Sarah Schuh is a mom, writer, fitness guru and half-marathoner. Below, she shares the approachable ways she incorporates wellness into her own routine.
Every year warm weather rolls around, I make a list of wellness commitments — almost like seasonal resolutions — to help promote a happier, healthier self. But every year, despite my best-laid plans to workout out more, opt outside or eat all the greens, I find myself disappointed. My reasoning? As a busy mom, there simply aren’t enough hours in a day to commit to more wellness things. (Just me?!)
Knowing this, last year, I took a different approach to my wellness goals. And let me tell you, the results were much more fruitful! My secret? Instead of adding more to my plate, I focused on plans to subtract and/or streamline the things I was already doing.
For what seems like a very simple shift in plan and mindset, my results were significant. Instead of feeling exhausted, short on time and like a failure at the end of the season, I felt more energized, accomplished and fit heading into the warmer months.
Below, I’ll detail some things that helped me be successful, in an effort to help you feel your best for this season — and beyond.
5 Approachable Ways To Springtime Wellness
1. Work out smarter, not harder
I used to think that in order to squeeze in an effective workout, I needed at least 60 minutes of sweat-inducing cardio. However, after feeling burnt out and very much not looking forward to my next workout, I was given the sage advice that more doesn’t always mean more. So last year, instead, I opted for quick but efficient workouts. (These included a 30 minute HITT workout, or a quick indoor cycle sesh.) As a result, I found myself less sore, working out more and feeling better all-around!
- Busy mom hack: On days when time or motivation was low, I found that even 15 minutes doing something movement-oriented made me feel better. My go-to's were taking the baby a few extra blocks on a walk or hitting our stationary bike at home over lunch.
2. Maximize snack and mealtime
I had this impression that a fresh, homemade smoothie or veggie-packed dinner was the only way to eat healthily. But let’s be honest, I didn’t have much time for making these meals daily! Therefore I started being more intentional about what I was eating. This included adding a scoop of Morning Get Up & Glow™ to my morning glass of water for a boost of energy that enhances by beauty wellness regimen** or biting into a Vital Performance™ Protein Bar to stay fueled at snacktime. These swaps were convenient and easy to add to my wellness routine.
- Busy mom hack: I’m guilty of being a snack addict — I could nosh on pre-packaged items all day long! Rather than ditch the habit altogether (too hard!) I started stocking up on better-for-me picks, like dried fruit, nuts and protein bars, to keep me fueled.
3. Incorporate daily self-care into an existing routine
As a mom with a lot going on, my self-care routine was often the first thing cut in my day. So last spring, I started adding daily self-care to things I was already doing. This included turning on a favorite podcast while doing routine housework, or adding aromatherapy to my showers. None of this took away from my day, but left me feeling better or having something to look forward to, which was a win-win in my book!
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Busy mom hack: My favorite thing to do was combine to-dos with self-care. I took to walking to certain errands with a meditative playlist on, or even taking the kids in the stroller with a podcast on. These both got me outside, getting something done, while still incorporating something feel-good.
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4. Cut back on tech
I know, I know — we’ve all heard about digital detoxes. And I recognize these are easier said than done (and sometimes just not practical if you have a job that requires them!). However, I found that even doing a day a week social media-free could work wonders for mental health. Bonus: You’ll get some time back in the process to enjoy the beautiful spring weather!
- Busy mom hack: If a full day without scrolling wasn’t possible, I aimed for small daily limits. This looked like no phone time before 8 am or after 9 pm, for instance.
5. Be gentle on yourself
This may seem like a cliché, but I found that on the days I got really down on myself for not sticking to my wellness goals, I spiraled into forgoing all of these in the days to follow. After doing this for a while, I started to change my mindset to simply starting over the next day, rather than letting it become a days-long cycle. As a busy human (and mom!) these days are simply inevitable. Address them as they come — then move on!
- Busy mom hack: On tough days, repeat this phrase: “I am doing my best. And that is enough!”
Vital Note: This article has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Your licensed healthcare professional can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regimen.
