Self Archives - Page 15 of 30

When you use the 4 fun ideas to get fit as a family the kids beg to be active with you every day!

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[bctt tweet=”Make getting fit fun for everyone with these 4 fun ideas to get fit as a family! #familyfitness” username=”diyadulation”]

Accountability is key when you’re trying to get fit. If you don’t have any sort of system in place, it makes it easy to run off track with your goals.

Don’t make your accountability complicated. You don’t need a personal trainer or BFF workout buddy.

Your best accountability resource is right in your own home: your family. Trust the kiddos to let you know when you slack on activity when you make fitness fun for the whole family.

I’m the first to admit that I think working out is boring. I love yoga because it helps focus and relax me, but even that I only do in 20 minute intervals.

That aversion to working out makes it hard to reach my fitness goals. I need something fun to get me to really push myself.

Making it a competition is even better. That’s why I decided to get the entire family on board. Now there are fun activities that let me get active without feeling like I’m “working out”.

Twister

This game takes every muscle in your body. If you haven’t worked out in a while, you will definitely feel it the next day.

It is so much fun, though, and the entire family loves playing it. We are trying to play 3-5 games at least one night a week.

I can already feel my muscle strength improving and all while having fun as a family.

Pokémon Go

We played Ingress long before Pokémon Go came out because we are a family full of nerds. The concept is the same for both games.

You walk around to reach portals or Pokestops which give you content in the game. That content helps you in the game whether it is defending portals or catching Pokémon.

This is a great way for our family to get out of the house and start walking. We always push ourselves to go further because we’re on the hunt.

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)

This game proves that I am crazy competitive. I don’t just want to beat you, I want to absolutely dominate you.

All of the jumping around is great for getting that heart rate up and burning some calories. This is another one that you can lose yourself in.

Before you know it, you’ve been playing for hours. That’s the best kind of workout, if you ask me.

Glow Stick Tag

Don’t let the dark keep you from getting active! Glow stick tag is an easy game you can play in your back yard. Also, there’s no limit on the players.

If everyone takes a turn being “it” you get moving for 30 minutes or more. Learn all about it at How to Play Glow Stick Tag.

There you go! Now you have 4 fun ideas to get fit as a family and without expensive gym memberships or the need to leave your home (mostly). Rotate the ideas to keep it from getting stale for any one person.

For example, the little ones don’t love DDR like I do because it’s not suited to their current development stage. They love using my phone to hunt down Pokémon, though.

Changing it up keeps everyone happier and, most importantly, everyone active. What are other fun ways you get fit as a family? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

See where I’m linking up!

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How many times have you come to the end of your day and feel as though you got nothing done? Somehow you feel absolutely exhausted. Where did the time go? Find out with these 4 steps to find balance as a SAHM (stay-at-home mom).

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[bctt tweet=”Stop feeling unproductive and depleted with these 4 steps to find balance as a SAHM. #momlife” username=”diyadulation”]

This problem is not exclusive to SAHM’s but it is uniquely more difficult to overcome. Why? It is because you don’t have any of the external forces determining structure for you. You don’t have a desk dictating when your day starts and ends. There is no incentive to shower each morning. Every day is a blank canvas waiting for you to structure it. That’s hard!

Don’t be discouraged during this process. You might find out you’re spending hours binging on Netflix each day like I did. It’s sobering to see what you really spend your time on. However, it doesn’t have to stay that way. I’m now more productive than ever and can take a break guilt-free.

Step 1: Get an Hourly Tracking System

The first step to finding balance is to know where your time is being spent. Before you can do that, you need a system to track your time. Luckily, there are multiple ways to do this.

You can create a note on your phone to do this digitally. Grab a piece of paper and use it to track your time. My favorite option (and the one that I personally used) is an hourly planner sheet for my Happy Planner. The reason this is my favorite is because it can also be used later when planning your day.

Step 2: Track Your Time

This step is done in one week, Monday through Friday. Set an hourly timer on your phone. Each time it goes off, reset it and write what you are currently doing in the corresponding time slot of your tracker.

The key here is not to change your current habits. If you are scrolling through Facebook, keep on scrolling after you take a moment to note it. At the end of the week you will have a typical week mapped out.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Results

Now it is time to evaluate you results. Grab a set of highlighters and follow the steps below:

Create a color-code key with the highlighters. (See the photo above for reference.)
Next, use your key as a guide and highlight each hour on your tracker according to what category it falls into.
Use the colors as a visual guide to where you are wasting time and what needs more of your time.

Step 4: Restructure Your Day

Once you’ve evaluated how you spend your hours, it is time to restructure your day. Think of this like a budget. Just as you have to tell your money what to do with a budget the same goes for your time.

If you don’t tell your time where to go you will find it gone with nothing to show for it. Lay out activities on your hourly planner for each day of the week. Color code those activities as well to ensure that you are balancing your time.

