It makes me giggle sometimes when a client will comment on how “put together” I look or how “full of energy” I am. Hey…don’t forget, looks can be deceiving and being an entrepreneur is a guarantee that I have a few tricks up my sleeve to create as much “balance” as possible.
Like every mom on the planet, my days are filled with schedules, routines and everything in between and as much as I try my best to stay on course, life still throws me curve balls to try and knock me down. But panicking is for the birds and has proven time and time again, that it gets me nowhere so I breathe, take it in and take one step at a time.
Now although we would love to control the way the universe works, there are some things that we just need to put out there and let the chips fall where they may. However, we DO have a choice on how we think, act and move and this can make or break you when it comes to sustaining not just energy, but a positive outlook throughout the day.
When speaking about energy, there are 3 basic fundamentals to adhere to give you the best shot. Mental, Physical and Food
Mental
Whether you have just had a baby or you are a seasoned veteran, there is no question that parenthood goes from physical exhaustion to mental exhaustion and back again. Add running a business and it’s as if you have grown a whole other person – and you thought you were busy before.
Sometimes this “new normal” can be beyond overwhelming as you constantly put everyone’s needs (including your business) before yourself and can end up resenting the very people you love the most. Resentment then turns into failure and can create negative feelings of self worth.
Take a look in the mirror and what do you see? If you don’t see a beautiful, strong woman who not only birthed a child (or two or three) but also maintains the home ship AND a business, you need a good dose of positive self talk!
Positive self talk = good mood = good energy.
Physical
Exercise not only improves your mood but these precious hormones called endorphins are like little energy pills that when pumped can even interfere with sleep! Hence why I am not a big fan of exercising in the evening unless you are a night owl and many of your business hours run after the kids go to sleep.
Ideally, exercising in the morning is a great option to start your day and give you the energy you need to last the next 24 hours. Add the positive energy of self talk and you’re two thirds of the way there!
Food
Everyone’s nemesis – especially when looking for quick bouts of energy. A classic sign of low blood sugar is the energy crash and you suddenly find yourself STARVING. This is usually when you grab high glycemic carbs such as crackers or granola bars in the hopes of a quick boost, just to see yourself crash again 20 minutes later.
Protein helps to stabilize blood sugar and timing of your meals can help a lot too. Some call me crazy, but I pack my meals and snacks every day and bring them with me everywhere I go. This has helped me immensely so I don’t confuse hunger with boredom and avoids a trip to the local Starbucks for something I really don’t need.
Now I understand that this is all easier said than done, but how about starting with one of the above and creating a habit before adding on more? You have a much better chance of making changes that will stick if you start slow and watch the benefits begin.
The stress of life, hustle and bustle of running a business and the demands of motherhood aren’t going anywhere anytime soon so instead of blaming “everything else”, we need to start with us.
So what will it be? How are you going to improve your energy? Let’s talk – leave a comment.
I like you always carried my lunch and snacks – I was lucky that I felt I could not afford to eat out all the time, or even often – silly me I chose to stock the fridge and my RRSP -For me, It's impossible to eat healthy when eating out – so home cookiing and brown bagging have always been the norm