All too often I spend my evening hours tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. When I do finally fall asleep, it doesn’t feel like deep sleep at all. Busy moms can’t afford to function on little to no sleep, but that doesn’t mean we don’t do it. You may be surprised to find out that you are the reason you’re not getting enough sleep! Here are some tips to help you get a better night’s sleep.

How to sleep better as a busy parent.

Avoid bright lights during the night

• Darkness makes our brain secrete melatonin, which makes us feel sleepy. However, when light is present, it does just the opposite! It causes the body to wake up, not fall asleep. Lower your light an hour or two before bedtime, and if you need to get up during the night, look for a dim night-light.

No screen time before bed

• Using your computer or phone during the day is no problem, but getting immersed in social media channels or e-mail before bedtime can actually keep you from falling asleep. These are considered stimulating activities and may keep your mind from winding down right before bedtime. Avoid stimulating activity before bed such as TV, thrilling novels, or big issue discussion.

Skip the afternoon coffee

• Your heart may have skipped a beat after reading this one, but trust me. Caffeine during midday can ruin your chance of a good night’s sleep later. Teas, coffee ice cream, and even decaf coffee can even keep you awake. If you find yourself having trouble falling asleep, keep your caffeine intake to a minimum after noon if possible.

Don’t watch the clock

• I bet you didn’t expect to see this one. It’s true that the act of checking the time can ruin your sleep. Clock-watching will transition you from sleepy to a slightly awakened state. Your mind wakes up, and you prolong sleep. Should you wake up in the middle of the night, fight the urge to look at the clock. People who don’t check the time, fall asleep much faster.

Don’t skip exercise

• Daily workouts are likely a memory of the past, but skipping that workout is a mistake! It’s important to exercise during the day to not only keep you fit, but help you sleep! Working out in the afternoon will leave you sleepy at bedtime, and keep you happier and healthier throughout the day.

Everyone has sleepless nights, it’s part of being a parent. If your sleep problems are happening more than once in awhile, give a couple of these tips a try.

Here are some more articles you might love!

• 12 Things you Should Clean Right Now
• How to Stay Organized as a Stay at Home Mom
• How to be a Positive Parent when you are Exhausted 

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15 Self Care Tips to Make you a Better Mom

1. Enjoy the preschool moments where your youngest is off to school for a few hours, do something fun you enjoy or take a nap.
2. If you work from home or stay at home, take one weekly nap day where you bring the kids to school and come home to simply relax all day long.
3. Allow yourself time to transition between mom duties, this could be winding down to some music, reading a book for 20 minutes or taking a drive before switching gears.
4. Plan one night a week as bath night where you devote an hour to simply soaking in a warm bubble bath alone.
5. Get dressed up for no good reason, complete with makeup and jewelry.
6. Listen to music while you’re cooking dinner or doing household chores to keep your mood stable and happier.
7. Bring back an old hobby that you loved doing before the kids were born and make it a priority in your life.
8. Make plans to do something that you’ve never done before, just be certain you have a sitter ready to take the kids if your partner can’t stay with them.
9. Have a weekly social date with a close friend over a cup of tea or coffee to just socialize about life, interests and whatever else makes you happy.
10. Enjoy making a blanket fort with your kids and climb in to curl up and enjoy some childhood laughter after a long day.
11. Get outside and enjoy a nature walk or stroll around your community to soak in the sunshine and fresh air.
12. Plan a spa day with girlfriends complete with manicures and pedicures.
13. Make a reading bucket list and read at least thirty minutes every night before bed.
14. Make a list of things you want to do in the next month and enjoy the awesome feeling of accomplishment each time you check something off that list.
15. Start using meditation apps to feel more balanced during a busy day of motherhood.

These are all just a few self-care tips to make you a better mom. Each of these self care tips to be a better mom can be squeezed into even the busiest of schedules. Following my advice will help you feel better, act happier and really have a chance to keep your mind in a peaceful place.

