Many people, especially people who have children or people to care for, don’t deem self care every day as important. However, self care for moms especially is something that absolutely everybody should be concerned with. Not only does it restore our energy and allow is to give the best version of ourselves to the people we love, it means avoiding illness, injury, and living a better quality of life. But it also allows us to take care of our families better.
It’s not selfish to care for yourself. If anything, it’s selfish not to. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and if you’re not looking after yourself, you might not be around in the future when it really counts. Take a moment to consider what self care every day means for you. How have you practiced self care over the last few weeks, or even the last few days? Do you have a self care routine?
Here are 3 of the most important ways to practice self care every day.
Take A Break
Maybe you’re running around after your kids, an elderly parent, at work, or somewhere else. Maybe you have numerous things going on. Whatever your deal is, know this: the busier you are, the more important it is to take a break. Taking breaks is not counterproductive. You’ll recharge your energy stores and simply feel better, putting you in a better mood and allowing you to give the best of yourself whatever you may be doing. Breaks can help your memory retention, mood, and stress levels. Planning them throughout the day is crucial!
Maybe try some breath-work, or meditation. Believe it or not, these things can actually give you an energy boost as well!
Ask For Help If You Need It
It’s normal to feel too proud to ask for help, but in reality, struggling alone doesn’t win any awards. If you need help, ask for it, and don’t be afraid or ashamed.
Maybe you need less on your plate at work, or you could do with a helping hand from your partner or a family member with your kids. Perhaps you even need help from personal injury lawyers because you have had an accident and you aren’t sure what to do next. You can’t do everything alone, so don’t try to. Get the helping hand you need.
Do Things You Enjoy More Often
If you enjoy taking hot baths and putting on face masks, set time aside to do those me time self care things. If you like reading, make sure you plan it into your day. Do the things you enjoy more often, and really savour them. Here are more suggestions for your self care every day that can benefit you in numerous ways:
Take time cooking whole, healthy meals from scratch and don’t rush when eating them.
Take a nap. Anywhere from 15-45 minutes could help you to get more done than working straight through – science has proven it!
Do a little yoga or get moving in another way you enjoy.
Just sit and be still. Meditate with an app or a video if you like.
Arrange a coffee date with a friend or have lunch.
Take a class, or pick a hobby up again that you have let slide.
Practice daily self care affirmations. It’s truly shocking how effective these can be on your mind-set.
And last but not least, create a morning routine that nourishes you and your mind right from the start every day!
You matter, so start acting like it!
Grab your Printable Self Care Starter Kit right here! (Click the image below)
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As a woman with a family and a career, finding the balance between work, caring for your loved ones and maintaining a social life isn’t a walk in the park. Trying to juggle all of these super powers can put a toll on your mental health whether you’d like to believe it or not. It’s important to have meaningful investments for busy moms in health and wellness, and make it a priority. After all, your children deserve to have a great role model in their life!
An easy way to begin investing in items and experiences that will make you feel your best is to begin with the top five areas of your life that are important for busy, multitasking moms – your sleep, your health, your comfort, your home and your future.
For your sleep
Getting a full night’s rest is an impossible task when you’re a busy mom. And if you have kids under five years old, you’re lucky to get a few consecutive hours of shut-eye in each night. After chasing your toddlers around all day or even driving your kids to sports practices and birthday parties, the thought of your own bed seems like a fantasy.
Investing in a quality mattress will have you yearning for your bed even more than you already are, especially knowing that you’ll be able to quickly slip into a comfortable slumber!
Purchasing mattresses online is certainly becoming the preferred method of mattress shopping. Online mattress companies make the buying process simple and don’t want you to feel the pressure that you’d get from the salesperson at your local furniture store. You’ll be able to truly invest in the mattress that meets your sleeping needs.
For your health
The older we get, the more important it is to take care of our skin’s health. Including SPF in your daily skincare routine will protect your skin from UV rays and also prevent unwanted wrinkles from forming.
Brands like MDSolarSciences and EltaMD have tinted sunscreens containing mineralized zinc and titanium oxide. Your skin will be fully protected from harmful rays while still giving you a natural glow instead of the opaque white cream you’re used to.
This is perfect for moms on the go who have very little time to get ready in the morning. Raising a family while juggling a career can put a toll on our bodies and the most we can do is protect it from potential damage.
For your comfort
A mom that’s always on the go won’t feel fully equipped without wearing something comfortable. That’s why meaningful investments for busy moms must always start from what you wear under your clothes, then work your way out.
First you’ll have to identify your lifestyle. Are you a mom that heads to the office after dropping your kids off at school? Or are you a mom who might work from home and have the freedom to dress in something more casual? Whatever your situation may be, the best idea would be to invest in something transitional that can take you from a Mommy And Me gymnastics class to an important meeting in the boardroom.
Quality items of clothing to invest in, to add to your comfortable yet confident wardrobe, include bras that feel like second skin and a blazer used for simple layering. If you’re a mom that’s always on the run, you don’t want to think twice about feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing.
Ultimately, the more comfortable you are, the more you’re able to embrace who you really are.
For your home
Your home should feel like your sanctuary. After a long day, coming home to a place that eases your mind and lifts your spirits is exactly what busy moms need.
Because most of your time is spent in the kitchen, whether it’s making lunches for the kids to bring to school, or cooking up a big meal for Sunday dinner, you should create a space that makes you want to stay!
Updating your kitchen appliances will eliminate your stress levels when it comes to making dinner for your hungry family each night. High-end appliances can even make the cooking process a breeze, leaving you with more quality time to spend connecting with your loved ones rather than watching the oven because it tends to over cook food or hoping the panini press doesn’t stop working mid-melt! Your hungry family won’t be disappointed either!
For your future
Getting away every once in while is beneficial for your mental health. Taking a break from your chaotic life to unwind with some loved ones or close friends can do wonders to your mind and body! One of the most fantastic meaningful investments for busy moms is in a savings account for a well deserved vacation!
A tip when opening up a dedicated vacation savings account is to look for a bank where they allow you to open up an interest-bearing account. It may help you accumulate more money by the time your vacation comes!
A change of scenery to your favorite beach or a day hike up a mountain on your bucket list will have you feeling like a brand new mom upon your arrival home to your kiddos!
Shuffling between being the best mom, a great wife and a dedicated professional is a tough task. Incorporating these beneficial investments into your daily life will only help you achieve your Super Mom goals!
Ready to tackle even MORE True Self Care? Get your time back, create GOOD habits for yourself, and kick that Mom-guilt to the curb with the TRUE Self Care Course or Ebook! It’s FREE! Click the image below to get started!
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As Moms who manage our household budgets, we’re always looking for ways to simplify it. But also to help keep track with little fuss. There are a lot of applications and websites out there which claim to help you with your money. From simple budgeting apps to systems that can provide automated advice when it comes to the decisions you make, the range of options you have in this area is massive. We’ve found four of the lesser-known, but still very powerful, online money management tools to improve your money.
Advice
In a lot of cases, the best help you can get with your money will have to be direct. This doesn’t mean that a human has to give it to you, though. Today’s computers are getting very good answering the sort of questions humans like to ask. Online money management tools like Nerdwallet can help you to pick between the various options you have available at the moment, and it will be worth keeping an eye on this field. As time goes on, these systems are learning, and this means that they will only get more useful.
Keeping Records
Accounting applications have been getting more and more popular over the last few years, but far too many people still find themselves keeping records using traditional methods. Unfortunately, tools like Freshbooks are still very complicated, and this makes them hard for normal people to sink their teeth into. By making a paycheck stub online, you can solve this issue, while still keep track of your money. These online money management tools make it a great way to handle this side of finance.
Affordable Investment
Putting money away can be hard when you don’t have an investment tool behind you, and a lot of people find themselves daunted with stock trading apps and other professional tools. To help you to get around this, there are loads of systems which are designed to make this process simple. Instead of having to learn about an entire field, you can get to grips with a game-like app. And this is much more fun for most people.
Management
Three things can can practically wipe out the chances of overspending. First, being able to see exactly how much money you have in your account all the time. Second, how much is going to be going out on bills. And third, what will be left over at the end of it . You’ll be able to relax knowing that your money is in a good position, all while improving the control you have over it. Online money management tools like Monefy are great for this. Especially if you’d prefer to use your smartphone to do this sort of work.
This post should give you everything you need to start the process of improving your money with the power of the internet. This sort of process doesn’t have to be a challenge. Especially with the help of online reviews and blogs. Along with all of the other resources which can be found around the web.
