5 MOMMY MOTIVATION TIPS

Hey Loves! I asked over on my instagram (@bitsofbri) what blog post you’d like to read today, and I had numerous requests to share mommy motivation tips or self-motivation tips or advice on how to stay motivated. I definitely have days when I have zero motivation and no energy to do anything. And that’s okay- don’t beat yourself up about it! The work we do as moms is hard, and just like any other job, there are days you do not have the motivation. However, I have figured out a couple of things for myself that might seem like no-brainers, but in the heat of mom life, sometimes I need to check in with myself about these five things in order to get motivated and back on track. If you’re not feeling motivated, I hope that these five tips help you find some energy and joy and take action to make your day a little bit brighter.

Quick side note: If there is something serious in your life going on that’s causing depression or sadness, do not disregard your mental health. Really hard stuff in life happens, and you cannot blame yourself for not feeling motivated during those times. I would highly encourage you to talk to someone in your life you trust about it to gauge your current mood and state of things, and talk to a professional who can help you. Life has hard seasons. But you do not have to go through this alone. I’ve gotten so much help from online therapy. I’ll link the site that I use here, and I truly hope that it helps you through the difficulty you currently are facing. You will come out of this stronger, and it’s okay to ask for some help.

If you’re in a mommy funk and looking for ways to be motivated and feel better, here are some mommy motivation tips and advice that get to the potential root of why you’re feeling unmotivated at the moment.

1. Start a Sleep Schedule. I’m the worst at this because some days the only time I feel productive is when I stay up late working after the kids go to bed, but this is not sustainable, and the reality is, you need a sleep schedule just like your kids. Having a set bedtime and wake up time is actually incredible for your body and your energy level. According to the National Institutes of Health, poor sleep can increase the risk of slowed reaction times, irritability, anxiety, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. You know when you’re crankier than your teething baby? Or frustrated because you can’t think straight after being up all night during those newborn months? You deserve some more sleep right now so you can do your job as a mama. Going to bed early has been linked to weight loss, productivity, and a healthier heart. And beauty sleep is a real thing- researchers in the British Psychological study found that photos of people who had slept 8 hours were more attractive to strangers than photos of the same people who had only slept 4 hours the night before. And let’s face it, a happy mommy who is confident is best for everyone. So get as much rest as you can, mama!
2. Put your best face forward. Whether that’s doing your makeup or doing your hair, picking out an outfit for the day, or just taking a shower, putting on lotion, or doing your nails. Whatever it is to make you feel put together and confident, do it! There is nothing worse than the day when you let your lack of motivation stop you from getting dressed or doing your hair, and you have to make a Target run, and you see everyone you know there in your haven’t-showered-greasy-bun-three-day-old-yoga-pants glory. Whereas if you took even 20 minutes to wash your face and your pits, put on deodorant, dab on some under eye concealer, and pick out a coordinating hat and outfit, you might not mind running into someone you know at Target as much that day. And if there are outfits that are making you feel frumpy or don’t fit you properly, or leave you feeling uncomfortable, you need to Kon Mari that stuff. Stat. And don’t make excuses to not get ready. Being a mom is an incredible blessing, but the work we do is still a job. If you had a friend who was a lawyer, you wouldn’t let them roll into court without a shower and three-day-old yoga pants. So don’t show up to your job without feeling dressed in a uniform that gives you confidence to do your best that day. No excuses.
3. Get moving. Working out is such an instant mood boost, and it doesn’t have to be for an hour at the gym. Get a stationary bike for your house (I have mine in my playroom so the kids can play and I have no excuse to not get on it). Pop the kids in the stroller and go for a 10-minute walk. Take 30 minutes to tidy the house when the kids are napping. Put on your favorite songs and dance around the kitchen. Whatever you can do to get moving, it will help your mood and your physique.
4. Cuddle. Sometimes if I’m feeling down, getting some cuddles in from my littles can totally change my mood. And science proves this, as cuddling triggers your body to release hormones oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, which cause you to experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression. Whether it’s sitting on the couch together watching a movie, holding a kiddo on my lap while we work on a craft, or holding hands and going for walk, that physical connection can bring me back to feeling happy and also remind me of my purpose- to nurture those babies and love on them as much as I can before they get too big!
5. Eat a power snack. On really busy days, sometimes I will look at the clock and can’t believe that much time has gone by, and also realize how much time has gone by since I last ate something. So I love having quick power snacks that are high in protein and healthy that can fill me up, give me energy I need to keep powering through the day, and that are healthy and nutritious for my body. Some of my favorites are sliced apples or banana with peanut butter and a glass of chocolate milk, sliced cheese and whole grain crackers, greek yogurt with granola and fruit, a handful of nuts and a glass of milk, protein oatmeal with peanut butter and banana, or fresh smoothies with protein powder.

I hope that these tips give you some strategies to have more motivation and do all the things you do as a mom. I truly believe that being a mom is one of the world’s most important jobs, and with that comes incredible responsibility that takes a ton of energy, strength, and patience. In order to be your very best self, you have to take care of yourself. It’s easier said than done, but I hope these tips allow you to take better care of yourself and ultimately, take better care of those littles you love so much.

Thank you so much for reading this blog, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!

Love,

Brianna K

xoxo