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7 steps to a clutter free home

Have you actually started decluttering your home? When I started, I could not believe have much stuff I had! I used to feel so frustrated at how long it took and how much energy it took to manage all our crap! I used to spend hours and sometimes even days trying to get the house cleaned up. Finally, I said enough! It was time to create a clutter free sanctuary in our home! Decluttering is so freeing and letting go of excess can do wonders for your home! Here are 7 steps to a clutter free home. 

Step 1: Know your why
Before you can truly live with less, you need to know why. Why do you want to declutter your space and what benefits could your family have? Start with getting a clear picture of why you are choosing to start down this path and keep this goal in mind when things get hard.

Step 2: Build a plan and take action!
Before you start going through every drawer and closet in your home, you need to make a plan for how you are going to work through this space. When you have a plan, you’ll be able to easily navigate through your home and get to work. Decide how you want to declutter, such as by room or by object.

Step 3: Do a sweep through your entire home
This is the best way to get started when decluttering your home. Take a box or a trash bag and go through each room and get rid of everything you don’t use or don’t love. This is the perfect way to get some momentum going, as you’ll be able to really dive into the hard stuff later. This will remove the surface clutter that don’t require emotional decisions.

Step 4: Clear your surfaces and keep them that way
Clear surfaces have a big impact on your home as a whole. Finding places for things that normally clutter your counter tops and other surfaces should be one of the first steps for that reason. Make a spot for your mail, cords, keys and anything else that doesn’t have a logical place already. After you’ve cleared your surfaces, keep them that way! Keeping this space clear at all times will immediately keep your home from looking cluttered.

Step 5: Start with the easiest spot
At this point, you want to keep your momentum by starting with an easy place to declutter. Find a place you can do quickly and with ease. This space should not have too many sentimental items or take more than a few minutes. Don’t try to take on a whole room at once, and instead start smaller such as a drawer or cabinet. Bathrooms, the pantry, or a coat closet are a great starting point!

Step 6: Identify which area is your highest priority and take control!
Now that you’ve identified the areas that are causing you stress, it’s time to tackle it! Your focus should be on ruthlessly decluttering whatever area is your highest priority to create space in your home. This room will have the biggest impact on your life and the benefits should be almost instant.

Step 7: Stick to your plan
Now that you’ve tackled the most important areas in your home, it’s time to continue throughout the rest of your house! Keep following the plan you’ve created from highest to lowest in terms of priority. Keep yourself accountable and don’t stop until you’re completely finished! Take before and after pictures to keep you motivated and keep track of the stuff you’ve gotten rid of.

Be sure to celebrate your success as you work to build a clutter free home for you and your family. Don’t forget to keep clutter from creeping into your home and destroying any progress you’ve made. Enjoy your clutter free home!

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Here are eight tips to get fit today:

Plan your goals. Why do you want to do this? What do you hope to achieve from it? When you know your goals upfront, you have a clear focus on what you’re working toward and this will be your motivating factor throughout the process.

Set realistic goals. Just as important as setting the goals is that you make goals you can stick with. Be sure these are attainable goals or you will only frustrate yourself when you don’t make them.

Get your diet straight. There’s more to health and fitness than just exercise. Many experts will even say the diet is more important than the exercise you get when it comes to total fitness. So take the time to eat right and adjust your diet, if needed.

Don’t assume your salads are healthy. You might be surprised at how many calories can actually be found in a typical salad, especially the ones you buy instead of make yourself. If you add dressing, that’s even more.

Find a friend. It’s always more fun with a buddy, right? You are more likely to stick to your fitness goals each day if you have a friend to do it with you. There will be accountability and added motivation.

Use a journal. A journal is a great way to keep track of your diet and fitness, assess your goals, and also to talk about your feelings throughout the process. It can keep you in a good frame of mind so you are focused on getting fit today, tomorrow, and for many weeks to come. We love this one

Don’t skip meals. This is one of the worst things you can do and it can throw your body out of balance, cause you to retain water or excess fat, and it makes you feel sluggish. Eat regular, small, healthy meals instead and keep your energy up throughout the day.

