Quick wellness tips for moms
Balanced Body,  Motherhood

5-Minute Wellness Activities For Busy Moms That Make A HUGE Impact

Quick wellness activities for busy moms

 

Today, I am featuring a guest post by a fellow “mommy blogger,” Sarah Mulligan of Mom Snippets! Check out Sarah’s fabulous 5-minute wellness activities for busy moms and be sure to check out her site as well!


 

Hello all! My name is Sarah Mulligan, and my website is Mom Snippets, a parenting and family blog.

My inspiration for writing came after leaving my career of over 12 years in the veterinary field to stay home and raise our now almost three-year-old son, Jameson. Since then, we’ve become a family of four after welcoming our sweet baby girl, Charlee in the Spring of 2019.

While I’m extremely fortunate to be able to stay home with my kids, I often miss having a passion outside of milk production and booger-gettin’. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at writing, so I decided to start a blog.

Not only has it provided me a creative outlet, but it’s allowed me to document my personal motherhood journey, as well as some of the hilarious parenting situations I bear witness to daily. I can confidently say not even the most creative of writers could come up with some of the outlandish situations my kids get themselves into.

Sarah Mulligan (Wellness tips for moms)

 

As moms yourselves, you’re probably already aware that motherhood is no cake-walk. At times, it can be messy, exhausting, and emotionally draining. So, I wanted to take a moment today to focus on some quick wellness activities to incorporate into your daily routine, even when it seems like there isn’t any room for more on your plate.

 

5-Minute Wellness Activities For Busy Moms That Make A HUGE Impact

First of all, thank you Mandy for the amazing opportunity to guest write on your fabulous blog! When I first decided I wanted to start my own blog, I wasn’t entirely sure what one actually was. While researching on the internet I came across Mandy’s site.

I was really inspired by not only the aesthetics but more because the overall message of wellness she communicates really rang true to me on a personal level. At the time, I was starting on my own wellness journey after two “geriatric” pregnancies (yep, that’s what they’re really called) forced me to put my long-term health into perspective. The idea of being in my late 50s when my daughter will graduate high school is a sobering thought.

I want to be around for all my kids’ achievements in life, as well as be able to keep up with them every step of the way. Moreover, I want to set a healthy example for them. Like Mandy says, “Being a mom is the best reason you’ll ever have to take care of YOU”. 

 

Wellness Tips for mom
Charlee and Jameson

I realize achieving wellness doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s an accumulation of wise decisions over time that make a lasting impact. So, I’ve swapped out the “go big or go home” mentality for the more realistic practice of incorporating simple wellness activities into my daily routine. These wellness activities not only make a huge impact over time, but they only take a few minutes out of one’s already busy schedule to complete. 

 

Wellness Tip #1 – Get In The Zone

Have you ever heard athletes talk about being “in the zone?” Well, my first point is sort of like that. Being in a zone simply refers to a heightened state of mental focus or concentration, becoming fully immersed in a particular task or activity.

I know you’re probably thinking this sounds like a 90’s sports drink commercial, but if you think about it, more than half the battle of any major undertaking (be it weight loss, diet, quitting smoking, or childbirth), is MENTAL!

Nevertheless, we often neglect the importance of exercising our minds as we do our bodies. After all, overall wellness is so much more than just a perfect body or physical health. So, how do we “get in our zone” then? Well, there are a number of ways to do it. 

 

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” – Arthur Fletcher

 

Wellness Tip #2 – Breathing/Meditation

One of the easiest wellness activities to start practicing daily is something that can be done before even getting out of bed in the morning. No, not THAT! Sheesh! I’m talking about meditation.

What is meditation, you ask? Well, that’s where the lines get a little blurry because meditation is somewhat hard to define. Different people meditate for different reasons, whether religious, motivational, or simply for the purpose of relaxing.

What CAN be defined are the end results. Some of the benefits of meditation typically include a higher level of mental awareness, a reduction in stress, calmness, and better focus, just to name a few. 

 

Wellness activities for busy moms

 

Start by taking full, lung-expanding breaths in through your nose and out through pursed lips. Clear your mind of any distractions (Ahem, your kids) and begin focusing intently on your goals. Maybe you’d like to achieve a deeper connection to your faith, find the motivation to exercise and eat healthily, or simply to have the patience to get through another day of potty training your two-year-old.

Whatever the case, be in your zone the entire time. With practice and repetition, you’ll start to see your goals manifest, and a calmer, more focused version of you emerging.

 

Wellness Tip # 3 – Physical Activity, Especially Yoga

Other wellness activities to help you get in your zone include those that combine the physical with the mental. Sure, any physical activity involves a certain degree of mental focus, but I’m talking more specifically about Yoga, which aims at uniting the physical with the spiritual.

Coupling breathing and thought techniques with strengthening poses and stretches, you can think of it like meditative exercise. What’s great about Yoga, is depending on your goal, it only takes a few minutes each day to see benefits. I know, how great! I can’t even get three minutes of bathroom time to myself let alone an hour to go to the gym.

What’s more, it can be easily modified based on your level of fitness or expertise. Start by incorporating a few beginners’ poses into your day and slowly work your way up to more difficult ones. Again, be in your zone while you do them. Focus on each breath and visualize what each pose is doing for your body. After a while, your physical strength and flexibility will start to improve alongside all of the meditative benefits.

Wellness activities for busy moms

 

Wellness Tip: Did you know pampering yourself is something you should make time for regularly on your journey to wellness? Take time once a week to get a massage, bathe in the sun, or soak in a hot bath with candles and music.

Making time for regular relaxation alleviates stress, lowers blood pressure, reduces muscle tension, and improves mental health!

