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busy moms: 7 tips to stay balanced

By on October 29, 2013
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By Crystal Champagne.

Being a mom of 2 young kids I sometimes find it challenging to juggle my work, the kids’ homework schedules, grocery shopping, laundry, driving to and from after school activities and of course making sure we eat healthy homemade meals. This is where I find planning and simplifying my life has helped me to find harmony and happiness amongst the sometimes chaos. It is little things that I have learned over the years that have helped my life stay balanced and less busy and which I would like to share with you in case you too are looking for ways to simplify your life. Even though I am a personal trainer and this article is not about physical fitness I do find it pertinent since our mental state is and proves sometimes to be more important than our physical. Everything is tied into one, so if you are mentally over loaded this will affect you physically.

• Use a slow cooker. I find there is nothing more comforting than coming home to a house that smells like food has been cooking and is ready to eat. Plan the night before and prepare your “mise en place” so it is ready in the morning and all you have to do is put everything in the slow cooker and step out the door. On the internet there are many slow cooker recipes that you can find which are easy and delicious.

• Help those around you to be self-sufficient. I learned a long time ago that if my kids made their beds, kept their rooms clean and got dressed by themselves it gave me time to get other work done. Eventually when they are old enough I will teach them how to cook basic dishes.

• Cook extra and freeze. Every time I make soup, chilli, spaghetti sauce, or anything that freezes well I make extra and freeze. That way on days when I am tight for time and have not planned a nutritious meal all I have to do is pull one out of the freezer and I know it’s healthy, not full of preservative nor full of saturated fats and sodium which you tend to find in commercially bought frozen meals.

• Store in fridge washed and cut fruit and veggies. When I come home from grocery shopping I try to wash my veggies and fruit and store them in the fridge right away, so when I am hungry I am less tempted to eat a handful of crackers and instead reach for a fresh washed peach. As well it makes preparing supper easier since there is one less step to do at the end of a long day.

• Prep the night before. Weekday mornings in our house are hectic. I try to prep as much as possible the night before; I make the lunches and set the table for breakfast so the morning is just a matter of getting dressed, grooming and eating breakfast.

• Create time for yourself. I always use this example; if you go to the bank and are in the “red” you will not be able to lend money to anyone or have money for yourself. It stands true for your emotional bank as well. If you are constantly taking care of everyone except yourself you will become emotionally and physically bankrupt, which leaves you no good for anyone and especially yourself. Take the time at least once a day to do something for you. It could be getting a pedicure, going to the gym for an hour or simply reading 30 minutes of that” trashy” magazine that caught your eye when in line at the grocery store. Whatever it is, choose something that is for you and no one else, spoil yourself you deserve it. Treat yourself like how you treat your friends and loved ones.

• Exercise. It clears your mind and keeps you healthy longer, and it gives you more energy throughout the day. You will notice when you exercise regularly you sleep better and we all know when we have had a good night’s sleep we are recharged and are ready to take on new challenges.

 

Crystal Champagne  specializes in helping people of all walks of life be it corporate or elite athletes reach their personal best and health objectives through individually designed programs and group training. She gets her inspiration by helping others achieve their personal fitness goals. Her motto is to work hard so you can play hard. She believes in leading by example and enjoys a well balanced life of exercise, diet, fun and maintaining a positive attitude towards life.  Crystal is known for her creativity and ability to generate new and exciting workout programs tailored for every individual. Her goal is to help clients achieve a healthy lifestyle while avoiding the pitfalls of monotony.

If you would like to book a personal training session or group class please contact Crystal at crystalfitness.net

 

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