5 Simple Steps to Keep Mom Healthy

I grew up in the era that loved watching I Love Lucy. One of the most famous episodes of the show was the one in which Lucy was starring in a commercial for a product called Vitameatavegamin, the opening line of which was:

“Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties?”

Those two sentences often ran through my head when my family was young. The answer was always yes.

Like all mothers, my children’s health was my primary concern. I took them to all their well visits, made annual dentist appointments, made sure they ate their vegetables, and had strict bedtimes. However, I ate the crusts off their sandwiches, got very little sleep, didn’t see a doctor or dentist for years, and fueled myself with too much coffee and sugar, and it showed.

This is not what God intends for us mothers. There are many places in the Bible where we are commanded to care for our bodies. Our Baptism makes us temples of the Holy Spirit, and as such, we need to care for ourselves.

Your body is a gift, no matter how you feel about it right now, and you need to treat it as such. You cannot pour from an empty cup; if you neglect yourself long enough, it will catch up with you.

#1 Make Time for Appointments

It is easy to put off doctor and dental appointments when you have small children. Bringing them along or getting a sitter can seem overwhelming, but it is important. A yearly physical, dental cleaning, GYN/OB appointment, and mammogram should be the minimum you try to achieve within a certain amount of time.

Priorities change at different ages, but contact your physician at least once a year.

#2 Prioritize Moving

Go to the park and play with the kids. Do some gardening, or go for a walk. Here’s something that works well in a homeschool setting because children need recess.

Put the baby in a stroller and take a walk around the neighborhood – everyone will benefit. A walking pad is a great tool if it is within the budget. You can work with the children while getting steps in.

#3 A Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle protects your health and is the key to feeling energetic. This means eating well, moving, and resting.

Set realistic goals and take baby steps at first. Eat one healthy meal per day or change your snacking situation. Start with trying to get 5,000 steps a day, a tip: download a pedometer app for your phone, and drink at least or three glasses of water.

#4 Get the Kids Involved

Children balk at doing the dishes but seem to like meal prep. Teach them how to wash and safely cut veggies and make a simple salad.

Each meal should have at least one fruit or veggie or both. Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, a cut-up apple, or a bowl of grapes are all easy for small hands to manage, and it means everyone is eating well.

#5 Resting – A Good Night’s Sleep

Resting can mean getting a good night’s sleep. It also means learning to handle stress. We Catholics have a real leg up here since praying is the best way to handle stress.

We also have the meditations of the rosary. There are books and online sites to help keep your mind focused on the mysteries, read scripture, or buy a book of prayers – some specifically written for moms.

Pray when you are nursing the baby or before bedtime. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, your guardian angel will finish praying for you.

Rest when you can. If you are getting up with a baby at night, try to rest when the baby naps. The kitchen floor can stay sticky for another day.

Even a rest on the couch while older children play quietly can help you feel better. My husband and I used to give each other a “sleep late” day every weekend. I slept in on Saturday, and he did it on Sunday. We chose to attend a later Mass for years to make this happen. It was glorious, and I looked forward to it every week.

Taking care of yourself can seem like one more thing to do in an overcrowded schedule, but take it from an older mom. The time you put in now will reap many benefits as you age.

You want to be able to dance at your children’s weddings and play with grandchildren someday, and the building blocks of those healthy older years begin now.