Get your free printable Household Budgeting Binder by clicking the image below!
What online money management tools have you used to make your personal finance management easier? Let me know in the comments below!
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If life were comfortable, you would find a partner, buy a house, have a family, and stay in the same job for life. There would be no tough life decisions. Everything would be perfect. The property would be big enough for five to six people. Your kids would study hard and enjoy their life. Your career would strike a perfect balance between life and work while paying you plenty. And, you would be in love with your hubby forever and always.
Unfortunately, life isn’t this simple. To build one of which you can be proud, you need to make tough life decisions at difficult times and hope for the best. Here are four of those decisions, and what to consider during the process.
Should I Stay Or Go?
The Hollywood romances are never quite the same in real life. Sadly, not everyone gets to live their happily ever after. You may find yourself or have been in a position where the relationship wasn’t working. This is natural in many ways and the first thing to do is stay strong and fight.
Far too many people give in at the earliest sign of trouble. If you do this and nothing changes, then you have to think about your happiness. Are the kids going to be better off in a loveless environment where their parents don’t get along? Or, would they rather they split and be content? In the long-term, it’s the latter.
Am I A Sheep Or A Shepherd?
In the beginning, everyone starts out on the bottom rung of the career ladder and works their way to the top. Well, that’s the dream. Again, there are obstacles in the way and your work life can stagnate. This is when it’s time to think about staying or leaving.
However, it’s also the moment to consider shooting for the stars and starting your own firm. When you’re not the boss, there will always be someone telling you what to do and ordering you around. Shepherds forget about the wolves (money, fear of failure) and lead by example.
Do I Keep On Moving?
Https://news.a1firstclass.com/ says that the average person moves up to eleven times in their life. As a youngster, this isn’t difficult because there aren’t as many responsibilities.
When you have kids, it gets trickier. Will they like the idea? Will they make new friends? Will the new location benefit them in the long run? And, don’t forget about your partner who has a career.
Plus, https://www.mybekins.com/location/phoenix-az-movers/ points out the hassle of the process. Regardless, a new home may be what the family needs in terms of money, space and opportunities. These three things trump everything else.
Should We Expand?
Your family is settled, for now. In the future, you may want more kids. Although there are statistical factors to consider, such as money and space, this is a personal thing. Once you feel the urge to have more children, it’s difficult to turn off the emotion. As long as your husband or partner agrees, then everything else is manageable.
How do you make tough decisions on a daily basis?
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One huge part of self care for women is making sure all our lady parts are in good health. Good health is paramount to how we feel, and the energy we send out. So it only makes sense that we need to pay attention also to gynecological health and findings, such as the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.
One of the lesser known threats to women’s gynecological health is a substance called talc. This substance is mined and used in various products in a finely ground powder form. Talcum powder has some helpful properties in that it absorbs moisture and decreases friction. However, as it gained popularity in hygiene use, research has shown that it may increase the risk of cancer and specifically ovarian cancer.
Talcum Powder and Asbestos
The natural mineral form of talc is not a powder, but rather a solid crystal or fiber. It is readily found in mines and contains oxygen, hydrogen, silicon, and magnesium. Talc also happens to form in the ground alongside asbestos ore.
Asbestos and talc form in similar ways and are often found together. Because of this, talc typically contains some asbestos. Since talcum powder became common in the 1970s, ensuring that it was free of asbestos has been an important aspect. However, increasing evidence may suggest that it’s nearly impossible to make sure that talcum powder is fully free of asbestos, which means that it has a cancer-causing risk.
Talcum Powder Uses
There’s no doubt that talcum powder has a myriad of uses, and it has gotten popular through use in cosmetics and hygiene products.
Most commonly it is used in baby powder to soothe diaper rash. Medicated and deodorant powders also often contain talcum powder to absorb moisture and reduce friction from sweating.
Cosmetics like eye and face powder may also contain talcum powder to help them go on the skin smoothly. Even sanitary and incontinence pads may contain talcum powder.
The sheer large number of women’s products should give an indication of how serious the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer is becoming.
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
Talcum powder has been used commonly in feminine hygiene products for some time. The powder absorbs moisture and reduces odor.
In the 1970s, doctors began making the connection between ovarian tumors and the use of talcum powder in the genital region. Samples of tumors from women who used talcum powder in this area contained talc particles, thus making the link appear more than tenuous.
In 1982, another study investigated 200 women who had ovarian cancer and 200 women who did not. The group with cancer had a higher usage of talcum powder in their genital area, furthering the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Other contrasting studies have found only a small risk of ovarian cancer for women using talcum powder near their genitals.
Other Health Issues with Talcum Powder
Genital use of talcum powder isn’t the only problem with the substance. The fine powder can also easily be inhaled and then cause lung irritation and even more serious conditions such as asthma or pneumonia. Because of this risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not currently recommend using talcum powder products on babies or young children.
For National Health Center Week happening in August, it’s important to be aware of everyday products that could damage health or raise the risk of serious health problems.
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As busy Moms, it becomes very difficult to come home from a stressful day just to deal with a stressful environment. A less stressful home is key to being able to relax in your own personal family space. Believe it or not, there are many more things that go into self care besides just having alone time or me-time. Self care also includes reducing stress overall. And a major place you should start is your home environment. Here are five changes you should make at home to create a less stressful home space.
Clear And Organize Clutter
Whether you realize it or not, when your home is filled to the brim with clutter, it can cause a fair amount of stress and anxiety. This makes it almost impossible to relax, especially in the bedroom.
Because of this, it’s essential that you get things under control by going through your home and getting rid of anything you no longer want or need. Once you’ve had a good clear out, you should go around your house again, organizing all of the belongings you have left.
One major thing I personally did for a less stressful home is a mega purge. I took this course and learned how clutter affects our stress levels, and then DID something about it! Click the image below if you’re interested in learning about this life-changing course as well!
Brighten The Place Up
Relaxing in a dark room can feel calming on the odd occasion, but living in a poorly lit house can leave you feeling anxious, on edge, irritable, and moody. With that in mind, it’s essential that you brighten the place up a little. You can do this by adding more lamps and light fittings, like the ones at https://www.sunpan.com/usa/products/accessories/lighting.
You should also enhance the levels of natural light, by opening your curtains or blinds and adding mirrors to your walls.
Add Plenty Of Greenery
Plants, flowers, and other greenery can have a huge positive impact on your home, leaving you feeling happier, more creative, and less stressed. They also help to improve the air quality inside your house, as they remove carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This will help you to breathe better, immediately boosting your mood.
Just be sure that you don’t clutter up the space with large plants, as this could make you feel claustrophobic.
Cut Down On Technology
Watching television and scrolling through social media can help you to relax a little. But spending a large portion of your time using technology will start to affect your mental health, making you feel depressed and anxious.
Because of this, you should try to cut down on the length of time you use tech, by choosing to put devices away at certain times of the day. You should also try to keep technology away from your bedroom, to improve your sleep quality.
Create A Zen Corner
No matter how big or small your home is, it’s crucial that you have somewhere that you can go to relax and be by yourself. This will act as your zen den, station, or corner, and is the perfect place to meditate, practice yoga, or just regroup.
If you need some help creating your zen space, then you can visit http://parallelyoga.ca/5-ways-create-zen-space-home for some tips. This area can be whatever you want it to be, as long as it helps you to relax and destress.
Your home is supposed to be the one place in the world where you can relax and feel truly comfortable. If it isn’t serving this purpose and is actually a source of stress, be sure to follow the tips above and create a more calming space. And remember this is actually a HUGE part of self care!
Ready to tackle even MORE True Self Care? Get your time back, create GOOD habits for yourself, and kick that Mom-guilt to the curb with the TRUE Self Care Course or Ebook! It’s FREE! Click the image below to get started!
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As a lifetime ice tea drinker, I can attest to the dislike of feeling like you ‘have’ to drink lots of water for good health. I mean, I like good health. But I’ve just always had a distaste of plain water. Maybe it’s because the tap water was so bad where I grew up. But I still don’t particularly like it. Which is why I’m so thankful that infused water exists!
Infused water is the process of adding fruits, vegetables, and herbs to your water, then letting these ingredients flavor the water. In addition to providing a delicious flavor with a wide range of combination options, you also get some of the nutrients from the produce and herbs, which further improves how healthy your water is.
Infused water is easy to do, but there are a few things you should know first. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are making your infused water.
