Energizer Mommy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope you got spoiled with few extra days off and maybe some sleeping in! Now that the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving is over, it's back to work! BOOOO! It's amazing how sometimes we need a vacation from the vacation. You rounded up your bite-sized troops, you packed your rations, you endured the suffocating transport to the drop zone. You trecked through the aisles of the local grocery store prying the last pumpkin pie and can of cranberry sauce from the judo grip of someone's sweet little grandma, and you survived what some of you may call a holiday behind enemy lines (whether you like or "not-so-like" your family, holidays can be intense). Now you're back with your whole ankle biting platoon intact, and though the holiday may have been filled with love, laughs, and good company, let's be real, traveling and/or entertaining loved ones is exhausting, especially with kids. But here's my salute to all of you Super Moms who make BIG things happen with very little rest and lots of love! You are the soldiers that never stop serving. Getting back into the groove of the normal work week can be a challenge. With that being said, what is your energy secret? How do you recover from the holiday hustle of cooking, cleaning, hosting, and oh, not to mention waking up early and staying late for Black Friday shopping? Heck, what are your DAILY energy secrets? It's well understood that extra sleep is out of the question. If you feel like a young mom in an old woman's body and have lost all hope of bouncing back, fear not!

Here are three steps that have worked for me:

Step 1: Brew coffee

Step 2: Drink coffee

Step 3: Repeat process six times

Just kidding, guys! Well, kind of...

Honestly now, here are my four steps:

Step 1: EAT A WHOLESOME BREAKFAST

-Moms, you know there are few things that are worse than being "hangry"! Our families pay an awful price if we don't take care of ourselves. Start your day with a healthy meal, and you'll have the nutrients you need for good energy and a positive attitude (insert thumbs up here).

Step 2: STAY ACTIVE

-Staying active releases stress, gets your blood flowing, and allows you an outlet. Make it a point daily to break a little sweat. Do your best to avoid being stagnant for too long. Go enjoy some fresh air, and get moving!

Step 3: BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT REST (when you do have it)

-Night time is recovery time for your body, so be sure to GO to sleep instead of FALLING asleep. Just as I recommend wind down time for your kids, I encourage the same for you once they're down. Turn off the TV, log off social media, turn on some smooth jazz, take a hot bath and cry and journal if you need to, dry off and put on some lotion, and lie down and take 7 slow deep breaths. You'll have significantly more energy in the morning when you're intentional about ending each day with restful closure.

Try these steps out and let me know if they give you that extra boost you need to get back in the swing of things! If not, try a strawberry acai refresher from Starbucks with no water and 3 scoops of matcha powder.

Be sure to share your energy tips below!