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Archives for March 2016

An Easy How To Guide: Self-care For Busy Mums

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An Easy How To Guide: Self-care For Busy Mums

Are you tired? Run-down? It is time to listen to your body and do something for you!
Mums are busy. There is no denying that fact. Regardless whether they are stay-at-home mums, work-at-home mums or full time working out of the house mum; we are all busy and we all put our family’s needs before our own.

Time for myself? You must be kidding!

After endless days of work, nappies, cleaning and cooking; time poor parents yearn for ‘me time’. Unfortunately it is often hindered by the fact there are not enough hours in the day or no one to mind the kids so you can enjoy it. Well good news – there are easy ways to improve your health and self-care options for busy mums that include the kids. Here is how you can introduce some self-care into your life with minimal effort!

Exercise

This is an obvious one however many women think they need to go to the gym to exercise and since they have no time or cannot afford a membership, don’t bother. This is not 100% right.
Exercise can be done in so many different ways.

• Go for a walk or run – get the blood pumping, burn some energy and get some vitamin D. Your whole body benefits from it.
• Do a park bench workout while your kids are playing.
• Dance – even just around the house while doing your usual chores.
• Gym – if this is an option for you many gyms offer a crèche service so you can work out without having to worry about your kids. *Private health funds also cover some gym membership costs.

Eat well

A healthy diet is crucial in taking care of yourself. The best part about eating well is that your whole family can do it. You should enjoy the food you put in your body though so if you like the occasional chocolate or soft drink, have it. Just keep in mind that they are a ‘sometimes’ food.

Sleep

No one functions well on minimal sleep. This is why it is so important to get a consistent 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Parents struggle with this when they have young children and have to cope with countless nights of broken sleep but when possible get an early night so you can start the day as fresh as possible.

Accept it is what it is

Life isn’t always easy, sometimes it can be tougher than tough. This is why instead of stressing over things beyond your control, you need to just accept the way the situation has unfolded and take each day as it comes. Stress is not good for a person, particularly a parent because children sense the mood.

This also means that you should stop comparing yourself to others. By comparing your life, your appearance, your kids and even your job to another person, you are creating doubt and destroying your confidence. Be who you are and be happy within!

Say no

Mums (and dads) are constantly saying yes. Yes to weekend sports, yes to driving kids to friends’ houses, yes to hosting sleepovers and yes to taking on that extra shift at work. It is time to be selfish and say no! You don’t have to become an unsocial person but it is ok to put yourself first and say no to everyone else once in a while.

Music

Crank the music and dance. Sing as loud as you can. Music relaxes you and puts a smile on your face. It makes the most mundane activities bearable.
Enjoy letting your body get loose and work up a sweat while doing it! Exercise, endorphins and happiness.

Take a break….alone!

Everyone needs a break from time to time and it is perfectly acceptable that you actually do it. Whether it be 5 minutes to enjoy a HOT cup of coffee, going to see a movie or sitting under a tree with a book; sometimes you NEED that break more than you realise. Not to mention it is a break from being touched, parents of young children will know exactly what I’m talking about!

Taking time out of your busy life to look after yourself is crucial for your family and you. It puts your day into perspective, revitalises your mood and is beneficial to your health.
Private health funds offer a wide range of benefits that allows you peace of mind and the freedom to take care of yourself. See how you can benefit here.

What is your self-care tip for other busy mums?

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Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

        • Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
        • Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
        • Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party…the more the merrier.


Destroying A Child’s Belief In The Easter Bunny

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Today I witnessed a small child’s heart break. Their innocence and ability to believe in the unseen came crashing down around them.

I was out taking a walk with my children when I heard a mother yell with frustration. Naturally I looked around expecting to find a child not listening, running onto the road or worse; but what I saw was something quite different. The mother was kneeling down in front of her daughter on the footpath near what I assume is their home; if you hadn’t heard the previous commotion this would not look unusual for any parent. Unfortunately what followed next was just heartbreaking.

