6 Simple Tips to Jumpstart a Healthy Lifestyle

As a working mom, you’re probably running on coffee fumes and little to no sleep! It’s a miracle you find time to shower, let alone make time for your health. Every day you’re so physically and mentally exhausted the last thing you have energy for is self-care.

It’s not easy staying healthy when you’re a working mom.

I totally get it! The stress of balancing family and work took a toll on me!

I was working 50 plus hours, skipping breakfast daily, and living off fast food.  

Over two years, I gained and lost the same 20 pounds repeatedly. I had no energy and I was completely burned out.

Then I found a way to get healthy that I could fit into my busy day.

Stay Healthy While Raising a Family and Balancing Work

In this article, I share how I went from burned out to a thriving working mom. You will learn how to:

1. Have more energy
2. Gain mental clarity
3. Be more alert and productive
4. Get better sleep
5. Drop excess and stubborn weight
6. Have clear and nourished skin

The Key to Jumpstarting a Healthy Lifestyle as a Working Mom is Good Nutrition and Managing Stress

Low energy, lack of focus, poor sleep, excess weight, and dull skin are signs that you have poor nutrition.

Many people overeat, are overweight, but malnourished thanks to the unhealthy ingredients found in processed and prepackaged foods.

Stress, if left unchecked, can be physically draining.

So, if you’re always tired and overwhelmed, it could also be the effects of stress.

Tip #1 Eat Clean

The food you eat is either fuel for your body or poison. Eating clean keeps your body nourished and healthy.

To eat clean means to eat organic, non-GMO foods free of preservatives, additives, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial flavors.

Eating organic can be expensive, so if it’s not in the budget, start with the Dirty Dozen.

The Dirty Dozen is a list of fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residue. Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases its list of the Dirty Dozen

The following fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of pesticide residues as of 2021:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, collard and mustard greens
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Peaches
9. Pears
10. Bell and hot peppers
11. Celery
12. Tomatoes

If eating clean isn’t in the budget you should definitely check out Thrive Market, an online retailer of the best organic brands. What I love about Thrive Market is the low-price promise. If you find the same product cheaper somewhere else, they will beat the price.

Tip # 2 Avoid Allergy Causing Foods

If you suffer from a frequent upset stomach, gas, a running nose, and headaches, you could have a food allergy.

Food allergies are common, but you might not be aware you have one because it’s hard to link a specific food to a symptom.

Certain foods like dairy, gluten, soy are known to cause allergies.

The best way to test for an allergy is to eliminate the food for at least 30 days and then slowly re-introduce it to see how your body reacts.

Tip #3 Eat Every 4 to 6 Hours

Frequent eating is important for health and maintaining a good weight.

Eating throughout the day stabilizes your blood sugar, which helps maintain energy and reduce cravings.

Frequent meals also help with digestion and keeping a working metabolism.

I’m not saying you should binge on food. That would be counterintuitive.

Instead, keep your meals small and balanced with a good mix of protein and fruits.

A good rule of thumb is to eat every 4 to 6 hours, starting with breakfast and having a snack in between meals.

Tip #4 Meal Plan

Meal planning is a great way to make sure you’re eating healthy and balanced meals. Deciding on your meals in advance can have a great impact on your health and wallet.

When you plan your meals, you take the guesswork out of mealtime because the menu is set.

No more turning to fast food when you come home from work tired and hungry.

Trips to the grocery store are also easier and economical because you know what to buy and avoid. The days of impulse buying are over.  

With the $ 5 Meal Plan service it’s never been easier to meal plan and save money and time. If you’ve been thinking about meal planning, make sure to definitely check out the service.

The other benefit of meal planning is creating balanced meals in the right portions.

Overeating is a big reason people are overweight. When you eat in the proper proportions, maintaining a healthy weight becomes simple

Generally, green veggies should be 1/2 of your plate.

Lean protein such as chicken, wild fish, grass-fed beef, beans, and lentils should be 1/4 of your plate.

Good carbs like brown rice, quinoa, and sweet potatoes should fill 1/8 of your plate.

The remaining 1/8 of your plate should include good fats like seeds, nuts, nut butter, and avocado.

Tip #5 Manage Stress

When you’re a working mom, you have lots of pressure to balance work and family.

You’re expected to work like you don’t have kids and raise kids like you don’t have a job.

No wonder you’re stressed!

But don’t leave your stress unchecked.

Doctors call stress the black plague of our century because it can lead to a host of medical issues.

My favorite way to destress is mediation, and the Stress Less Guided Meditation by Ziva Meditation is simple to use if you’re a beginner.  

The book by Emily Fletcher, Stress Less, Accomplish More, is also an excellent resource to start a mediation practice.

Tip #6 Get Moving

Exercise is a given for a healthy lifestyle, so take this as a reminder.

You don’t have to join a gym or run a marathon. A little physical activity can go a long way to help you stay healthy.

This could mean going for a walk on your break or hopping on the treadmill first thing in the morning.

I personally like starting my day with a  brisk walk while listening to a personal development podcast. That’s my way of staying healthy physically and mentally.

To Jumpstart a Healthy Lifestyle While being a Working Mom, Keep the Following 6 Tips in Mind

1. Eat Clean
2. Avoid allergenic foods
3. Eat Frequently
4. Meal Plan
5. Manage Stress
6. Get Moving

Take Action

Pick one tip and implement it today.

It doesn’t take much to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle. It’s as simple as making one change today and slowly working your way through the tips.

Do you have a healthy tip to share? Drop it in the comments.