 

Wellness Tip #4 – If You Think It You Can Do It

When we think of wellness activities that make significant impacts on our health, we rarely consider our thought patterns as one of them. While thinking positively takes no physical effort whatsoever, it can be a much more difficult habit to form.

Thoughts like, “this is too hard” or “I can’t do it” ultimately become ingrained in our subconscious and hold us back from accomplishing our goals. It’s a proven fact that the more we tell ourselves something, the more we start to believe it.

Fortunately, the same holds true when we make the effort to think positively. Recognizing negative thoughts when they come into our heads and replacing them with positive affirmations is one of the most beneficial wellness activities to adopt on your journey to self-improvement.

There will be days when you fail to meet your goals. Rather than get discouraged when something doesn’t go as planned, accept it, move on, and do better next time. Don’t beat yourself up. Like anything, it takes some practice.

Before you know it, you’ll begin to see a shift in how you think, and accomplishing your goals will become easier and easier. 

Wellness activities for busy moms

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. – Henry Ford

 

Wellness Tip #5 – Keep On Movin,’ Don’t Stop

If you’re like me, it can be hard getting motivated to work out. After a full day of chasing a toddler and a baby, keeping a clean house, and preparing 3 square meals, the last thing I want to do is spend an hour at the gym.

Luckily, the tasks we already do at home can be taken to the next level and included on our list of time-saving wellness activities that make a huge impact on our lives. When I can’t get to the gym, I try to make a conscious effort to stay active and on my feet as much as possible throughout the day. With so much to do and so little time, this usually isn’t too hard to accomplish.

 

When I was little, my bedroom was right across the hall from my parents. On numerous occasions, I would be startled awake by the exhaustive groans my dad would make upon collapsing into his bed. I never understood how a bed could feel THAT good until I became an adult myself.

Now, I aim for that feeling when I climb into bed at night. I know I’ve made a good enough effort that day by the way it feels when my head hits the pillow. 

Wellness activities for busy moms

A body in motion tends to stay in motion” – Isaac Newton

 

Wellness Tip #6 – Clean With Conviction

Cleaning the house can be a really good workout if you do it right and with the intention to break a sweat. I like to put some music on while I clean and dance my way throughout the house. My kids get a good laugh and I get a good work out. It’s a win-win.

Plus, it doesn’t take any extra time to do and makes an already tiresome task that much more intensified. I try to incorporate some calisthenics in there too. To get from one room to the other, I’ll do some lunges. Instead of bending over to pick up a toy, I’ll do a squat. Anyhow, you get the idea. Anything can be a work out if you put a little extra effort into it.  

 

 

Wellness Tip #7 – Strive For The Best Yard On The Block

Additional wellness activities you can carry out from home include gardening, yard work, and other outdoor projects. Mowing the lawn, weeding the flower beds, or burying your kid’s gerbil, are all great exercises that break a sweat and build muscle.

If your house is anything like mine, there’s never a shortage of things to do. Not only will your body reap the benefits of all your hard work, but your yard will look amazing! How gratifying is that?

Furthermore, a little time outside to take in the sunshine and be one with nature is extremely valuable for your overall wellness. 

 

Wellness Tip #8 – Be Among The Young At Heart

As a stay-at-home mom, playing with my kids is a huge part of my day. Not only does it create lifelong memories, but it brings me SO much satisfaction to hear them laugh, scream, and enjoy our time together.

They’re only going to be little for so long, so I make sure to relish the precious moments we share. Playing chase, going for walks, and being the horsey to their jockey are just a few wellness activities that keep me feeling young while strengthening our family’s bond.  

 

Wellness Tip #9 – Have Fun!

Lastly, one of the most important things to be sure of when incorporating new wellness activities into your daily routine is that you have fun while doing them. I know, that sounds pretty cliche, but if they don’t bring you a sense of fulfillment, you won’t stick to them.

Take it from someone who’s failed a million times in the past. One of my favorite wellness activities is riding bikes. My husband and I both have bikes with trailers on the back for towing the kids around.

Swimming, nature walks, daily stretching, and dancing are other great activities that aren’t only wonderful for your health, but fun for the whole family. 

 

Wellness activities for busy moms

 

While the above list of wellness activities barely scratches the surface, my goal is to get you to realize that starting your own wellness journey doesn’t have to cause a major shift in your already busy schedule.

Besides, we’re more likely to stick to a new regimen when we start by taking baby steps. I hope you find these tips useful on your path to self-improvement. What are some of your favorite wellness activities to do? Leave a comment below as a suggestion for other readers! Cheers, and BE WELL!

 

5-Minute Wellness Takeaways:

  • Overall wellness is an accumulation of small decisions daily that make a huge impact over time
  • Be the example you want your kids to live by
  • Wellness activities don’t have to take a lot of time and should be realistic
  • Overall wellness isn’t just physical, it’s mental 
  • Always stay positive
  • Above all, remain consistent
  • Pick wellness activities you have fun doing 
  • If nothing else, stay active and always keep moving

 

If you found these tips useful and would like to be notified when I publish something new, you can sign up here. Also, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for your daily dose of humor and “momspiration.”

wellness activities for moms pin

Quick wellness tips for busy moms

3 Comments

  • Olga

    Self-care is so important for moms. I really miss yoga and exercise. I hope they will open parks soon and it will be easier. Thank you for the inspirational post!

  • Jenna

    This was a great article Sarah! I really appreciate all of the simple daily activities you suggested to amp up my wellness routine. I love the idea of being intentional with each activity and turning daily chores into an opportunity to increase fitness and mental health. Like you, I find it hard to carve out a trip to the gym so I take my 19 month old on a walk every day. After reading your article I’d like to add yoga to my routine and do some poses when I stretch before or after my walk. Thanks again for sharing your wellness tips! I feel inspired to get in my zone and tackle my day!
    -Jenna

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