*I’m a PediaSure SideKicks Partner and am a sponsored blog partner, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.
We’ve talked several times on the blog before about ways for moms to get more energy – there just never seems to be enough, does there?! – but I always like to get new perspective on the subject.
Today, our contributor Janssen (a mom of three, including a baby) is here sharing what works best for her. And, I have to say, it’s a really solid list.
I love all her tips, especially #3 and #5, and I’m really excited to try her recipes for a yummy energy smoothie AND fruit and veggie popsicles!
Without further ado, here she is with the tips and recipes…
With three little ones (including a four-month-old who still gets up in the night most of the time), I know what it’s like to feel pretty drained before I’ve even gotten out of bed in the morning.
By the end of the day, if I’m not careful, I can really be dragging.
Fortunately, I’ve learned some tricks to keep my energy levels high (or at least higher) during the day:
#1 Get Dressed
I know it’s tempting to just lounge around in workout clothing or pajamas, but nothing saps my energy like feeling like I can’t leave the house because I’m not ready or feeling horrified if someone stops by. A two-minute shower, some jeans and a top, plus some earrings, lipstick, and mascara, and I can be ready for the whole day in 20 minutes and not have to think about it again.
#2 Eat Breakfast
It’s so easy to miss this meal when you’re scrambling to get ready in the morning or get kids out the door, but you’ll start the day off on the right foot and you’ll have way more energy.
I love a green smoothie to pack in a few vegetables, and adding a scoop of PediaSure Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Mix gives it even more nutrients and tastes amazing.
My Favorite Recipe:
- One large handful of baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups of mixed frozen fruit
- 1 banana
- 1/2 – 1 cup of orange juice
- a scoop of PediaSure Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Mix
Plus, when my girls invariably want a taste of whatever I’m eating, I’m happy to share – they don’t even know how many fruits and veggies they are getting!
#3 Get in Some Exercise with your Kids
Extra movement will help you and your kids sleep better, plus it is a great pick-me-up to combat that late morning or afternoon slump. Try doing 100 jumping jacks, walking around the block, or running relays in the backyard. Bonus for making your kids think they have the most fun mom in the neighborhood.
#4 Have an Afternoon Snack
My girls have a snack every afternoon after quiet time and naps, and I’m better equipped to make good food choices for the rest of the evening if I eat something nutritious at this time too.
I try to plan snacks for the week ahead of time, including freezing extra smoothie servings in popsicle molds – my kids love them and it means nothing goes to waste!
#5 Make a To-Do List Before Bed
There is nothing more energy-sapping than feeling like you have a lot you need to do but not knowing where to start or what exactly you need to get done.
Make a to-do list the night before with the most important things marked and when you’ll be doing them, so you can use your energy most efficiently from the moment you get out of bed.
#6 Find a Relaxing Hobby
As a mom, it’s so easy to feel like you never have time to do anything for yourself, but finding something that you do just for yourself will go a long way to restoring your energy and making you feel like you’re not just a face-wiping, meal-making servant.
Try coloring (it’s a huge craze right now!) or knitting or reading a book or magazine or taking a walk alone. Even just ten minutes a day makes a big difference in feeling like you have time to be just yourself.
#7 Turn Off Your Screens at Least 30 Minutes Before Bed
I’m guilty of getting in bed and then spending ten or twenty minutes staring at my phone or tablet, but your body will go to sleep faster and help you unwind if you turn everything off and have some non-screen-time before you turn in.
#8 Get Enough Sleep
I love that Gretchen Rubin talks about treating an early bedtime as a luxury, rather than a hassle. Sleep is the best energy-generator you can get – take advantage of it and you’ll reap the rewards all day long.
How do you boost your energy on a daily basis?
To learn more about PediaSure SideKicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie mix, visit PediaSure.com or check out their Facebook Page. And check out our other favorite recipes using the mix:
*Pediasure partnered with bloggers such as me for its PediaSure SideKicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. PediaSure believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. PediaSure’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
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Janssen
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