5 things you can do to get you motivated, back-on-track, and “present” with your family
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I start to develop bad habits. I’m talking spending too much time on social media, eating too much sugar, and just genuinely being stressed out. These habits sort of snowball into each other and tend to get worse before I reach a breaking point (aka I feel exhausted and so guilty that I’m not on my best behaviour for my kids).
A big reason this all happens is due to fatigue (being a mom is tiring!), not prioritizing myself, and just feeling a general sense of demotivation.
So, here’s a mid-week pick-me-up list that will help you get out of a “funk”, cultivate healthier habits, and get you slowing down and appreciating the little things. January and Mondays aren’t just for starting over – let’s make Wednesdays our mid-week mood-booster!
1) Find a fun drink and make it
This can be fruit in water or a non-alcoholic drink. Make it something fun, hydrating or gut-boosting, and something that brings a little extra oomph over the usual.
For Fall, I’m loving cinnamon everything. You can add sliced apples or pears, a little cinnamon, and a little maple syrup to water to have a fun hydrating autumn-themed water. Or you can make this non-alcoholic cocktail with me:
Pumpkin Ginger Spice Spritz from Nourished with Jessica.
2) Make a fun food/snack
I love having a nice baked good to look forward to at work. For this season, I’m loving banana break, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, oatmeal cookies, and apple crisp. Basically, all the spicey, cozy bakes.
I’m making these healthy pumpkin swirl brownies for this weekend.
But I’ve also recently made these apple cinnamon energy bites and I’ve been OBSESSED:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup peanut or almond or sunflower seed butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (I mixed the two)
- 1/3 cup finely chopped dried apples
- cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- mini white chocolate chips
Add everything together in a bowl and mix. Form into tablespoon sized balls and store in the refrigerator. These taste like fall in a snack, and I love the texture of the apple pieces. I also love anything with chocolate chips in it.
3) Prioritize 1 healthy habit
Ok, so you’ve realized your healthy habits and goals have been slipping. Don’t stress, we’re all human. Choose one that’s going to make a big impact and make it your priority for the rest of the week. This can be drinking more water, walking more, or eating more fruits and veggies.
For me, I’m going to make my habit putting my phone down when I’m with my children. And recognizing when I start to “doom scroll” and replace it with something better for me – like reading on my Kobo!
4) Hit your step count
Walking is so good for you. Just period. Straight talk. A few reasons to go for a walk:
- you get fresh air if you walk outside
- any kind of daily movement is good for you
- it lowers your stress level
- boosts your productivty and creativity
- lowers anxiety and gets you out of your head
- it can be used as a form of meditation and reflection
I like to aim for 7,000 – 10,000 steps a day. Even just going for a quick 20-minute walk outside can provide you with so much benefit. For busy moms, wearing a step counter and just doing a general tidy around the house can really rack up your step count. Try to fit it in where you can, even bringing your kids with you on a walk after school or before bed can be a great way to incorporate it into your day.
5) Schedule something for yourself
If you take anything away from this list, I think it should be this: do something fun for you. You can schedule a nail appointment, a haircut, organize a girls’ night, go to a golf range. Just try to find something fun for yourself to do and schedule it in. Not only will you look forward to it (hello first dopamine boost) but you’ll get to have fun (hello second dopamine boost).
I’m choosing to do a facial for myself. I haven’t been in forever, and after doing bedtimes by myself for the last week, I think I can treat myself especially well.
Try it out!
I hope you like this easy mid-week reset list! When you start to feel a little blah and unmotivated, it’s time for a bit of a brain re-set. Giving yourself these little wins and things to get excited about can really help your mood. It’s a micro-dose of romanticizing your life. These little things to boost your mood and well-being can make all the difference.
You deserve it!