Week 2: Basic Mom
"With the right tools in place, you will begin meeting your basic needs in the healthiest and most enriching ways possible, building a foundation for growth. You will learn how to eliminate toxins from your diet, clutter from your home, and boredom from your sex life. You will also develop your own inner fashinista and learn strategies to increase yur energy level" (p.8).
AMEN.
Day One: Up your energy!
"Welcome to Basic Mom week, where you start from the beginning to meet your basic needs in the healthiest way possible. You don't just want to survive. You want to thrive! And it begins right now"(p.55).
When the boys were infants I discovered the true meaning of survival. Eat, drink, sleep, even shower almost became a luxury. I would agree that is normal for every new mom of one, two or more babies...What I have found the most difficult is breaking the vicious cycle of survival which in my situation continues to spread havoc through regular lack of sleep. Nighttime sleep. Full night's sleep.
"If you don't get enough sleep, you feel lethargic, irritable, and disorganized...Today you are going to learn how to handle and conquer the energy crisis that is threatening so many moms" (p.55).
Hannah? Are you watching me?
Create a Sanctuary
"In order to squeeze in enough sleep, you need to make sure your bedroom is a restful environment...Remove the television...Clear out the clutter...Invest in some luxurious linens...Create a ritual...Use color to advantage..." (p.57).
Hire a night sitter. Just kidding.
The most challenging for me (And Big Daddy) has been that no matter what we have tried (all the above), we still cannot successfully sleep an entire night as the boys STILL get up. At least twice every night. And then manage to sneak in our bed when we finally are asleep, only to wake up like a pack of sardines in our King Size bed. One word: Survival.
Note:We have tried it all...Stickers, hershey kisses, bubbles, praise, lots and lots of praise the next morning to reinforce a full night sleep in their beds. Immediately walking them, no verbals, to their beds when they come to our bed, sometimes up to 10 times in a row. They fall asleep in their beds. AWESOME! But they don't stay in them. Not Awesome.
"Move your body: Lethargy breeds lethargy. When our lifestyles are sedentary, our energy levels sink, and then our lives become even more sedentary. It's a vicious lazy cycle. Break the cycle taking ten minutes to get your body moving. This enough time to jump-start your metabolism and wake up your mind" (p.57).
Well...My theory that I was born without a metabolism has now been confirmed. In the last year I have worked out on my elliptical, in the Bikram Yoga studio (currently on hiatus) and in the Zumba studio ALOT. ALOT, ALOT, ALOT. My mind is still not woken up. Sigh.
"Drink up! Our fatigue is probably coming from lack of sleep or is a just a result of being sedentary. Instead of eating, try reaching for a tall glass of ice-cold water. The cold water will wake up your body, and you don't have to worry about burning off the calories...Fatigue is usually the first sign of dehydration" (p.58).
Having an a-ha moment over here. Could it be possible that my over consumption of coffee is making me tired...As it surely dehydrates me?
"Go outside: Sometimes we just need to bathe ourselves in the sunlight to pick up the pace....You can even take it one step further by doing something energizing, such as sweeping off the porch or driveway, watering plants or pulling some weeds" (p.58).
It never ceases to amaze me how energized I feel when we are at my sister in law's who lives by the ocean. The weather makes it easy much more easier to be outside which affects my moods, my mind and my body.
"Squeeze in a nap: Sometimes when you feel sleepy the only left to do is to go to sleep. The problem with naps is that they can leave you feeling groggier than you were before. However this only happens when the nap lasts too long...When you wake up, you may be tempted to fall back asleep, but try to use some of the other techniques listed to help you wake up and get going" (p.59).
Napping has become an issue. A real problem. I can't go without them anymore. More on that later.
"Don't dine-Graze: Grazing not only helps you keep your energy level, it also helps you maintain a healthy weight. You feel constantly satiated, so you won't have the urge to overeat as hunger sets in" (p.59)
Agreed.
"Take your vitamins: People who live with high amounts of stress (bodily and emotional) often need B vitamin supplements to help keep their energy up. And personally, I cannot think of many more stressful jobs than motherhood" (p.60).
Must.Find.A.Good.B.Vitamin.Today.
"Breathe in energy: Doing a breathing exercise is a quick and easy way to pour energy into your body when you feel yourself slumping" (p.60).
Notice coffee, chocolate and more more coffee was not included? Time to learn how to breathe...As this mama is still out of breath!
"Tune in to your biorhythms: Schedule your low-activity tasks when you are wide awake so you don't have to worry about propping your eyes open with toothpicks. And when the energy begins to wane, you need to force yourself to do high-activity tasks, such as gardening or vacuuming, because these activities will help you boost your energy" (p.61).
HOURAY!!! Glad to find out I am not the only one to use toothpicks! In all seriousness, I sometimes wonder if my biorhythm has ran away with my metabolism..I am ALWAYS tired. Double Sigh.
Week 2, Day 1: Daily exercise (p.62)
1. In your journal, write down the things in your life that maybe be dragging you down...Find some solutions and start using them.
2. Take some time today to straighten your bedroom.
3. Practice Action Skill #7: Do it NOW. This week, make your bed as soon as you wake up. This small step will encourage you to maintain a pleasant environment in your bedroom. It's much more relaxing to turn down a bed at night instead of crawling into a messy one.
Happy makeover day!
Namaste xox
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