Becoming a mom is very challenging because your responsibilities change. From a time when you only had to take care of yourself for the most part, now you are also in charge of not just taking care of a child physically but ensuring as well that they have a good future ahead of them. But it is exactly because you’re no longer just concerned about your well-being that you have to take care of yourself more. City living can bring many comforts but it can also be stressful, adding to the burden you have to carry in caring for your child and yourself. Still, staying healthy while in the city is not impossible. You just have to keep in mind that taking care of yourself involves addressing your physical, mental, and emotional needs. A healthy mom is a capable mom and that’s what every child needs.
Consider the following to keep you in the pink of health:
Eat right
The most basic way you can care for your health is to eat right. Getting the right kind of nourishment will ensure all bodily processes are functioning properly, helping guarantee that you have what you need to go from day to day caring for your child. Eating right also improves your mood which may help you deal better with any emotional bouts you may have to go through because of hormonal upheavals. Stay away from foods high in sugar and those that have been highly processed. Load up on fruits and vegetables and choose organic whenever you can.
2. Sleep tight
No one ever functions right without getting proper sleep. It’s just the law of life and it’s even more applicable to moms who have to deal with hectic schedules every single day. Since you’ll be doing so much during the day, it is necessary then that you get enough sleep at night. Logging in enough hours allows your body to repair wear and tear accumulated during the day so you’ll be at your 100% for the next day.
3. Practice a little selfishness
You grew a human inside you for nine months and have continued to care for said human when it came out. Anyone can call you anything but selfish at this point, so don’t feel guilty about wanting to take a break from time to time. “Me time” is important for your health because it allows you to relax and recharge so you don’t end up getting burned out. What can you do? Many find that taking the time to maintain a garden soothes the harshness that living in the city can bring. Fast growing plants can also detoxify your home by purifying the air so not only will growing some plants be good for you it will benefit the rest of your family as well.
4. Reconnect
Your child may be your world but you also have to keep in mind that there are also other people in your life. Your friends, your husband or significant other, and your family have always been there for you so don’t shut them out. Spending time with other people will keep you sane and this will make you a better mom, partner, and person in general. Just be mindful of your alcohol if you’re breastfeeding.
5. Bottoms up
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to stay hydrated if you want to be healthy. Should you fall prey to the sniffles, you’ll also get better sooner because your body will more easily flush out what’s making you sick. If you’re trying to get back into shape after having a baby, steer clear of sodas and other sugary drinks so you can watch your calories while staying hydrated. Drink more when the weather is hot or you’ve been doing some physical activity.
6. Wash up
You keep telling the kids to wash up so they won’t get sick. Well, it’s time to take your own advice because you’re just as susceptible to germs given you touch a variety of things throughout the day too. Frequently wash your hands and don’t touch your nose, mouth, or eyes if you haven’t. If you can’t wash your hands at the moment, you can use a hand sanitizer, but keep in mind that this won’t take the place of actual washing.
7. Get physical
Exercise is integral to health living because it trains your body to be ready for the physical challenges of being a mom. And if you exercise at least five days a week, you’re also likely to halve your chances of getting sick compared to how sedentary moms would fair. Plus the added bonus of getting rid of the extra poundage having a baby brought sooner. Mom’s exercise can also boost baby’s brain development.
8. Set realistic expectations
Because caring for a child takes priority, it’s easy for other things to slip into the background. Don’t fret though if your home is less than perfect. Letting go of the idea that you have to be always perfect will take off a huge weight on your shoulders so you’re not stressed all the time. If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. Prioritize and set more realistic goals so you can manage your expectations. Again, you grew a human inside you. Give yourself a little bit more credit.
9. Turn to others for help
If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. You can accept that or you can ask others for help. Moms are near superhuman but they are still just human so they’re going to need support. You can’t very well find time to detoxify if you can’t even leave your house, right? There is no harm in asking for help. Talk to friends or family about what they can do to pitch in to ease your load. Every little bit helps when you’re overwhelmed.
10. Bask in positivity
It’s easy to slip into negativity when you’re overwhelmed and it seems like nothing is going your way. Negativity seeps into every aspect of your life so it is important that you don’t give it time and room to take root. It is fine to rant and be sad and furious if you’re having a bad day, but know that you are bigger than all the bad things happening in your life. It’s not that easy to just turn off the negativity like a switch but it will be worth it when you do. In the same way that you need to get junk out of your body to stay healthy, your heart and mind can also use a good detox.
11. Reach out
When you’re the first mom in your circle of friends, motherhood can feel isolating. And when you feel like you can’t turn to your friends for help because they won’t understand your situation, it’s not a good feeling at all. There really is comfort in talking to those in a similar situation so maybe you should consider reaching out to other moms as well. Reaching out can be as easy as checking out forums on topics that interest mommies like you. Just because you can’t leave your condo doesn’t mean you can’t have a new friend. You’d be surprised at how much you can learn from other moms, and health and productivity hacks are just some of them.
An urban mom is a healthy mom
As a mom, you have a lot on your plate. You have a child who depends on you so you need to make sure that you’re going to be there for them. The single best way to ensure you’re going to be around when your child needs you is to take care of your health. It will take effort to stay healthy but it’s a small price to pay for the reward of seeing your little bundle of joy grow up.