Types of Water to Use
The first thing you should know about making infused water is that filtered water is always better. Filtered water is cleaner, so this is really going to improve the overall quality and flavor of your infused water. Since not everyone has access to enough filtered water to fill infused water pitchers every time, tap water is okay when necessary, but do try to get filtered water if at all possible.
When choosing your water, you should only use room temperature or cold water. Avoid warm or hot water, since it can cause the produce to fall apart at a rapid rate, which reduces how many nutrients are going to end up in your water.
Choose Organic When Possible
If at all possible, try to select organic fruits and vegetables. These can often be found in the produce of your supermarket, but a better option might be to get them from a weekly CSA, farmer’s market, or contacting local farmers directly. This allows you to get fresh fruits and veggies that you know were grown locally without added fertilizers and other chemicals. Organic produce does tend to provide a better flavor for infused water. However, the most important part is having healthy water with your favorite fruits and veggies, so if you can’t use organic, don’t worry too much about it!
How to Prep the Ingredients
After you select the ingredients you want to use for your infused water, you will then need to prep them before putting them into the pitcher. You should always rinse the fruits and vegetables to make sure no chemicals are left on them. Even if you bought them organic, it is still a good idea to rinse them and make sure they are clean. If you are using herbs, you want to crush them with a muddler since this will help to release the oils. The exception is when the herb is leafy, such as with mint or basil. If you have a mortar and pestle, that will totally work, or I personally love this muddler:
Most fruits and vegetables need to be cut at least in half before being put in the pitcher so that they can release their flavors. Hard fruits and vegetables like cucumber and apples need to be cut into thin slices since they can take longer to release flavor to the water. With berries and citrus fruit, they are softer, so just cutting them in half or quarters should be fine.
What to Make Your Infused Water In
By this point, you are ready to start putting your infused water together. Before you add in the water, make sure you have the right container. While you can technically use anything, a glass pitcher is usually recommended. However, regardless of which way you go, make sure it is BPA-free and food-safe. Many plastic pitchers are not ideal and won’t keep the water fresh, but in the end it is really up to you. There are also pitchers and cups used especially for infusing. They typically have a long and narrow section in the middle where you put your herbs and fruit, with holes or slots so the flavor can be released. Here are some great options on Amazon:
How Long to Soak the Produce
When making infused water, you will add the produce and herbs first, then add your room temperature or cold water on top. You then want to let the water infuse so that you can get good flavors and nutrients from the fruits and vegetables being used. If you are leaving it out on the counter, this is usually done in about 2 hours. Otherwise, wait 4-6 hours if keeping it in the refrigerator for the infusing process. If you leave it overnight, it will be super flavorful.
When the Water Should Be Enjoyed
The ideal time to drink infused water is within 24-48 hours after the infusing process is complete. It is usually best to drink it the same day, but at least try to drink it within the first couple days. Waiting 3 days is okay, but don’t leave it for longer than that. Make sure you are not leaving the fruits and vegetables in the water for this long though. They should be removed and only the water should remain in the pitcher for this long. Citrus fruits will remain fresher for longer, while melons are going to get soft and mushy quickly.
Also keep in mind that if you drink the infused water the same day, you can usually refill it 2-3 times with the produce in the pitcher or cup and still get good flavor from it.
Fave Infused Water Recipes:
Really and truly you can use any combination of fruits and herbs. A great place to start, especially if you don’t have all the ingredients for a specific recipe, is to use combos of berries, melons, cucumber, herbs, or citrus.
But some flavors do taste better together than others. For the perfect combos, I like to turn to The Flavor Bible. My husband loves to cook anyway, so we got the hardback and refer to it all the time!
Another thing I’ve learned is that cucumber makes almost any combo taste FRESH. I’m in love with it and put it in nearly all my infused water.
Here are my favorite 10 infused water recipes:
*For all recipes, start out with about 6 cups of cold water. Add your ingredients, then chill as listed above.
1.Lemon Ginger Detox Water
1 lemon, cut in slices
1 small knob fresh ginger, zested
2. Pineapple, Coconut, and Lime
1 cup of fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
1 thinly sliced lime
2 cups fresh or frozen coconut chunks
3. Grapefruit, Pomegranate, and Mint
1 thinly sliced grapefruit
10 mint leaves, torn
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, muddled
4. Raspberry Lime
2 TBSP fresh or frozen raspberries
1 lime, thinly sliced
5. Pear-Berry
Several raspberries + blueberries, slightly muddled
1/2 pear, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
6. Blueberry, Rosemary, Lemon
1/2 pint blueberries, slightly smushed
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, lightly muddled
1 lemon, thinly sliced
7. Strawberry Lime Cucumber Mint
3-4 slices or chunks cucumber
2 strawberries, sliced
4 sprigs mint, muddled
1 lime, thinly sliced
8. Strawberry Basil
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, muddled
9. Watermelon, Kiwi, Lime
1 cup watermelon cubes
2 kiwis diced or sliced (no skin)
1 lime, thinly sliced
10. Orange Cilantro
2 oranges, cut into chunks
1 bunch cilantro, chopped and muddled
Start tracking your hydration by downloading the free Hydration Tracker printable! Click the image below!
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There’s nothing wrong with recognizing when you’re struggling in life. Whether you’re a business owner who is drowning in the enormity of the new business that you’ve set out for yourself, or you’re a mom who’s finding it hard to bond with people in the area you live, a fresh start is a good way to slough off any of the uncertainty and start again. The good thing about life is that although we only get one of them, we get many chances to start again should the mood take us that way.
It’s important to recognize when life becomes a struggle. There is no need to struggle when, no matter what is going on for you in life, you can ask for help. If you need to lose weight, you can instruct a personal trainer to work with you to get your weight under control. If you find you can’t keep up with the payments on your mortgage, you can try this lawyer and see whether you would be able to qualify for help with your debts. No matter what the issue is, you can work around it with a little bit of help and a lot of willingness for change. Rebooting your life doesn’t come easy, but with the five ideas below, you can get the fresh start you so desperately crave.
Your Diet
If you have found yourself feeling sluggish and gaining weight, it could be a good time to reboot your diet. You need to feel good within yourself and feel energized to get through the day. It’s vital that you put your health first, because when you do that you’re able to feel better about yourself and have a more positive outlook.
Your Style
Our tastes change as we age, but that doesn’t mean that you have to dress in any way that makes you feel bad about yourself. Giving your wardrobe a makeover so that you are wearing what fits you and not what doesn’t can make a huge difference to the way that you feel about yourself. Keep what fits and get rid of what doesn’t so that you can go shopping!
Your Home
If where you live is getting you down, you have two choices: redecorate or move. If you want to redecorate, determine your budget first. Then think about investing in an interior designer to help you make good decisions. If you want to move, start researching areas to relocate to that will work better for your family. You must also have a budget for this, but the location will be a huge factor too.
Sometimes neither of these things are what the problem is. If you feel weighed down and in need of a good cleanout, I reccomend an actual purge. It’s absolutely amazing how liberating it is to clean out everything you don’t need or use. I took this course, and it change our household and…well, life.
Your Mental Health
Mental health is probably the one area you really should be caring for. Self-care is vital and if you want to reboot your life, you have to start with your mind + body getting in sync. Self care is SO important–especially for Moms! Get rid of the guilt, and find that time to start.
Join the Newsletter and grab your free Self Care Starter Kit! (click the image below):
Your Finances
If you are drowning under debts right now, consult some help to get yourself out from under the weight of it. There’s no need to suffer in silence – ask for help as soon as you can. The first step is to ways figure out the exact place you are right now.
Join the Newsletter and get a free Household Budget Printables to get your budget detailed out and under control in your household. (Click the image below!)
Rebooting your life with a fresh start is the best thing that you can do for yourself and your family. What do you want to change?
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So, I don’t pretend to be the most knowledgeable Mom on the planet. (Usually.) But I do have 4 kids–one has completed high school, one is starting kindergarten this year, and the other two are well into their school-age careers. So I am pretty darn well-versed in what’s gonna make the start of school (and many, many parts during the year) easier. For that reason, I thought I’d share with you my 12 secrets for making this the best back to school year ever! (And hopefully the less stressed.)
1.Put ALL teacher/classroom/school info in you Household Binder.
Wait-what? You don’t have one? Seriously–get a binder and some divided tabs, and start a Family Binder with your family’s important and household info. You will refer to this stuff several times a year most likely, and if it’s all right there together where all the other family info is, you never have to keep up with it separately.
This is also helpful in case there’s an emergency. Or you have family come stay with the kids so you can take a trip. Or a babysitter. You get the idea.
