Stop Feeling Tired All the Time

I think I spent the first three years of motherhood feeling so tired that a big haze fell over me. And yet these are the years we are to enjoy. So, even though I'm still tired a lot, here are the things that I realized in keeping up my energy levels:

-- Some moms will tell you to take lots of naps. I think this is true the first few months of baby's life, but after that the best thing you can do is NOT take naps. This way you are tired at the end of the day and go to sleep easier and earlier. And I was once told by a nurse that sleep between the hours of 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM actually count as two hours of sleep because of our bio-clocks or something like that. But mostly I have learned that if I take even just a little cat nap, I get that "extra" wind at 10:00 PM and stay up too late. ANY time you don't get REGULAR sleep, you will have major losses of energy the NEXT day and sometimes it will last several days, especially if your sleep is sporadic like most moms.

-- "Sugar is evil." I've always wanted to put that saying on my frig. Truth is, the more sugar you eat, the more tired you will feel. Sometimes if you eat a bunch of sugar, the effects won't be felt until the next day making the connection more difficult to decipher. Most moms snack a lot and often on sugary foods. One can of soda, for example, could do you in - especially during that "special" time of the month. Sugar gives an initial burst of energy, but then depletes you until you eat more sugar. It is an addiction.

-- I hate to even bring this one up, but exercise brings major breakthroughs for the tired (and depressed) mom. I read a study that was done on depressed individuals. By simply adding in exercise, 80% were cured of their depression (without drugs). We all know exercise releases endorphins into our brains that promote energy and wellness. Even two times a week for 20 minutes will bring radical changes to your life. For me, I love Yoga. It changed my life.

-- Get out with your kids EVERY day. Sometimes when you are tired, you just want to stay home all day feeling tired. The best thing to do is force yourself to out, even if just to the grocery store, the park or a quick walk around the neighborhood. Getting out will help your morale and your kids will have a better day too.

-- Accept being tired. This was the BIG turning point for me. I remember one day just telling myself that I'm most likely always going to feel tired so long as I have small children, so just accept being tired. So when I stopped fighting myself, I found more energy.

Like I said, I'm still a tired mom, but I've also been able to find a lot more balance by abiding by these suggestions. And I also enjoy so many more upbeat and energetic moments than ever before!

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