If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is one of the oldest truisms out there but I want to rephrase it, “If parents aren’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”.
Let’s be honest- being a parent is a difficult job! We literally need to remain sane throughout the entire 24 hour clock to ensure that our family is safe, healthy and happy.
To function and thrive as a happy, healthy family, every member of the family must feel well, do well and is well.
If you’re a new mom, maintaining a happy, healthy lifestyle begins by first taking care of yourself using these 7 dimensions of wellness into your life and home.
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1.Physical Wellness
Physical Wellness is about taking care of your body. Practice the BIG 3’s SLEEP enough, EAT smart, EXERCISE regularly.
Sleep enough: To a new mom this is a very challenging task but it is achievable. You’re heard the saying many times before “Sleep when the child is asleep”
I know that there are many tasks which needs to be done when your put your child down, but taking care of you and your health is more important.
One simple thing which has worked wonders for me and which shuts down all light and puts you in sleep mode in no time is a sleeping mask.
Eat smart: As the great Michael Pollack says, “Eat food, not a lot, mostly plants” Following a simple eating plan will provide you with all the nutrients needed for your body and also your child especially if you are nursing.
It will not only provide the nutrients that you need but it will also maintain and replenish your energy and gives you the boost that you need to play and parent your kids.
Eat food, not a lot, mostly plants
Michael Pollack
Eating REAL food vs processed food with give you tons of energy and also help to fight illness, colds for any illness which could also be passed on to your baby.
Did you know that any food that us moms eats is automatically passed to our little ones through breastfeeding. In essence, if we consume processed foods, it will be passed to our babies, thus affecting their tiny bodies in one way or another.
Exercise regularly: Exercising regularly doesn’t have to be a chore that no one wants to do.
I am not asking you to prepare for a marathon here. just a 30 minute walk around the block with your child in a stroller will do wonders for your mental clarity .
Additionally it can even help introduce your child to the world by him or her discovering the different things around him. And not too mention, it helps us lose the baby weight!
Another option is do simple exercise whilst playing with your little one or with him in the stroller looking at you. I guarantee you that both you and baby will have a fun time.
2.Intellectual Wellness
As a new parent, you may think, “I do not have time to learn something new” and thats true.
When I am talking about intellectual wellness, what I mean is keeping your mind sharp and open about what is going on around you. Keeping in the know. Being vigilant and keeping informed.
Learn new skills: One way of doing this is to learn new skills.Being eager to learn a new skill, being open to new ideas and customs you would not otherwise learn would definitely keep that your mind healthy and strong.
One example, that really works for me is learning from other parents
So, if your kid has a play date with a friend, that’s an excellent time to learn something new from the other parent such as cooking skills, couponingskills, or just random skills such as how to help your child to sleep through the night.
Read, listen, discuss what you read or learn from others. Listen to audio books or podcasts while washing dishes or in the car can help tremendously in keeping your mind sharp.
Your child may have extra curricular activities, instead of sitting on the sidelines, see if you can help the coach or become the team water boy for example but try to take the opportunity to learn something new and different.
3.Emotional Wellness
As parents, we go through a full range of emotions, we have to accept them and regulate them so they do not spill over to our kids and partners.
Even though we do not show how we are really feeling when we are angry, sad, scared etc. we must practice self-awareness, self-control and self worth in order to be better parents and guardians. We must learn to keep our emotions at bay.
This can be done with some basic relaxation techniques such as 4X4 breathing technique where you breathing in to the count of 4, hold your breath for 1 and exhale to the count of 4.
If this breathing technique is not your thing, then try using a stress ball squeezing it for the count of 4 and then letting go.
One parent who I spoke with mentioned that when her emotions tries to take over, she excused myself from the room, sit in her hidden corner and eat one of her favorite snack. Whatever works for you- do it!
You can also teach and encourage your age appropriate child to do the same when they are feeling frustrated. It provides you with a safe outlet to release a range of emotions.
4.Spiritual Wellness
Having Spiritual wellness is about having a set of guiding principles and values that give meaning and purpose to your life and in the way you demonstrate your parenting skills.
For some mothers, it is through self improvement or meditation. Another is through a religious community.
No matter what path you choose as long as it includes the power of love, hope and the practice of compassion and acceptance of others you will benefit from spiritual wellness
5.Social Wellness
Having a healthy social connection is extremely important for in order to remain sane in our parenting duties.
It is about the connections you have with your family, your baby, other parents, friends, nanny etc.
It includes how much you experience and maintain your role and relationships with others.
One way of achieving social wellness is to join other moms group. It may be through your local community center, in your neighbourhood or even on social media.
You can achieve a connection by proving tips and ideas to other mothers which will make their lives easier or even helping them out when in need.
6.Occupational Wellness
Raise your hands if you are contented with your present career? Are you satisfied with balancing work and family or is there enough flexible to enable you to spend time with your little ones and family.
You may think, you hate your job now but are you making an effort to get in the place where you want to be. Not having stability in this aspect can do more damage than good. You may not know it now, but not having time for family today can be damaging in the future.
Find out what you love and do that BUT if what you love cannot pay the bills, can you do on your days offs, or weekends, with you kids.
Not having this aspect sorted out will take a toll on you, your family , your money and anyone else around you.
7. Environmental Wellness
This you may think is a huge area that does not affect you but it can. Environment Wellness is just being aware of the impact that you have on all things on this planet.
It is appreciating mother nature, not harming the planet and making sure that all your impact is in harmony with the earth.
The small things you can do everyday are: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Buying your kids clothes at a consignment is one way of helping. Using glass containers to store kids’ food or using glass baby bottles instead of the plastic ones is another.
Another option is having a stroll through a green space and having an age appropriate talk with your child about climate change. Your child may find this a bit confusing at first but will appreciate it later on.
Other options are eating only vegetables (no meat) for one meal a day, reducing the consumption of processed or animal products. or using biodegradable products such as the HONEST line of products instead of products with unpronounceable ingredients can definitely increase your environmental wellness.
So there you have it. A few tips to help you overcome your tiredness and remain sane We all know that being a mom or a parent is a full time and a half!
Having a sound mind, a full burst of energy and in good physical state is not only required but mandatory.
If there are any wellness tips that have worked for you, please feel free to share in our comment section.
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Written by Shana W. Shana is a guest contributor with us and takes pride in keeping herself engage in any and all type of wellness activities. In her spare time, she enjoys challenging herself to taking long walks in the shortest amount of time to keep her mind and body healthy and sound.