2. Create contacts for your kids’ teachers + the main school phone # in your phone and include email addresses.
Do this immediately. Also, add in ‘[insert kid’s name]’s teacher’ in the ‘company’ section so in case you forget the teacher’s name (I seriously did this the entire year for both middle kids), you can just do a search for that and it’ll pull up the contacts.
THEN–make sure to forward those contacts to your husband/partner and request that they add the contacts immediately.
I honestly can’t tell you the number of times I needed to send a quick email regarding homework, snacks, special candy, holiday parties, grade programs/plays (you get the idea) to a teacher and knew that if I didn’t send the email in the 25 seconds I had before gymnastics started, I’d forget until it was too late. This tip alone has been a lifesaver and instrumental in me creating our best back to school year!
3. Find all teachers ‘likes’ for gift-giving time
Step 1-We had a good run where the teacher would actually list these things on the ‘getting to know me’ handout that was included at the beginning of the school year. SAVE THESE!!!! Seriously–those are direct quotes from that teacher as to what kind of gifts she would like and will cherish from you and your child.
Step 2-If there is no such thing for your child’s teacher, the next step would be to Facebook stalk. Find out what kinds of things he/she is interested in, and make a list.
Step 3-Go ahead and purchase minimum of 2 of these things and put them away for when it’s gift giving times. Major ones are Christmas, end of year/teacher appreciation, and if you do birthdays for teachers.
If you regularly have too much on your plate to be able to mentally function at the holidays and end of the school year like every other Mom on the planet, you’ll seriously thank me for this advice later.
And if you still can’t get ideas from Step 1 or 2, check out this post on ideas for teacher’s gifts.
4. Put all school dates in the calendar ASAP
I know a lot of dates aren’t released (like for holiday parties, end of year festivities, etc), but the major dates for in-school and out-of-school should be on the calendar that is given at the start of school, or that you may already have found online.
Go ahead and put these in your main calendar so you don’t forget! Our kids go to 2 different schools, with different start and release dates (and times every day), and have different dates for teacher work days. This will save lots of frantic calls for emergency sitters, or having to call in sick to work. Or, you know, forgetting to take your kid to school at all.
ALSO INCLUDE the first parent-teacher conference date and time when you’re adding dates. Teachers like to schedule a first one pretty close to the start of the year to go over your kid’s work and behavior, and any other issues that may need to be addressed.
5. Get to know the teacher
I know some of us are blessed with children that always make excellent grades, behave perfectly, and have no food allergies or other health issues. Others of us–me included–have kids that have all of these issues and must be in touch with the teacher frequently.
It’s a lot easier to handle personality quirks if you take a little time to get to know your kids’ teachers at the start of the school year. ‘Meet the teacher’ night is probably not the *ideal* time to do this because there are so many other kids and parents there to meet him/her as well. But a semi-in-depth conversation when you meet him/her can give you a decent idea of personality, as well as time to ask what the best contact methods are.
I bring up contact methods because I’ve had issues getting in touch with teachers before. This was the result of them trying to use one of the school messenger apps, then never responding to it, or not returning phone calls, or not responding to email. Every teacher is different in their response times and preferences, so find that out.
Knowing the teacher a little better will seriously prevent a lot of frustration in trying to communicate throughout this best back to school year!
6. Volunteer
I know this isn’t an option for every parent, but if you have the time–volunteer for something! Anything! This is for a couple reasons:
1-Your kid knows you’ll be up there every now and again, and this affects behavior
2-The teacher has you on their radar. I know this sounds like teachers give preferential treatment, which isn’t fair to the other parents. But in my experience, teachers are waaaay more communicative and accommodating if you’re doing them a favor by volunteering. This doesn’t have to be anything major. It could be cutting stuff out of construction paper. But if they know you’re willing to help, they usually reciprocate with a helpful and cheery attitude, and respond to questions and other issues that are pressing to you.
7. Get your school morning routine down to a science
I know it’s a struggle to get kids back on a sleep schedule, and also back on a wake-up schedule. But the other parts of the mornings before school could be way easier. I’m telling you, the best back to school year involves pleasant, smooth-running, and stress-free school morning when getting out the door for school.
I’m talking about things like, pre-making lunches the night before, packing up backpacks the night before, and having a good breakfast.
If you need help creating your perfect morning routine, I invite you to take the Smoother School Mornings Challenge! It walks you through 5 steps in 5 days to eliminate school morning chaos. Plus, it’s delivered straight to your inbox! Click the image below to get started!
8. Find out each classroom policy on things like snacks, eating, and water.
I say this because at one point last year, my kids were no longer allowed to have disposable water bottles in the classroom. This was because 2 or 3 kids couldn’t manage to NOT punch holes in their water bottles and then shake them around in the classroom to soak other students. Don’t ask me why everybody had to be punished, or why these kids weren’t supervised for a long enough period that they were able to manage this type of obnoxious behavior. The point is that at that point they only allowed reusable water bottles. So if my kid was thirsty during the day, she had to either ask to go use the water fountain, or do without.
Another policy they had was that kids could eat snacks any time they wanted in the class. It was helpful to know this because one of my kids complained of headaches in the afternoon, and since she had a super early lunch, I suspected she was dehydrated and hungry. So I had to make sure she packed a good snack, water in a reusable bottle, and remembered to eat a snack around 2pm.
9. Find out the teacher conference times
That is, if they’re not listed on the beginning of the year paperwork they send out. This is important because you need to know when you can come in and talk with the teacher if anything is amiss during the year. That way, you’re able to coordinate with your own schedule.
Teachers aren’t typically able to just have a meeting anytime during the day, so that time of day is important.
10. Don’t kill yourself trying to find that *one thing* nobody can find on the ‘school supply’ list.
Seriously. If it’s something super mandatory, the teacher will send out an announcement when that thing is needed. Otherwise, the usual protocol is to dump each school supply item into a large bin in the classroom. Then everything is doled out later.
On that same note, don’t bother buying the best brand you can find, or the specific color your kid wants. They have very little chance of actually getting and using that thing you bought and spent more money on because of the system most schools have gone to for school supplies. Which I DON’T agree with, but whatever.
11. Carpool
Find out what other parents live close. Then ask if they’re willing to carpool to/from school. This saved me a ton of time the last few years. The only thing I recommend is setting up a firm schedule and sticking to it the best you can. My neighbor and I have done this the last few years. If either of us was sick or had something going on, the other graciously picked up the slack. It worked perfect.
12. Get a sleep schedule ASAP
Seriously. Kids quickly get into the habit of staying up late, reading, playing, watching tv, and playing on electronics during the summer. The sooner you can get them back on a sleep schedule the better. This is especially helpful to get a handle on before the time change happens in October.
Grab your free Kids Sleep Schedule Log by clicking the image below!
And there you have it–my 12 tips for the best back to school year ever! Hopefully you found a few tips to help you move through the start of this school year seamlessly!
Got any more tips? Let me know in the comments below!
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If you’ve been involved in an accident and have a serious injury as a result, you may be unsure what route to take when it comes to emotional healing after an accident. Your doctor has most probably taken care of the physical side of your healing but what about the emotional side of things? Your mental health and well-being is something that it’s down to you to address and look after.
Of course, doing so after an accident can be difficult as often there’s a lot of upset and negative feelings. Particularly if your injuries have the potential to be long-term problems. However, just because you feel negatively about what’s happened to you, that doesn’t mean that you can’t deal with those feelings in a healthy way.
It’s not always easy knowing how to process your feelings after this kind of injury has occurred but it’s important that you find a way to do so. Bearing that in mind, below are some tips and ideas for ways that you can make sure that you are taking your mental health and well-being more seriously to ensure emotional healing after an accident.
Put a plan of action in place
One of the most essential aspects of mental healing is having something to look forward to. And having a future to think about. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that if you haven’t already, you put a plan of action in place. Think about what you need to do to get past the negative thoughts that you are having and get your life and mental health back on track.
You might find that you are entitled to seek compensation, so this could be a route to go down. Let’s say, for instance, that you were knocked off your motorcycle by a careless driver, you could get motorcycle accident help and take steps to make a claim against the driver for compensation. You could then put this compensation towards planning your future. Which should help you to feel more positively about the situation that you have found yourself in.
Make self-care a priority
Self-care is something that you should be doing whether you’re injured or not but when something bad has happened to you, self-care becomes even more important. Self-care is all about looking after yourself and your changing mental health needs. You need to make yourself feel happy again, which is where self-care comes in. You need to do what you need to feel better.
