and like it).
#8 Prepare for the Next Day
You don’t have to wait for the next day to begin to get ready for it. In fact, you actually shouldn’t be doing that at all. Prepare everything the night before the best you can, and you will have a smooth morning transition instead of a frantic mess.
Get your kids’ clothes ready and laid out for the next day. Prepare everybody’s lunches to be ready for the next day. Have any appointments, conferences, meetings, or practices scheduled and written out on a calendar so you do not forget about them. Do whatever you can to be as ready for the next day as possible.
Staying on top of your cleaning routine is also important. You might be wondering, “what is the daily cleaning routine for working moms?”
Well, it all starts with a great, all natural multi purpose cleaner. A cleaner that can do any job with ease is going to make your cleaning routine much more effortless.
Did you know that cleaning more often will make you feel better? Having a clean house is great for your mind, body, and soul. Improving your mood is a lot easier than you think.
#9 Get Enough Sleep
Doctors recommend that adults ages 26-64 get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Make sure to get good rest as a mother so that you are sharp and ready for the next day. You might find it hard to get to bed and fall asleep, here are some tips you make easier for you to fall asleep:
- Avoid looking at screens like your phone or T.V. before bedtime
- Lower the room temperature
- Listen to relaxing music
- Keep your room dark
You need to get your rest so you have the energy, patience, and temperament to handle not only your kids’ schedule but also your own schedule.
#10 Spend Time with Friends
As a mom, your top priority is probably your kids, or at least it should be. Don’t forget though that it’s still important to spend time with some friends of your own from time to time. It may not seem like it all the time, but it helps to keep a social life going.
There are loads of benefits to keeping in touch with your friends. Unfortunately, moms can sometimes find themselves isolating themselves from people other than their direct family. This can be dangerous because having friends as a mom is important. You need people who understand you and the situation you are in.
Being friends with other moms will help because they are also in your shoes and can give you good advice on the problems you are having. They can be a good support system for you to lean on when you need advice or help.
Conclusion: Being a Mom is HARD!
Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Then again, nobody ever said that being a mom was going to be easy. At the end of the day though, it is also one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world.
Someday you will look back and wish that you could do it all over again. So enjoy the ride. Whenever you are in doubt or you feel like your life is a mess, you can depend on this list of daily habits to help you.