Listen to your body. Finally, this is an important step. If you feel tired, go ahead and rest. If you feel you need an off day, take it. You should listen to your body (not always to your mind) when it comes to getting fit. Don’t overdo it or push yourself too hard. This can lead to injury, or to lack of motivation to continue with your plan.

With these eight tips in mind, you’re ready to start on your path to a healthier you. We’ll be here cheering you on. You can do it!

The post 8 Tips to Get Fit Today appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Here are five reasons to let go of “mom guilt” once and for all:

1. You’re not a Mombot – While it might feel some days like you’re operating at the speed of a robot, you’re not. You’re a human and while that fact may seem surprising sometimes, you are limited by your humanity. You can only do so much. Moms have a thing about holding themselves to too high a standard, one that not any human would be able to reach.

2. None of us are perfect – This ties in with number one. Not only are you not a robot, but you’re not perfect either and that’s okay because no one is perfect. Any parent who tries to act like they are is lying to themselves and you. Any parent who looks like they are from afar is only because you don’t know their inner struggle. We all mess up. We all get tired.

3. Being a mom is hard work – Allow yourself to recognize and accept that being a mom is a hard job. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a more difficult job in this world. Accept that for what it is and cut yourself a little slack on things.

4. Guilt isn’t productive – Guilt doesn’t help you in any way. It doesn’t make your more productive. It doesn’t make you a better mom. It doesn’t make you feel better. There’s nothing productive about it at all, meaning it’s a waste of time and energy. Instead, put those feelings into ideas on how you can improve things you are unhappy with.

5. Guilt holds you back – Hanging on to guilt for all the things you’re not doing as a mom will only hold you back from the things you can be doing.

Now that you have these five reasons to let go of your guilt and blame, it’s time to start putting it into action. If you’re especially prone to “mom guilt”, this might be difficult for you at first. It’s basically the same as breaking a bad habit. You need to retrain your brain and change your way of thinking. You can do it!

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How Do Moms Find Time to Exercise?

Whether you have a newborn or a toddler, you may find it difficult to find time to exercise. Between changing diapers, preparing meals, and giving your child attention, it can be difficult to find time for yourself. When you do find time, exercise is often put on the back burner. However, it offers many benefits. The fitter you are, the easier it will be to play with your child. You can boost your energy and lose any weight you may have gained during pregnancy. 

So, how do moms find time to exercise? Here are some ways to make working out a part of your routine.

Make the Most of Nap Time

While your child is napping, why not squeeze in a quick workout? Pop in a workout DVD or use the Wii Fit, put any home exercise equipment you may own to use, or grab some headphones and dance to music in your living room. You can also work on some strength training exercises while your child is sleeping.

Bring Your Child Along for a Workout

Walking and jogging are both great forms of exercise. More importantly, it’s easy to do them with your child in tow. Take your child on a walk with you. They even make strollers intended for moms who jog, so you can push your child along with you!

Take a Mommy and Me Exercise Class

If you want to do something fun with your child, why not take a Mommy and Me exercise class? There are many different types of Mommy and Me exercise classes you can choose to take, so you’re bound to find something that interests both you and your child. Whether it’s Mommy and Me Yoga, Mommy and Me Zumba, or a general Mommy and Me Fitness class, this can be a great way to exercise without needing to worry about a babysitter.

Look into Gyms That Offer Childcare

If you’re interested in working out at a gym, why not find one that offers childcare services? Many gyms have childcare facilities that offer fun activities for children, such as bowling or movie time, while their moms work out. The cost of childcare may be included in your gym membership or it may be a small additional fee that you can add onto your gym package.

These are just a few of the many ways moms can find time to exercise. Fitting a workout into your routine may not be easy, but it is possible!

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