Important Tip

Don’t fall prey to believing that every day has to look the same or equally balanced. Some days involve more homemaking tasks and others will be heavy with family time. That’s okay. Instead of trying to balance all of your responsibilities each day, strive for a weekly balance.

These 4 steps to find balance as a SAHM are a lifestyle change. You can write down your restructured day then not follow the plan. That is like creating a budget but not spending your money according to it. Planning is only the first step. Action is what makes it a reality.

See where I’m linking up!

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Take away excuses for taking care of yourself with these open when self care ideas for moms. They will make for a happier, less-stressed out momma!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”On days you are so stressed and tired you’re snapping at your family and unproductive, pull out these open when #selfcare ideas for #moms.” username=”diyadulation”]

It’s no secret that I am terrible when it comes to self care. Although it’s not logical I always think there are more important things to do. I’ll get to it later. Sound familiar?

Then the day comes when I am so stressed and tired that I’m snapping at my family, getting nothing done, and just overall unpleasant. It was in the midst of one of these days that the idea for this open when self care ideas for moms came to me.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a little something you could pull out in these moments to make your life easier? Now there can be.

I have made open when letters as a gift for my husband a few years ago. I honestly don’t know if he ever opened them all.

He’s not quite the romantic that I am. However, I knew this concept could work really well for me.

While I continue trying to get better at taking care of myself, this is great for the interim. If you’re struggling too, these can help you get through the tough days.

What is Open When Self Care

This idea is a little different from the open when letters for your husband. For started, they are not all letters. Frankly, on the really rough days a simple letter isn’t going to cut it. A letter doesn’t get dinner on the table or help you get more sleep. That is what moms need and what these open self care ideas should be.

Self Care Needs List

Before you set up your envelopes you need a self care needs list. On a piece of notebook paper list all of the things you struggle with. I recommend having at least 12 (one for each month) however these can be repeated multiple times if needed.

For example, I really struggle with putting my work away so that is one that I would have multiples of. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Getting Dinner Made

Going to Bed Early

Reading a Book

Taking a Shower

Putting Work Down

Negative Self Talk

Materials

Self Care Needs List
Manila Envelopes (Or any large envelope)
Marker
Items for Envelopes

Step 1

Write down the items on your self care list on the front of the envelopes with the words “Open When”. For example, your getting dinner made would read, “Open When Dinner Isn’t Made.”

Step 2

Next, fill the envelopes with items and letters that will make that moment easier. See below for examples.

Step 3

Put the finished envelopes together in an accessible place in your home. Pull them out when you most need them.

Envelope Item Ideas

Getting Dinner Made

This one can be filled with pizza gift cards for those really tough days. If you’re on a strict budget like us, you can also keep a surplus of homemade frozen pizzas in the freezer. You can also put some inexpensive convenience food in the envelope such as mac-n-cheese or even cereal.

Going to Bed Early

Fill this one with your favorite caffeine free tea bags (I love Stash Teas)or a lavender-filled eye mask (like this DIY one right here). Anything that makes sleep and rest easier is perfect for this envelope.

Reading a Book

Put a new (to you) book in this one that you can devour easily. This is the perfect envelope for guilty pleasure reads. Mine is any of the Lindsay Sands vampire books.

Taking a Shower

Add a bath bomb or candles to this envelope and take a relaxing bath when you open it. Be sure to throw on your headphones so you don’t hear the chaos for a half an hour or so.

Putting Work Down

Let the kiddos and your husband help with ideas for these. Card games, movies, and other fun items should go in this. If your family thinks you need to put your work away, chances are it’s because they need attention from you. These items are things that you can do together.

Negative Self Talk

Have your family write letter about why they love you or what you’re good at for this envelope. Another option that works well (especially if you have little kids too young to write) is to create a video of them answering those questions. When you find yourself talking negatively internally, pull this out.

Now that you have you have finished your open when self care ideas for moms, there is still one thing left to do. Here is what will make this system truly successful: enlist help.

Put your open when envelopes in a place where the entire family can access them. Then if someone notices that I’m having trouble putting my work down or haven’t read a book lately, they can pull out the envelope and give it to me.

The catch is when someone hands you an envelope you have to do it. This will not always be easy, trust me. It forces you to take care of yourself and that is the point.

Your family will often notice your lack of self care before you do. Be gracious and let them help keep you accountable.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

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Live Healthy with These 4 Fun Ideas to Get Fit as a Family

Twister

Pokémon Go

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR)

Glow Stick Tag

More Ideas You’ll Love:

4 Steps to Find Balance as a SAHM

Step 1: Get an Hourly Tracking System

Step 2: Track Your Time

Step 3: Evaluate Your Results

Step 4: Restructure Your Day

Important Tip

More Ideas You’ll Love:

Open When Self Care Ideas for Moms

What is Open When Self Care

Self Care Needs List

Materials

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Envelope Item Ideas

Getting Dinner Made

Going to Bed Early

Reading a Book

Taking a Shower

Putting Work Down

Negative Self Talk

More Ideas You’ll Love: