It's tough to take care of yourself when your chasing your kids around all day, but not taking care of yourself could be hurting how you look.
If you're a mom, you've seen her, the perpetually pretty mom. You know, the one who doesn't quite fit into the playgroup because she's always so radiant and pulled together? While you and your friends are bemoaning your most recent diet and complaining because you're always tired, the pretty mom is off, well, being pretty. Our husbands love her and we hate her because we envy her. She seems to have it all. You can bet that her bedroom walls don't echo with talks of how tired she is the way ours do. So, what's her secret?
Chances are, she's healthy. She probably makes time daily to take care of herself. Most likely, she eats healthy to begin with and doesn't need to diet. Plus, the way she eats and rests and exercises helps her hair to be shiny, her skin to be radiant and her body to be strong. Her glow can probably be attributed to a good, ahem, relationship with her husband, too, because we all know that in itself can make you glow for a week.
It sounds so easy, right? Then why doesn't it work for us? Because we overcomplicate the issue and get confused about what to and not to do, when a few simple life changes can really help. So, here are the basics:
Consider a one a day women's vitamin. There are so many supplements out there that it's confusing what to take and not take and often we can be unclear on what vitamins do what. The experts agree that you don't need to have a nutritionist tell you to take a daily multivitamin. This will help you to make up for any nutrients you might be lacking in your daily diet.
Don't diet. Period. It ruins your hair, your nails and your skin. When you go on a diet, you are cutting out precious nutrients that affect your healthy glow. Instead, change your habits. Important rule of thumb, more leafy greens, olive oil (extra virgin is best) and whole grains. Less fried foods, fast food and overly processed food. Rather than grabbing the pizza pocket in the grocery store, buy the ingredients to make a whole grain mini pizza. Cut back on your cookies and start looking at labels when you shop. If you can, try to have no Trans fats in your diet at all. Try to cut back on the pop and energy drinks and include some green tea or fresh juice in your diet. Up your water intake and make sure to drink 3 glasses of skim milk a day.
Get plenty of rest. This doesn't mean just sleep, but you need to take time to rest. Set 15 or 20 minutes a day aside for yourself and just relax. Breathe deep and calm yourself. This will help to regulate your blood pressure (which can cause unattractive flushing) and lower your heart rate. Sleep is a biggie, too. Have the little ones on a schedule to allow yourself some unwind time. If you get up at 5:00 am, you should be nodding off around 10:00 pm at the latest.
Allow time for you and your spouse. Just the two of you. Nothing is a greater stress reducer than those intimate liaisons we all are too tired for. Don't pass them by. This increases your connectivity and brings you closer, so along with the immediate physical benefits, you can experience a ton of emotional benefits, too. When the world is turning upside down on you, at least you will have the security of a strong relationship.
Lastly, take a walk, or do Pilates, or yoga. Whatever the activity you choose, you should be getting at least 30-45 minutes of strenuous physical activity daily. This is your time, so make sure to use it. You will be surprised at how good you feel if you force yourself to work out. Before you know it, exercise will be an all important part of your routine. You don't have to work out for 45 minutes all at one time; you can spread it out throughout the day. Take your kids with you for a walk, let them ride their bikes, then after daddy gets home, you could give him the kids for a while and you can do your other workout. However you do it, you really need to. This is the most important part. You will be amazed at how much better you feel.
So, now you have the information, it's up to you to use it. Maybe it's time for us to be the pretty ones, we wouldn't want to leave pretty mom all alone forever, would we? After all, it's not nice to exclude people.
Yes, I have seen those pretty moms, grrrrr, the ones that look like they are ready for a fantastic night out at the grocery store of all places, or Walmart. You know the places of necessity. Those "pretty moms" must have it all figured out. It is all to often that "there never is enough time" to spend a little on yourself. You're correct in if you don't take the time, you won't have the time. Love what I've read so far, you really strike a nerve, in other words, it's real. I can relate to what you write, you put "yourself" in with your readers and it's really good Melissa. Send me more, can't wait to read anything you've done =) love you, Julieann.
