Tag: busy mums

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News

May is MY Month

May is a HUGE month, well for my family it is.

It is the one month in the year where it has many birthdays (including mine), including Mother’s Day.

Since this month is hugely popular and is the time of the year we celebrate Mums I thought why not make the whole month of May dedicated to women.

The whole idea is that the month of May is your month. It is for you to do something each day just for you.

I know that many of you are super busy working at being a mum or working at a job or possibly both.  I’ve created a list of 31 things that you can do. Just simply pick one that you wish to do or you might wish to do a couple on the same day, it is up to you. Remember it is up to you and May is your month to do things for you, just make sure to not overwhelm yourself with things on a list that you might not get to.

There are 31 days in May so plenty of time to do a little of something each day.

Simply getting a cup of coffee at a local cafe after dropping kids off at school or care can be a boost for the soul. Or even taking yourself to a movie to finally watch a show that you have been desperate to see.

Some items on the list might not be super fun but after you’ve done them you will be happier. De-cluttering is a bit of work but the outcome of having a tidier and more organised space means less stress and more time for you and the family.

Also getting all the health checks is a bit boring but a must do. I like to make sure I stay on top of things like skin checks, pap smears, and a regular check-up at the doctors once a year to ensure that I am in good health. Having it done at a certain time each year means I don’t have to think about it, I just organise the times and go to the appointments.

You will see some fun things on the list as well.

For those that don’t want to download the graphic here is the whole list of the 31 items for May:

1. Get coffee at a cafe by yourself or with friends (kid free)

2. Go for a walk

3. Go swimming/exercise at the gym

4. Explore a new area

5. Start a course

6. Meet with friends for a night out/lunch out

7. Read a book/finish the book you’re reading

8. Take a trip away by yourself or with family

9. Save for something special or add extra to your retirement savings

10. Watch your shows on TV

11. Get food delivered so that you get time out

12. Take time away from computers/phones/tablets

13. Invest in adventures (experiences) rather than things

14. Watch less TV and work on things that interest you

15. Take up a hobby, sewing, craft  or write that book

16. Get a massage

17. Get all your health checks done

18. Go to the hairdressers and get a fab new do

19. Invest in some quality makeup

20. Purchase some good moisturiser for your face and body

21. Visit family more

22. See more movies at the cinema

23. Get some new clothes

24. Meditate more

25. Relax

26. Spend time with the kids and just be

27. If you paint, draw, or do photography enter a competition or show your work

28. Learn a language/get pedicure & a manicure

29. If a foodie take lessons on how to cook certain styles of food

30. De-clutter to enjoy more free time not having to do housework

31. Prioritise you to be a happier person

Join in my month-long campaign to do more things for me (you)
and share your stories on Instagram and Facebook.

Make sure to share with the hashtag #mayismymonth

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Categories
Family

Women Put Your Health First

Ladies do you find that you come last for everything? I do… and this has to stop. We women need to put our health first!

I like other women find that I look after everyone before I look after myself.

This has not been intentional but due to kids and racing everywhere mummy seems to come last on the list for everything. Sad but true.

The last few months I have felt extremely exhausted. I’ve been so tired that I have fallen asleep in my chair watching a show, fallen asleep with the baby and just felt low.

I thought maybe it was vitamins. Maybe it was exercise or maybe there was something really wrong.

Part of me did think that if I could just have a true break and some good sleep it might all be fine.  A break has not happened yet and still waiting on having uninterrupted sleep…. I can only dream about this.

I took myself off to get some sunshine and a walk. I found it so tiring and found it all so hard. Gee I am not that old! I know I might not be that fit but feeling this zapped of energy is not good.

The other day I took myself off to the doctors to get to the bottom of why I am so tired and not feeling good. Blood tests were done and I left with two sore arms as the nurse found it difficult to get a vein… normally this is not an issue. I don’t think I drank much that morning so that might explain the vein issue.

Yesterday the blood had the answers I was after. All good expect a few things. Low on vitamin d mainly and this would explain why I was so tired. I have purchased some vitamin d tablets and will make sure to get more sunshine. Although getting sunshine at the moment is a bit hard due to freezing temperatures and gale force winds, oh and a sick baby does not help.

I can make some changes and get my blood tested in another three months to see how it is all going.

This current issue with my health got me thinking.

As a mum to three young kids and the primary carer I need to look after me. If something happened to me things would be a disaster. I know you cannot future proof everything but you can try and look after your health and be well for you and the family.

Sign Up to Women’s Health Week.

The two barriers that women face are:

  1. Time
  2. Health not being a priority

If you look after you, you can look after the ones you love as well. It all starts with you being well and healthy.

I’ve signed up for Women’s Health Week and I urge you to do so as well.

WIN A FITBIT BLAZE

Sign up to the 2017 Women’s Health Week (4 – 8 September) for the chance to WIN a Gold Series Fitbit Blaze valued at $369.95 (terms & conditions apply).

