There’s a pandemic about and as a new mother swamped with a lot of activities in addition to the monotony of staying indoors, it can get a little too much. This is the time to take a step back and prioritize what is actually important, as much as you’re caring for your little one, your health should not be at risk and it’s a known fact that you can’t give what you don’t have, remind yourself why you want to stay healthy, what are your reasons? Document it, it should be something that would provide enough motivation.
Keeping hydrated and eating meals packed with nutrients should be a daily habit, it is also one decision that your body will thank you for, confused on how to start? Below are a few helpful guides;
Create time for you: It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed which is why little breaks are necessary, find some time during each day to recharge, it could be a few hours in the morning before your child gets up or some free time during the day. Use that time for you, meditate, read a book, whatever would give you peace and then resume the rest of the day a little refreshed.
Plan your day: It must not be anything rigid but should be reasonable, the thing about goals is that they’re more achievable when you can visualize them, so get a little book or download a planner app and write down what you want to do, it could be a daily routine or could cover the whole week, you could choose what healthy meals to prepare, a workout schedule and other tasks you want to get done, Once it is all written down with post-it notes or phone reminders attached, it will be easier to carry them out.
Stock up on healthy food: If that bag of fries is the main thing filling up your fridge, then it would be the only thing you think about eating, this is why it is only sensible to stock up on healthy groceries instead, buy whole grains, fresh fruits, eggs, lean meat, brown rice etc, they’re varieties of meals that can be gotten from this tasty lineup and it’s safe to say, you won’t run out of ideas while trying out your next healthy dish, nutritious and delicious is definitely a win win.
Probiotics are a girl’s best friend: Probiotics are more commonplace than before, they are simply good bacteria that are taken into the body through food or supplements, why probiotics are good for you is that they promote a healthy balance in digestion and they also help to strengthen the immune system and your health in general. Yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics.
Try fruit infused waters: Drinking water several times a day can feel very routine-like and hard to remember but with fresh fruit infused water, that would not be a problem. The water that are fruit infused can be homemade and are packed with flavours and various vitamins, the best part about it is, it takes little time to make and comes with a lot of amazing benefits. Here are our top picks;
- Cucumber and mint: this is a very refreshing mixture to make at home, cut the cucumber into cubes or slices, place in a jar, put in your mint leaf and add enough water to fill up your bottle, depending on how strong you want the flavor, it can infuse for 5 hours(for mild flavour) 8 hours or overnight for a stronger flavour. Other fruit options include:
- Orange and strawberries
- Apple and blueberries
- Blackberries, orange and ginger
- Watermelon, cucumber and mint
- Grapefruit and lemon
- Pineapple, orange and watermelon
It can be a single fruit if that is what you want, there are a lot of options to mix and match, make your pick and enjoy.
Engage in relaxing activities: It could be a dance off with you and your partner or craft making with the older children, making home videos with your baby, doing yoga or finding a new skill. The list of activities are endless. Find what makes you happy and do it.
Finally, the last thing a healthy lifestyle should be, is boring
There is a whole array of healthy food choices in the grocery store, the key here is balance and being creative with your options. As a new mother, your body needs all the nutrients it can get so your meals should be an all round balanced diet that would sustain your daily activities.
Spicy and gassy foods, Caffeinated drinks, alcohol and smoking are not advisable especially when you’re breastfeeding, nicotine from the cigarettes and alcohol could get into the milk being fed to the baby.
Making healthy choices shouldn’t feel like a chore, it should be an enjoyable experience that would at the end make you and those around you happy, energetic and full of life.
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