For some people self-care is about booking a weekend pampering break. For others, it’s about practicing yoga for 15-minutes each morning and evening. Self-care means different things for different people. But regardless of what your self-care strategies consist of, it’s all about making yourself feel better and less stressed.
Get support
After you have been through an ordeal, such as suffering a serious accident, sometimes you need to get some support. Whether this is from friends or family members or by going to speak to a therapist, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you get the support that you need. This is important to help you keep your mental health in check and get your life back on track.
There you have it, everything that you need to know about emotional healing after an accident.
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Alright, if you’re a parent, then it won’t be breaking news if we say that it’s not an easy role to have. However, while it’ll never be a walk in the park, there are certain things you can do to make it easier on yourself. For example, if you develop long-term good financial health, then all those possible stressful moments in life – upsizing, affording college, Christmas presents, and so on – will be much easier to manage. But how do you achieve long-term financial security? We take a look at a few ways below.
Get Saving for Long-term Financial Security
The easiest way to ensure long-term financial security is to get saving! Most Americans say they wouldn’t be able to find $400 in an emergency, but guess what? An emergency is definitely going to pop up, be it a household emergency or broken down car, and then what happens? The charge goes on a credit card, which can’t be paid off, and drags the person down into debt. So get saving. If you cut your expenses down (and everyone can cut their expenses down) and transfer the saved money to a savings account, you’ll have something to tide you over when the emergency arrives.
Invest In Yourself
The best way to ensure you’ll always have long-term financial security is to make yourself employable. Even if you currently have a job, it’s worthwhile investing in yourself. This means in the form of courses, seminars, and so on. You shouldn’t assume that you’re going to have your present job forever, because, in all likelihood, you won’t; it’s predicted that AI will take some 40% of jobs in the next decade. And yours might be on of them. If you’ve invested in yourself, then you won’t find it as difficult as those who assumed they had a job for life to find new work.
Get What You’re Entitled To
Sometimes when things go wrong, all the costs are on you. You’ll just need to suck up the cost and pay it. At other times, however, the costs aren’t on you at all. If you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault, then your family doesn’t have to bear the costs of your lost wages and expensive medical bills. Instead, you can hire a lawyer to fight for the money that’s rightfully yours. It’s also worth looking to check if you’re entitled to any tax breaks; those breaks exist for a reason, so use them.
Diversify Income
It’s always good practice to diversify your income, even if you have a stable job. You never know what’s going to happen! If you’re currently just getting paid from your work, look at dabbling in the stock market or investing in property. The more sources of income you have, the less exposed you’ll be should one source of income be compromised.
Protect Yourself
And finally, it’s obvious, but make sure you have as much insurance as necessary. It can be the difference between financial ruin and barely noticing that something bad has happened, really!
Snag your Household Budgeting Binder by clicking the image below! No excuses not to–it’s free!
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Being involved in a car accident, whether in the car, on a motorbike, or being involved as a passenger, can be very stressful. You might end up quite badly injured and will require a significant amount of time out of your usual routine to help your body heal. Not only that, though, but you might come away from a very serious run with some mental scars that might also take time to heal. It’s important that you spend time getting back into the swing of things so that when you do return to your usual schedule, you are your normal self again.
Here’s how you can bounce back as quickly as possible.
Make A Claim For Compensation
If the car accident wasn’t your fault, you could be able to claim for some compensation. It’s worth finding out more from the Law Offices of George Salinas to see if you do indeed qualify for a payout. In most cases, when it is clear that the other road user is at fault, a settlement will be reached out of court, and you won’t need to go to the courtroom for a judge to come to a decision. However, it’s always worth bearing in mind that this might be a situation that you have to face.
Take Time Off Work
It is really important to take all the necessary time off work when you are recovering from a car accident. This gives your body and mind the chance to heal and get back to normal. So, make sure that you don’t rush back to the office too soon. Don’t worry if you go over your statutory sick pay period as there are always lots of government benefits that you can financially rely on.
Follow Doctors Orders After a Car Accident
You will no doubt need to see a doctor during your recovery, and it is paramount that you follow their advice right down to the letter. If they say that you need longer off work, then you need to listen to them. As well as this, you need to make sure that you complete all of your prescribed medicines in full.
Accept Help From Friends And Family
Your friends and family will want to help you as much as possible while you are recuperating from your car accident. It’s really important that you accept their help – don’t let your pride get in the way! You will be amazed at how better you will feel if you let someone else do the school run or take care of your household chores for you.
Take Your Time Getting Back Behind The Wheel
You might be very anxious when it comes to driving after your accident. Because of this worry, make sure that you don’t rush back behind the wheel. Take your time to ensure you are fully recovered, both physically and mentally, before you do go back to driving so that you don’t feel under pressure once you are on the road again.
Good luck with your recovery!
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Moms in the United States are more involved in the workforce than ever before while simultaneously spending more time on childcare. The term ‘busy’ just doesn’t suffice when describing the modern-day multi-tasking mom. Among the many roles mothers are meant to juggle, house decor usually falls on them, too. Making your house feel like a sanctuary for your family can sometimes seem like an expensive and time-consuming task, but by incorporating the following cost effective and sustainable home makeover tips, you can easily cross this task off a long list of to-dos.
Get creative with your furniture
One of the best ways to really make your house feel like a home is customizing and personalizing it. What better way to do that than making your own pieces of furniture? The added bonus is that you can make this a fun family-friendly activity. You’ll be joining 70% of Americans who prefer do-it-yourself home decor changes and improvements, all the while saving money and time.
You can easily reuse wooden pallets to make a modern bookcase attached to the wall, storage shelves or even chairs and bed frames. You can polish or paint the finished product to keep it in line with a theme or leave it is as is. This is a great way to be creative in your cost effective and sustainable home makeover.
Choose herbs over flowers
Nothing makes a home feel as cozy as some beautiful greenery and plants. While both real and fake flowers tend to be a top choice in home decor, they can be inconvenient, expensive and have quite the detrimental impact on the environment as well. Instead, brighten your home with some beautiful potted herbs, ones you enjoy and can use in cooking to make them multi-purpose.
Options such as mint, basil, or cilantro are all great choices that can add a nice decorative touch and a breath of life anywhere in your home. Plus, you can buy beautiful pots or have your family paint up a few plain pots for a personalized touch.
Liven up existing furniture
You’d be surprised at how little it takes to completely change the entire vibe of your home. Instead of spending hours shopping for new items to add to your house, opt to liven up your existing furniture instead.
Use that tablecloth you have stored away for ‘special occasions’ and see how the color can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen or living room. Add some extra pillows to your sofa and rearrange some of the furniture to give your home a quick, easy, inexpensive and eco-friendly makeover. It can really be that simple to make a huge change!
While it oftentimes feels like there are just not enough hours in a day, moms really do it all. Even though home decor usually falls on our laps, it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems. Easily make some of your own furniture, strategically add some greenery to your house and work to upgrade existing furniture rather than buying new for a beautiful, cost effective and sustainable home makeover.
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5 Ways to destress your kitchen so you can cook in peace.
Collaborative post.
There are so many people out there who hate cooking. They don’t like how it takes up so much of their free time, and they especially hate how it can really stress them out. Even though cooking itself can be a relaxing pastime, when trying to create a delicious dish in a poorly equipped or laid-out kitchen, it can be anything but. In fact, some people will tell you that there isn’t anything quite as stressful as trying to cook their evening meal for their whole family!
Obviously, stress in the kitchen is not something you will want or need after a busy day at work. Thankfully, there are ways you can improve things and make it easier for you. These tips to destress your kitchen will certainly help!
Fix All Broken Appliances
First of all, if you have any damaged or broken appliances in your kitchen, you should see to them right away. There are quite a few handymen and firms out there who specialize in appliance repair and will be able to come and take care of any repairs if they are too complicated for you to do. Dealing with broken appliances and devices that don’t work as well as they should is a surefire way to make your stress levels bubble up. So it’s best to get things fixed as soon as you can.
The next step is to remove all the clutter so that your workspaces are as tidy as possible. This will give you a lot more room to work, and you won’t lose things quite as easily. Make sure that the only things still on your worktops are essential items that you will need to prepare every meal.
We tend to overlook clutter gradually once it’s started. But research shows that visual clutter can actually stress us out!