Get fit in style with this gorgeous slim pink, 22k gold plated smart fitness watch built with revolutionary features including PurePulse® heart rate, connected GPS, on-screen workouts and more.

I've signed up to Women's Health Week. Have you?
I’ve signed up to Women’s Health Week. Have you?

 

So what is Women’s Health Week About?

In 2013 Jean Hailes for Women’s Health ran the first national Women’s Health Week.

Thousands signed up from all over Australia to take part.  The event consisted of online activities, resources, information, videos and more.

This event is now in its fifth year and it is “time to put yourself first and get talking about women’s health.”

It’s time to sign up to Women’s Health Week | Nelly Thomas from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health on Vimeo.

 

You can also host an event for your friends, workplace or community. If you register before the 31st of July 2017 you get a free elephant stress ball in every gift bag.

Stay tuned for the up coming events near you.

NOTE: I was approached by the team at Women’s Health Week to help promote this great initiative for women. As a busy mum I know how easy it is to let things for you slip or get forgotten about altogether. As you know from the first part of this post I am dealing with feeling super tired and was proactive to go to the doctors to get to the bottom of why. I must say I knew that it might be a vitamin d issue before I went but wanted to triple check that there were no underlying issues that I need to be aware of.

Women, and mums out there need to put their health first. Be selfish and care for you so that you can help and care for others as well.

If you take care of your health not only will you feel good you will be more active as well.

You don’t need to just have a family to want to be healthy, feeling well helps you do more and feel better as well.

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Categories
Exercise

Voome’s Low Impact Home Workout for Busy Mums

Note: I have partnered with Voome. Yes this is very exciting news.

Here is the first of many articles to come. Also with the content partnership my articles will be appearing on the Voome Blog. I am a firm believer in wellness and being healthy and I love sharing great articles and inspiration to be the best you can be. I hope you enjoy these articles from my content partner Voome.

What is Voome?

Voome is a website that designs recipes just for you and workouts as well. Get inspired for meals, have shopping lists easily created and read some motivational articles as well.

And now for the Voome Article….

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Finding the time to exercise can be hard at the best of times. Throw winter into the mix – rainy days, freezing temperatures, layers upon layers of clothing just to leave the house – and this can really bring motivation levels down.

If you’ve ever felt that frustration, heck even guilt, for not getting out and exercising more – stop right there. Know you’re not alone and it is actually a lot harder than you give yourself credit for.

The Australian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical exercise per week. Over the course of 7 days, that’s around 20 to 40 minutes per day.

Cue the sound of Mum’s all around the world snorting with indignation at the suggestion of a free half hour each and every day of the week.

However, according to a recent survey by the ABS, 60% of adults do less than 30 minutes a day (you’re not alone!).

So how to fit more in? There are two pretty simple ways to get your body moving, sweat a little and burn a few calories: incidental exercise and express home workouts.

Feeling happy after the low impact workout from Voome. Now to get the shopping for the yummy healthy dinner.
Feeling happy after the low impact workout from Voome. Now to get the shopping for the yummy healthy dinner.

Incidental Exercise

Incidental exercise refers to everyday movement that builds up over the day. Think: taking the stairs, running after the kids, doing all those loads of washing (who knew there could be so much!?).

By upping the ante on this, you can easily lift your heart rate, burn more energy and include this as part of your daily physical activity count.

How to get more incidental exercise

● Lunge your way to the bathroom from wherever you are – even from the back garden. It might look funny, but this will x10 your calorie burn than normal walking. Do this several times a day and you’ve strengthened and toned your butt and thighs, all while increasing your metabolism.

● Set an hourly alarm to do a lap of stairs in your house: Up and down 3x times.

● Plank in ad breaks or while warming something up in the microwave. Particularly during the morning shows as this will support your spine for the rest of your day.

● If you’re working from home at a desk, try a standing desk and march on the spot or squatting every paragraph or page.

Take a walk and feel great. Any time walking is always great.
Take a walk and feel great. Any time walking is always great.

 

Express Home Workouts

No, you don’t need a home-gym, or even dumbbells, to get a beneficial workout in. All you need is you.

Find a series of bodyweight routines that don’t require equipment or a lot of space and carve out a block of time (or several mini ones), each day to workout from your living room. Here are a few tips to get started.

● Find express workouts you can do anywhere, even at home in the bedroom. The less barriers (physical and time) there are, the easier it is to get started.

● Break a 20 minute workout into 4x 5 minute exercise circuits or 2 x 10 minutes. Check out these 5 minute mini routines!

● Ease into it. You may not be able to do workout every day, and that’s okay. Even if you don’t exercise for 10 days in a row, that’s okay too. Just don’t give up all together.

● Short on time? Push yourself that little bit harder and get a more intense workout in a smaller timeframe. This could be adding weights to your routine, progressing to the “next level” of a move (think: push ups on knees to push ups on toes) or aiming to fit in more repetitions in. However, ensure you always exercise safely and with proper technique. It’s better to perform a move perfectly than to rush through it to fit more in.