“The Easter Bunny is not real so don’t expect any Easter eggs tomorrow!” The child who appeared to be about 5 years old, looked confused, upset and naturally started crying.

My mothering instincts wanted me to rush over and give the little girl a cuddle and tell her that the Easter Bunny is in fact real and if she believes that he is, he will come.
But, another part of me said this is not your place, stay out of it. While I know that both sides of my emotions were right to feel they did, the nurturing side died a little knowing that a small child was denied the magic of Easter.

Children grow up far too quick these days and I cannot speak anyone except myself, but I want to prolong my child’s ability to believe in the magic of holiday characters for as long as I can. The Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa and of course his elves.

Kids will only believe in them for so long before you can never get that innocence back. I know they will hear from children at school that these fictional magical characters aren’t real but until my children ask me and want an honest answer, they have the right to believe. I will not take that away from them!

A child is full of wonder, trust and unwavering belief in magic. Why would any parent want to destroy that? 

**Edited to add: I do not know the circumstances of this family or their religious status which very well may have played a part in what I saw today. I also did not have the intent to judge the mother when writing this post, I was more trying to discuss that I feel children should be allowed to believe in these magical characters for as long as possible in a generation where children ‘grow up’ too fast.

How To Improve Your Health In 5 Easy Steps

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It’s time to put your health first, improve your wellbeing and get back on track!

We all lead busy lives and often put our health on the back burner. Unfortunately after a while this just becomes a way of life and it needs to change. NOW! Improve your health with these easy steps.

Health, wellbeing, you!

There is not any one way to improve your body’s health and fitness, there are thousands, millions even. Here are five easy steps to implement this change:

Exercise

We all know exercise is good for us but many think they are too time poor to do it. A simple walk in the sunshine will do amazing things for your health. The fresh air, the endorphins and being active have benefits that exceed just physical health, it assists with keeping mentally strong as well. This is a common choice of exercise for many however others prefer faster paced workouts like the gym, boot camp or alternative exercise programs.

Sleep

Going to sleep at the same time each night and getting a decent number of hours rest allows your body to recharge and start the day on the right foot. When your sleep patterns are irregular, your body doesn’t fully relax and get the respite it requires to be at its best. When you and your body are tired, it doesn’t function to its full potential. Concentration is down, moodiness sets in and you lack the energy to get motivated.

Eat Well

Eating well is crucial for your health. I’m not saying cut out all the treats you love because I am a firm believer in eating what you enjoy, but everything has to be in moderation. Ideally you should be eating small meals frequently throughout the day to assist your digestive system in doing its job efficiently. When your digestion isn’t functioning correctly, your body doesn’t absorb all the nutrients required to give you the energy boosts to easily get through the day.
It is also important to not skip meals! For more information on healthy eating click the link.

Laugh

As silly as it may sound, laughing boosts your body’s health. It relaxes you and relieves your muscles from built up stress and tension. Laughing improves your mood, boosts your energy and reduces risk of heart disease.

Relax

Relaxing can be achieved in so many different ways. It can be as simple as getting a good book and sitting under a shady tree in the fresh air, going for a run or reclining in your chair and enjoying a movie. Other options include getting a massage, acupuncture or even yoga.

Australians are becoming increasingly stressed about the rising cost of living in addition to many other situations and circumstances. Click here to see what the main causes of stress in Australia are. Financial strains have puts luxuries like massages and gym memberships on hold.

What people don’t realise is that with private health insurance you get a large chunk of that money back in your pocket. Yes I realise private health cover costs you money, sometimes it can cost ridiculous amounts. But it doesn’t have to. By comparing health funds to get the best possible deal for you and your family, you may even be surprised that you can afford it without having to sacrifice a lot.

Get the cover you need to improve your health at the best available price right here!

Share below how you stay healthy or what are you plans to improve your wellbeing?

This is an S1 POST.

Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

    • Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
    • Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
    • Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party…the more the merrier.
    • To follow on from Eva, I will pick two of my favourite posts to feature in Mummy Mondays next week!


3 Easy Ways To Avoid Home Plumbing Disasters

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Ways To Avoid Home Plumbing Disasters

Most people have at least one home plumbing disaster in their lifetime and it can be major headache when it happens. You may have a go at resolving the problem yourself or you may seek assistance. Either way it can be a stressful experience. The good news is that there are ways you can limit the occurrence of plumbing disasters in your home.

We say limit, because there is always the chance that a disaster can happen, even if you take preventative action. If this happens then you may need to get some help from professionals such as Plumbing Detectives, or you may be able to solve the problem yourself. Here are three of the most common household plumbing disasters and how you can try to avoid them.

A toilet that is blocked or overflowing

This can be a really messy problem and it’s one that is fairly common in homes. It’s also one that people dread having to deal with. Most blockages can be resolved using a plunger and you should always have one close to the toilet. There are ways of making toilet blockages less likely though. The vast majority of these blockages are the result of too much toilet paper being used. If you have children in your home then it’s worth spending time with them to make sure they understand not to put the entire roll of paper down the toilet. If there are only adults in your home, and the toilet is often blocked, then you may want to think about using a brand of toilet paper that dissolves more quickly.

An appliance hose that bursts

Very few people pay much attention to the water hoses on appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines; they just get forgotten. The problem with this is that these hoses can wear out and become prone to splitting. If a large split occurs all at once then you could end up being faced with a flood of water. It’s worth taking time to check out your appliance water hoses, every couple of months or so. This way you will notice if there is wear and tear and should be able to fix or replace the hose, avoiding potential disaster.

A sink drain that clogs

A clogged sink drain can be a bit of a nightmare if it causes your sink to overflow. Even just not being able to use a sink because the drain is clogged can be a major problem. The thing is, it’s very easy for sink drains to become blocked, with items such as hairs and food particles. The best way to stop this problem from happening is to make sure your sink drains are cleaned and that you never throw substances such as cooking oil down the sink.

As you can see, plumbing disasters in the home are not unusual, and they can be unpleasant to deal with. Hopefully we have given you some useful tips on how to stop disasters from happening.

What are your foolproof ways to avoid home plumbing disasters?

Disclosure: This is an S2 POST.

A New Challenge, A New Beginning – Mummy Mondays

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Life is full of new beginnings. People often don’t realise that these changes do not have to be a huge life changing experience because regularly it is the little things that surprise you.

These new beginnings are a fresh start on a new venture, a new chapter in your story and most importantly, something you can learn from. With each step taken, you are discovering more about yourself and those around you. You have a baby and get married, this is a huge step for you and your family. You navigate your way through the cloudy waters until you find your groove and what works. Perhaps you go from working full time to being a stay at home mum, again a huge change!

The new beginning could be something huge like mentioned above or as small as making more time for yourself. Rediscovering who you are. Many people aren’t aware of this but a big part of why I started this blog was because I wanted to escape and find myself. Just like any relationship, my blog and I have had our up’s and down’s. Sometimes I question why I put so much effort into it and then other moments I’m so glad I have it because it is mine. It is my space. It is where I can come to vent and feel connected to other people, other adults. Oh how I crave adult conversation sometimes!

As I was saying, new beginnings don’t have to be big. You can make a difference in your life by simply eating better, looking after your health, living your life, embracing your partner more and anything else you can think of. Remember it is the little things make a difference!

Get out of your comfort zone and make a change. It could be the best thing you ever did!

Speaking of change and new beginnings, as of today All Mum Said will be the new home of Mummy Mondays linky party. Thank you Eva for trusting me to take the reigns. If you haven’t already, you should click over and check out her blog The Multitasking Woman.

 

What was your latest challenge or new beginning?

Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

  • Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
  • Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
  • Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party…the more the merrier.

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