Reorganize Your Refrigerator
Are you sick of needing to rummage through your refrigerator for ages trying to find all the ingredients that you need? That’s a sign that it is time to reorganize the fridge so things are a lot more accessible. This also gives you the chance to hunt around the refrigerator. See if there is anything that needs to be thrown out, such as wilted spinach and fuzzy fruit.
Some colors can have a negative effect on how we are feeling. For example, red is quite an aggressive color and might make you feel quite angry without even realizing it. So think about the color palette used in your kitchen at the minute. If it’s quite dark and overbearing, you might want to redecorate. Go for some calming pastels or earthy tones to help destress your kitchen.
Don’t Store Anything In It That Isn’t Needed
If you start storing things in your kitchen that aren’t needed in it, it will get very cluttered extremely quickly. So, it’s best to only keep items that you know are necessary in cooking and preparing food.
One of the most helpful tools I’ve found in keeping stuff out of the kitchen that I don’t need is this course: (Check it out by clicking the image!)
Hopefully, all of these tips can help you destress your kitchen so that you can start to cook in peace. Why not test them out by cooking a relaxing recipe?!
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If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s a group of Mamas tight-fisting xtra large margaritas at lunch on the first day of school at any given restaurant. We can’t help it. The summer is three months long. It entails entertaining kids that clearly have nothing to do sans playing with their 3.5 million toys, cleaning up the house x 25,000, and dealing with melt-downs over being bored one second, then play-dates and sleepovers turned Avengers Civil War at the drop of a hat. Which is why we need someone to do the thinking for us when school finally, for the love of God, starts back. So here’s your list of some great back to school necessities from Jane.com that also happen to be bomb-diggity deals! (You’re welcome.)
Before you leave home…
Don’t forget to capture those little monsters before they head back to ‘act like a human bootcamp’!
Can't forget the way they 'express themselves', as the 9YO put it when I told her she had to wear a uniform this year. (Which was followed by a look of sheer horror and loss of words, which NEVER happens.) ?
Make sure their back to school necessities are labeled appropriately! BTW--anybody else wonder why we have to buy a new pair of scissors every single year?? We now have like 85 of these things at our house....
Whether they eat all the healthy stuff you spend time and $ putting into their lunches or trade it for twinkies and Big Red, they gotta have something to put it in!
Let's be honest, your kid's teacher is pretty much the person you should be thanking daily for putting up with 25 or more of those little monsters for 8 hours a day. How about kissing some hiney the first day to let em know you appreciate them right off the bat?
Sign up for the Smoother School Mornings Challenge to get your household running like a mother first thing in the morning! Click the image below to get 5 days of tips and tricks for smoother school mornings delivered straight to your inbox!
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The many health benefits of walking as part of your fitness routine.
There are a lot of good reasons to start walking. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and most importantly: it’s good for your health. Heading out for a walk each day is a great way to motivate you to stick to your walking schedule until you start to see results. Plus it has a TON of health benefits that you don’t want to miss out on!
Walking Gets You Outside In The Fresh Air and Sunshine
No matter how fast or slow you go, walking gets you outside and in the fresh air. This alone will make you feel better as your body absorbs the oxygen and sunshine. Both are so important for your health and well-being!
Believe it or not, outside air quality, particularly if you go for a walk on the beach or in a park, is much better than the air inside your house. And of course, the sunshine will help your body produce much needed Vitamin D!
Figure out your best time of day to get outside to walk–don’t forget to account for weather! Now GO put it in your schedule!
Walking Can Help You Get To And Maintain A Healthy Weight
Did you know walking is a fantastic way to drop pounds OR maintain your current weight? Yes, you still need to watch what you eat and aim for a healthy diet, but walking can be another tool to help you drop those extra pounds.
The nice thing about walking when you’re overweight is that you burn a lot of calories, even on short and slow walks, simply because you’re carrying so much weight around with you. As you start to lose the weight, your overall strength and endurance increases, allowing you to walk longer, further, and faster.
I’ve found a great book that shows you how intermittent walking (alternating between a normal pace and super fast pace) helps if you’re walking to lose weight. It’s called Walkingthe Weight Off For Dummies, and also has walking plans for you to get to your ideal fitness goals + weight goals.
Think about what your goal is in walking: *Just a means to stay healthy? *To take weight off? *To maintain your current weight? *To help elevate your mood? >>>Whatever the reason, write your goal and work backwards to figure out how to make it happen!
Walking Improves Your Sense Of Balance And Coordination
As you walk, particularly when walking over rougher terrain, you’re also working on your sense of balance and coordination. Just getting in the habit of going for a daily walk will help. But you can work even more on your sense of balance by moving your head around. Turn your head to the right and left as you walk for a count of 30. Then move your head up and down for a count of 30. If you do these simple exercises once or twice as you walk each day you’ll get even more benefits.
Set a reminder on your phone to move your head around during your scheduled walks!
Walking Strengthens Your Bones and Muscles
Even though walking is a low impact form of exercise it helps to strengthen and tone your body. Even low impact force like walking makes your body build muscle and bone fibers that strengthen those tissues.
If you’re just starting out, it is all you need to start to get into better shape. As you get more fit, consider adding weight lifting exercises in addition to your daily walks to continue to get stronger and help develop strong muscles and bones.
Which parts of your body would you like to build more strength in? Research ways to do it with the help of walking. For example: wearing ankle weights, tightening core, walking with hand weights, etc. Then get the equipment you need, and get out there!
Walking Will Boost Your Mood and Fight Depression
Walking actually releases endorphins that will help lift your mood and can even reduce depression. Give it a try. The next time you’re feeling tired or are in a bad mood, lace up your sneakers and go for a brisk walk. It works like a charm. Especially if you’re able to walk in a forest or practice forest bathing at the same time.
What time of day do you feel your lowest in terms of mood? Schedule in a walk outside about 30 minutes BEFORE the yuck sets in!
Walking Is The Perfect Low Impact Exercise
If you haven’t exercised in a while, or are looking for something easy you can do every single day give walking a try. It’s the perfect low impact way to exercise. It’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment and you can start at the fitness level you’re at.
If you’re not in the best of shape, start by going for a 10 or 15 minute walk around the neighborhood and work your way up from there. If you’re already in great shape, walking can still provide an effective workout. Walk fast and incorporate some hills and even stairs.
Find a pair of comfortable shoes, put them on and go for a stroll through your neighborhood. You could also find a local park with a nice path you can walk on. If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, head to your local mall and walk or hop on a treadmill.
You can even walk in place at home in front of your TV. Here’s a simple little idea to get you moving more. As you’re sitting on the couch at night watching TV, get up during commercial breaks and march in place until your favorite TV show comes back on. If you’re using a service like Netflix, make yourself walk in place for 10 minutes in between episodes. Or turn on the TV and challenge yourself to march in place during the entire show. Time will fly while you’re having fun watching TV and moving.
I personally won’t allow myself to watch my trashy TV unless I’m on the tread-climber at the same time. Most episodes last between 30-45 minutes, and give me the perfect amount of time to get in a good walking workout.
If you’re walking outside mix up your route and walk in different areas of town, or visit different parks. Invite a friend to come along with you to walk. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to and having a walking buddy keeps you accountable. Last but not least, grab your phone and listen to music or audio books as you walk to make the time go by faster.
The main thing is that you get out there, move around, and get some exercise in a way that’s gentle on your joints, your heart, and the rest of your body. And that’s what walking will do for you.
Walking Can Help You Lower Your Blood Pressure And Strengthen Your Heart
Walking also has the ability to help lower your blood pressure and strengthen your heart. Many people at risk for stroke and heart disease are overweight, unhealthy, and have a hard time exercising. Thankfully, walking is an easy, low-impact workout that almost anyone can do.
If you have any health conditions and in particular, if you’re suffering from high blood pressure and are at risk for heart disease, discuss your walking plans with your doctor. The two of you can come up with a plan that’s appropriate and safe for you.
Getting out and walking will help you on several different levels. The act of walking itself is very relaxing and will lower your blood pressure soon after the walk. That’s a terrific benefit of walking and something that will help you feel better right away. But the benefits don’t stop there.
The regular exercise will strengthen your heart. Remember your heart is a muscle and going for a brisk walk works out more than your leg muscles. As you work out your heart, it gets stronger and better at pumping blood through your body. And as you strengthen your muscles and your body overall, you are likely losing body fat. That’s good news for your blood pressure long term. All it takes is heading out there for a short little walk each day. As you get stronger those walks will get longer. At that point you may even give swimming or riding your bike a try.