● Try the Low Impact Home Workout below!

The Workout: Voome’s Low Impact Home Workout for Busy Mums

Warmup

● 45 seconds of high knees

– TIP: March on the spot then transition from running to sprinting! Get that heart pumping.

Circuit #1 x 3 repetitions

● 20 x squats (take your bum as low as you can go)

– TIP: Start with your own bodyweight but progressively add weights (think: water bottles, laundry, canned food) as you get better

● 45 seconds of jumping jacks

● 20 x tricep dips

– TIP: Start with legs bent, if this is too easy straighten out your legs

Circuit #2 x 3 repetitions

● 10 x burpees

– As you progress add a push up to each burpee

● 20 x dynamic lunges (10 on each side)

● 45 seconds of mountain climbers

Final Blast

● 1 minute of planking

– Start on knees then progress to toes

Looking for more express workouts? Visit Voome and sign up for a one week free trial to experience 150+ workouts that can be done in less than 30 minutes!

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Categories
Family

Signs I Need More Sleep or Coffee

Picture this.

3am or so in the morning.

Screaming baby due to teething and also has a cold.

I go into the baby’s room to settle him and make sure he is okay.

I started the process of giving him his medicine so it will take effect before I give him a bottle.

Normally I add some eucalyptus oil to his singlet, give him some painkillers (the painkillers are also helping the cold as well) for the teeth and change his nappy.

All the things needed for our little boy is placed on top of a chest of draws, this way he cannot grab onto it when I am trying to change him. He is now more mobile and also super quick to pick things up. I don’t want him to be sucking on the Vicks container or say the eucalyptus oil or something else! You can imagine how that would end up… a very unhappy boy to say the least.

I thought I grabbed the eucalyptus oil bottle and proceeded to put one bit on one side of the singlet and then the other. However, after I did it I realised it was very sticky. It also did not smell like eucalyptus oil.

Why was it sticky I thought?  What did I put on the babies singlet?????

I ended up putting Panadol on the baby… The bottle was right next to the eucalyptus oil. It was dark, I was tired, plus dealing with a screaming baby. I just wanted to get it all done.

In my haste to have the baby feeling better my actions only made things worse. The baby was all sticky due to the Panadol and had to have an outfit change. If you thought that he was screaming before he put on another great performance due to the new clothes.

Panadol is not eucalyptus oil.
Panadol is not eucalyptus oil.

You might think this is just one silly thing that happened last week and you are right it was silly but it is not the only one. My next one is very silly indeed.

I was at the shops and thought I should get some more coffee pods for my machine. I saw that there were some new ones and they were strong coffee. Yes, I think I need that. I popped that in the shopping trolley. I paid for it and put it all away once home. I of course got busy and since I had finished off a box of my other coffee was keen to try out the new strong coffee that I had recently purchased.

The new coffee pods that I was hoping to use. However I never had the chance. They don't fit my coffee machine. Yes very annoying to say the least!
The new coffee pods that I was hoping to use. However I never had the chance. They don’t fit my coffee machine. Yes very annoying to say the least!

The new box of coffee was opened and I put the pod in the coffee machine to have it fall straight down. It did not stick or stay where it was supposed to. I tried again and of course the same thing happened. Geez what is the issue here. I then tried in desperation to be really quick with the lever so the pod might stay in the spot it is supposed to be in. However, it was not to be. It just slid down into the bin inside like it was used up and I had already drunk my coffee… but I had not!!!!

I then made the realisation that my new strong coffee pods were not for my machine. No they were much smaller and that is why they slid right out, and would not let me drink its magical coffee. I will never know how good it would have been, it will always remain an unknown.

As you can easily see the new coffee pod is much smaller than my usual one on the right. No wonder it did not fit in my machine. Also it is for a different brand of machine so there would be no way to use them.
As you can easily see the new coffee pod is much smaller than my usual one on the right. No wonder it did not fit in my machine. Also it is for a different brand of machine so there would be no way to use them.

How could I have been so stupid and silly to purchase coffee pods for a different machine. Why did I not look at this before I bought them? Why did I not see the difference in size when I first tried to put it in my machine?

All these questions might be answered with I really needed a coffee before I did anything or I really needed to go back to bed and get some much needed sleep.

I should have just purchased more of the same. Yes this is my regular coffee that I purchase. I do like to have a change and thought that I got it, however it was more of a surprise that I cannot use it.
I should have just purchased more of the same. Yes this is my regular coffee that I purchase. I do like to have a change and thought that I got it, however it was more of a surprise that I cannot use it.

I did tell all this to hubby the other night and then he ended up hysterically laughing on the floor of the kitchen. I must say that I had no idea that it was that funny but maybe he is sleep deprived too, so it seemed funnier than it actually was.

What silly or funny things have you done due to being sleep deprived?