Recharge Your Mom Battery
As a mom, do you ever feel like the Energizer Bunny?
It seems some days you’re running nonstop chasing kids, doing laundry, prepping meals, all until your battery just dies and you collapse into bed.
It doesn’t matter how much you love your family or how much you love spending time with your family – there are just times you need a break.
If this sounds familiar, you’re in luck. We have some great suggestions to help recharge your battery!
Exercise: You may think you’re too tired, but exercise can actually give you more energy! Bonus points if you exercise outdoors. If you aren’t able to get a workout session in by yourself, strap your child in a stroller, lace up your tennis shoes, and head out for a good walk. After all, as Elle Woods says “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” (Legally Blonde)
Eat Well: Think of food as fuel. Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated will give you more energy. Eating well does not mean preparing complicated recipes. If you need ideas for easy, healthy meals, check Instagram or TikTok for inspiration: many creators have great meal prep plans and recipes.
Rest: Yes, we know this is a tough one – especially if you have a baby at home! But getting enough rest means you’ll have more energy and be less grumpy, so we think it’s worth the effort. If you have a little one at home, nap when he naps. Try to stick to regular bedtimes for your kids and yourself. Resist the urge to stay up “just a little longer” to catch up on chores, your favorite show, social media, or even a good book; you’ll thank yourself in the morning.
Take Time for Yourself: This may mean getting up in the morning before your kids to enjoy quiet time and a cup of coffee, taking a break in the afternoon while your kids are napping, or even just enjoying some quiet time with your kids reading a book or watching a show. You may choose to journal, read a book, listen to a podcast, or soak in the tub (if your kids are supervised of course). If you have a trusted sitter, you can slip out to get your nails done or take a class to learn something new.
Make Time for Friends: Schedule time with your friends. If it’s hard to get away, schedule a playdate so your kids can play while you reconnect and have adult conversations.
Enjoy Date Night: It’s important to make time with your significant other or you can end up feeling as if you and your husband are just passing by each other all day. Schedule a date night to relax, reconnect, and recharge. If budget is an issue, put the kids to bed early, and enjoy a special dinner or movie at home.
Set Realistic Goals: Be intentional with what you choose to do with your time. Set boundaries to avoid overextending yourself and burning out. Be ok with saying “no:” you shouldn’t feel “guilted” into doing something. Of course there are chores you have to do, but maybe you split cleaning across several days and plan to eat out once a week on your busy night. Pick the top one or two organizations you’d like to be involved with and politely turn down requests for others.
Ask for Help: There may be times when you need more help. Hire a sitter so you can run errands alone. If a sitter is not in the budget, ask a trusted friend to watch your child and then offer to return the favor. If it’s in your budget, hire help when you need: maybe having someone clean your house once a month is enough of a break.
Count Your Blessings: When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to count your blessings. Reframe your thinking from a “have to” to a “get to” mentality. “We’re blessed to have enough clean clothes to make it through the crazy week” sounds much better than, “I have so much laundry to do!” Instead of, “I have to cook supper, and I don’t know what we’ll have” think, “We’re blessed to have so many options for dinner.” Soon you’ll better appreciate what you have and start to see the joy in the little things.
Draw Close to God: Last on our list is our most important tip: spend time with the Lord. Read your Bible. Pray. Listen to worship songs. Talk to Him. Join a ladies’ Bible study. You’ll find instruction and encouragement in the Word and in fellowship with other Christian moms. And you can unburden your heart in prayer. Make sure you find time each day to spend with God – and teach your children to do the same.
Our final thought is this: Make taking care of yourself a priority. When you take care of yourself, you’ll be a better mom, and you’ll set yourself up as a good role model to your kids. Let us know which of these tips works best for you – and be sure to share others not on this list!
If you’re pregnant or a new mom and feel you’re constantly running on empty, contact us to request a mentor who will walk with you and help you adjust to life with a baby. Learn more here. If you have a heart for moms and babies, we’d love to have you serve as a mentor. You can learn more about mentoring here.