Healthy diet, regular exercise, and losing weight are some of the most effective ways to reduce hypertension regularly. Add to that the fact that walking helps you de-stress and it’s no wonder that walking regularly has such beneficial effects on your health. Ready to get started?
Start where you’re at. Just put on your shoes and head out there. If all you can do is walk for five to ten minutes, start there. It’s a great start and that’s a lot more exercise than you’ve been getting. Stick with it for a week and then see if you can make it for 15 minutes.
If you can go for 30 minute walk, start there. Pick up the pace, walk briskly and after a week or two, try to go for 45 minute walks. Or break up your walking workout into 3 shorter sessions interspersed throughout your day.
The perfect way to get starting improving your health with walking is to download the Fabulously Fit Planner + Tracker–it’s FREE when you sign up for the Newsletter!! {Click the image below!}
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5 keys to get you feeling more relaxed and less stress every day.
Collaborative post.
If you’re finding yourself feel stressed in your everyday life, you need to take action now, my friend. Too much stress can be very damaging to your physical and mental health if you’re not careful. There are so many steps you can take to relax more often and get less stressed each day of the week. We’re going to talk you through some of them so that you can try them out in your everyday life.
Meditate and Focus on Breathing
If you try to focus on your breathing and not panic about the situation you’re in, you will find it so much easier to relax and avoid stress. It can take a little work and practice to get good at this, so don’t expect to get good at it right away. It’s all about clearing your mind and focusing on your own relaxation. You’ll then be able to stop your stress levels rising.
I’ve recently started reading about and practicing breath-work. It’s amazing how this can help center you so you can think clearly and calm yourself. The book I’ve read and highly recommend is called Just Breath: Mastering Breathwork.
Create Your Zen Zone
Having a zen zone that you feel able to head to and spend safe time in can be really important. If you’ve had experience with anxiety and things of that nature, having your own space that you can chill out and relax in is key. You should create this space in your home or someone you feel generally safe. That will help you to relax mor quickly.
Get a Pet
Pets are known to help humans feel less stressed. Petting a cat or playing with a puppy can immediately help you feel so much less stressed than you would otherwise be. Head to places like www.certapet.com if you want to find out more about getting and caring for a pet. It’s something to consider because it offers that happiness and companionship you might be craving right now.
Organize Your Life
Simply leading a more organized life can really mean a lot when it comes to preventing stress. Stress arises when you don’t feel like you have control over a situation, so being organized really is important because it allows you to retain that level of control. Don’t underestimate how vital that can be; start organizing your life today.
Express Yourself in Some Way
Expressing yourself and your inner feelings is a good way to help you feel more relaxed and less stressed out. You will find that you can get your emotions out of you and onto the page or the canvas or the stage. There are so many ways to express yourself in creative ways, so see which of them appeals to you and then go for it. It could be the best way to combat stress for you.
Feeling more relaxed and less stressed each day will help you get more out of life, and you won’t feel so down about your day to day experiences. Don’t let stress take control of your life for a second longer because it really doesn’t need to be this way. Each of the ideas discussed here will help you to relax properly and fully.
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4 Secrets to have stress free family days out with just a little planning.
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Going out with the kids is something moms love to do as often as possible. Enjoy the time now while they are young because when they grow up they won’t be seen dead with their mother. At least right now you can force them into a family trip and they have no say! The thing which gets in the way is the stress. Taking young children out for the day is packed with tension and pressure. In fact, it can feel as if you’re going to explode at some point.
Thankfully, plenty of moms have walked the path before and left behind their secrets.
Speak About Safety
Kids aren’t renowned for their restraint. They wander off without telling people and speak to strangers because of their innocence. For mothers, this is bordering on the catastrophic as it’s not difficult to get lost. Even worse, there are predators on the streets. Falling over and hitting their head or scraping their knee is another potential incident too. The gifts keep on coming. The key is to understand and pass on the info. You can find out more here about slips and falls, and there’s plenty on the Web about abductors. Teach them how to act and what to do should there be a problem.
Be A Proactive Driver
The heading doesn’t mean you should let other motorists out or plot the route. You know the roads like the back of your hand so there is no point. Instead, it refers to thinking ahead concerning the car journey and the kids. Usually, running errands means sitting in the car for thirty minutes or less. A family trip to the zoo or something big can involve a few hours behind the wheel. Children will get bored and start to moan. So, pack plenty of games, snacks and fluids to maintain their focus. A mobile device with an internet connection never goes amiss.
Cut The Costs
Family trips are wonderful experiences full of joy and laughter. However, they are also costly and moms have to splash the cash. The kids are worth it, but you can’t go over the budget or else there will be financial consequences. Still, no mother wants to say no to her kids. A compromise is needed, and a voucher code or coupon is the answer. The right one will give you entry or at least slash the costs by a significant chunk. Don’t be embarrassed because they’re a necessary evil.
Pack Everything
It’s better not to need something than need it and not have it where kids are concerned. On the whole, when they want it, they can’t wait until you find a solution. Think about kids in diapers or toddlers who are being potty-trained. A spare is a wise choice in case there is an accident which needs cleaning up ASAP. Even the things which aren’t essential are worth taking. The kids can walk, but will they get tired and need the buggy?
If it isn’t there, will your stress levels go through the roof?
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One of my biggest wake-up calls in really getting serious about getting back into shape–after the last baby–was when I bought some home workout equipment. The kid’s wouldn’t leave it alone!! I was super annoyed that they were getting into my stuff, invading my alone time, and totally negating any mental benefit it had hoped to get from a home workout. But one night, completely defeated, I sat back on my bed and just watched to see what they’d actually do with these apparently fascinating newfound thingamajiggies.
I was so surprised that they took an active interest in working out! They didn’t have the same negative outlook that most adults have about it. They just thought it was fun to do what Mom did. It had never struck me before that the kids would be great workout partners!
Thinking about finally getting back on your feet and start getting fit again? One of the most enjoyable ways to lose weight while getting fit is to get others involved. Whether it’s a friend that you compete with or family members that you can chat and interact with while you exercise, having people to lose weight with makes it far easier and more interesting. Unfortunately, when it comes time to get your kids into eating well and getting fit, things can get a little more complicated.
They might get frustrated, they might get lazy and they might slip into bad habits again after a bit of exercising. Or they may very well just pick up the darn kettlebells and follow along. Here are some tips to get your kids to pick up healthier habits and lose weight together with you.
1.Go shopping together
One of the best ways to teach your kids about staying a healthy weight is telling them about calories and nutrients. The next time you go shopping together, try and point out things like calorie counts and how many nutrients each type of food gives. When they pick out sweets that they want to eat, teach them that those sweets are full of empty or bad nutrients and show them the numbers, then teach them about healthier alternatives. Check out this guide from YourKidStable.com to learn more about nutrients and how to teach your kids about them.
Teaching kids about nutrients can be difficult especially if they’re young, but it can instill some excellent habits in them from a young age. Make sure you do everything you can to simplify and consider using learning tools to help your kids understand nutrients. Your kiddos might also learn about food and different vitamins and nutrients in their lessons at school, and you can expand on this with your own knowledge.
It’s equally important to teach your kids why the sweets they’re eating are bad. And why nutrients matter and how they help our bodies. Of course, it’s a bad idea to deprive your children of ‘fun’ foods all the time. Which makes this a perfect time to also talk about moderation and special times to have sweets.
Find a tool to help you have the conversation with your kids about ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’. Then sit down and have the conversation! Use shopping trips to give real-life examples and let them help make smarter choices about the snacks and other foods you buy.
2. Follow a fitness plan
Perhaps the best way to get your kids into eating well and getting fit is to follow a fitness plan. Sites like MomsIntoFitness.com are great for learning tips on how to stick to a diet plan and can give you plenty of useful ideas on how you can approach weight loss. You’ll want to get your kids involved when you write up the plan. So consider everything from the foods you eat to the exercises you do. And get them involved in the process. Kids love having input!
Make sure that the activities and foods in your fitness plan fit your kids. You don’t want them to feel bored or feed them foods they don’t enjoy. Because that’s a quick way to demotivate them. Try and find substitutes for the foods that are listed on the fitness plans. Or consider looking up fitness plans that are more suitable for kids.
1-Make a list of foods everyone likes (or will eat) and note what they don’t like. Then use a program like Real Plans to find recipes that include or exclude specific foods to make everyone happy! 2-Make a plan for working out that includes the kids. Could you all ride your bikes together? Walk together? Give them playground time while you do strength exercises on the playground equipment? How about even yoga? Find something that works for everybody!
3. Reduce screen time and increase active time
One of the biggest problems with today’s kids is that they spend far too much time lounging with electronics and video games. Check out this article from BecomingMinimalist.com for tips on how to reduce your child’s screen time. Then convert that time into something more productive and active.
Trying to drag your kids away from their screens can be hard. A good tip is to begin to do it at an early age so that they’re more likely to cooperate and expect it. Instead of using electronics to stay in touch with friends, tell them to get active and visit their friends at the park or at least go over to their homes instead of just chatting online. This is a great way to get all the kids in the neighborhood to be more active.
1-Determine an appropriate screen time rule with your husband for your kids. Then assign days or times for each parent to be the monitor. (Trust me, the kids are counting on you to forget!) 2-If there’s a way for kids in the neighborhood to play together (like a park, or maybe rotate homes to play at), get with other parents and try to set up a regular play time! Maybe the other parents are willing to even rotate homes or who monitors at the playground!
4. Plan more family activities
Simply cutting screen time isn’t enough to get your kids more active. Go a step further and convince them to get outside, get active and do more interesting outdoor things. For instance, you could plan to go camping together as a family, you could go for regular bike rides or you could even go on frequent holidays to other towns and nearby destinations that aren’t expensive. Create a bucket list where everyone has input and do those things!
When planning family activities, make sure you try and add in a couple of fun and active sports. For instance, if you’re going camping, then bringing a soccer ball or even a badminton net is a great way to get your kids active. If you’re going to the beach, bring a football, frisbee, or even a kite. Similarly, if you’re just going to a relaxing countryside location, try and get out for hikes and explore the scenery to get them moving. Scavenger hunts can be found online for nearly any scenario you can think of!
1-Have a family meeting (or even ask at dinner) to see what kind of family activities your kids would love to do together. 2-Then schedule in some family time that’s non-negotiable. 3-Be prepared by packing balls, kites, hiking gear, etc for your trip. 4-Print out your scavenger hunts or work together to create your family’s bucket list. {Click the appropriate season to get ideas and print a free bucket list generator for your family!}: FALLWINTERSPRING
An awesome way to track your workouts with your kiddos + plan your healthy meals and snacks together is to download and use the Fabulously Fit Planner + Tracker! You can get it FREE when you sign up for the Newsletter! Click the image below to get started!
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3 Steps to turning your house into your personalized home sanctuary for you and your family.
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The saying goes that there’s no place like home. Many of us long to pull into that familiar driveway and put the key in the door at the end of a long day, but for some of us, home is just a pile of bricks and mortar. If you’ve recently moved, you’ve never really got round to putting your stamp on a house after relocating, or your house doesn’t quite feel like your home sanctuary, you’ve come to the right place. If you’ve bought a house or you’re never quite settled, here are some tips to help you turn your house into your happy place.
Making your home work for everyone
It doesn’t matter whether you live with your partner or a close friend, you have children, or you’ve recently welcomed your parents to the fold, your home has to work for everyone. It’s no use having a beautiful home if it doesn’t suit your lifestyle and make every person feel content and comfortable. Think about the layout, the decor, and how you use each room.
If you have a family, there’s nothing better than spending time together, but there may also be times when you need a break, and you want to indulge your interests or just unwind in peace. If you have children, it’s hugely beneficial to gear your home towards family time by creating spaces where you can hang out together.
You don’t have to have a huge house to make it work. Consider an open-plan kitchen-diner, for example. If you’ve currently got a room that is used for cooking and eating, you could do so much more with the space, especially if you don’t have a series of reception rooms or a separate playroom. Using pieces of furniture and distinctive colors and patterns, you can create different areas that can be used for a host of activities.
If you’ve got a dining area, you can also use this for homework, playing games and arts and crafts. You could also use a table to work or to entertain friends and family. In a different part of the room, you could set up an area to chill out, catch up and relax together. Lay out some floor cushions next to a sofa or an armchair, add a couple of side tables, lamps and a rug, and you’re good to go. Creating versatile spaces enables you to enjoy time alone and time together as a family.
It’s wonderful to spend time with the family, but most of us also appreciate some ‘me time’ now and again. If you’ve been at work all day or you’ve been running around after the kids or doing errands for aging relatives, your home should provide the serenity you need to kick back and relax.
Use the space you have available to create a sanctuary. This could be a room where you can just sit back and listen to music, it may be space you use to be creative, or you might even want to get your yoga mat or weights out and do a workout. Whatever you like to do to relax and clear your mind, make sure your home gives you the space to do this.
If you don’t have a host of spare rooms to choose from, there are ways of creating multi-use rooms. Take a guest room, for example. If you have a daybed, you can add a desk or an easel to enable you to indulge your hobbies without sacrificing space for visitors who want to stay over.
Alternatively, you could use part of the garage as a gym or loft space as a studio. If you haven’t got any room inside the house, but you have a large garden, you could look into the possibility of extending or adding a garden room. These projects may not come cheap, but they will almost certainly add value to your home, so they may be worth considering if you’re keen to make money or you plan to stay in the same property for years to come.
Creating relaxing, stress-free environments
Stress is one of the most common health problems in modern society. If you’re prone to stress, you have a stressful job, or you devote most of your time to caring for others, it’s so important that your home provides respite. It’s particularly beneficial to ensure that your bedrooms are tranquil spaces, as stress can increase the risk of sleep problems, and a lack of sleep can exacerbate symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.
Many of us climb into bed feeling tired and exhausted, only to find that an hour later, our minds are still active. If you’re familiar with this scenario, it’s hugely beneficial to get into the habit of taking time to wind down before you head up to bed. If you’re getting into bed having just cleaned the whole house, tackled a mountain of laundry, or checked your work emails, you’re going to find it difficult to switch off.
Take an hour or so to do something you enjoy and lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Create a snug you can retreat to and read a book, put a soothing playlist on or draw or write, or chill out in the living room with a movie. Get cozy with blankets and throws and make sure you choose furniture that delivers on both style and comfort.
If you’re prone to back pain, don’t choose a sofa based on looks alone. Opt for a couch with a high back and plenty of give, or shop ComfySacks.com and take a look at bean bag loungers. These are much softer than couch cushions, and they mold to your body to support your spine and ease pain in the joints. It’s also a good idea to invest in cushions and throws so that you can get cozy and prepare your body for a restful night.
If you’ve got spaces that are designed for rest and relaxation, you should find it easier to induce a state of calm, and hopefully, this will help you sleep.
When you get into bed, you want to drift off quickly, rather than lying awake or tossing and turning. If you’re feeling relaxed, the last thing you want is an old mattress, external noise or bright light flooding through the window to keep you awake. It’s crucial to get your sleeping environment just right.
Block out light with blackout blinds or heavy curtains, leave phones and tablets downstairs, and use soft lighting to create ambiance.
Once you’ve got your bed sorted, add cushions and throws to make the room cozier, and opt for subtle colors. Avoid bright shades and clashing prints and patterns, and add candles and house plants that are proven to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Lavender is a good example.
Decluttering
You could have the most stunning home in the world, but if it’s full of clutter, you may still find that you can never really relax. Clutter is a source of stress, and it can also have a really negative impact on the esthetic of your house. If you’ve got stuff everywhere, and it’s stressing you out, now is the time to embark upon a decluttering mission.
You may be dreading getting into the loft or tackling the garage, but think about how much better you will feel, and how fabulous your home will look once your mission is complete.
You don’t want to turn the key in the door after a hard day to be confronted with piles of boxes or a hallway full of books, clothes, and old CDs. Set aside a few hours, and work your way through each room. Create a series of piles of stuff you want to keep and items you could sell or donate, and throw everything else away. Once you know what you’ve got left, you can think about storage.
Use wall-mounted shelves, racks, and rails to organize your closet, put up shelves and hooks in your garage to keep tools and outdoor clothing in order, and label boxes you put up in the loft or down in the basement. If you don’t have the luxury of attic or cellar space, and you’ve got stuff you don’t want to get rid of, it may be worth looking at renting a storage unit.
If your house isn’t a place where you feel at home at the moment, don’t worry. It can take time to settle in and really put your stamp on a new house. Sometimes, you need to make changes to ensure that your home caters for your lifestyle and your individual and collective preferences and needs. Hopefully, this guide will help you turn a house into a home, and ensure you have somewhere to retreat to and seek respite at the end of a hectic day.
What things do you do to make your own personalized home sanctuary? Let me know in the comments below!
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