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A Mom’s Guide to a Sunday Reset Routine

As a new week comes creeping in, it’s normal for both moms and their kids to be consumed by Sunday dread. Let’s face it—your kids probably don’t want to go back to school, and you might not be mentally prepared to juggle pickups, drop offs, practices, recitals, and play dates. It’s overwhelming just typing about it.

However, with a thoroughly planned schedule, you can turn the Sunday scaries into a time for self-reflection and knocking out the tasks that have been weighing you down. Keep reading to learn more about a Sunday reset routine, how to organize them, and how to set your family up for a successful week ahead.

A Mom's Guide to a Sunday Reset Routine — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

What is a Sunday Reset?

A Sunday reset routine is essential for all busy moms and can help you center yourself for the week ahead. By listing out all of the things you need to do for the week and the order in which you’d like to complete them, you can become a taskmaster and supermom.

Or maybe you have some chores you’d like to accomplish before the chaotic week rolls around. You can schedule large, medium, and small tasks to yourself so you can move forward through the week with a clear mind and clean home.

How To Create a Sunday Reset for Your Family

Since a Sunday reset routine is all about tuning in to your personal and familial needs, it’s important to balance out the tasks you will choose to complete. You can do these in four simple steps:

1. Evaluate

First things first, take a deep breath and a look around at what you’d like to accomplish for the day and week ahead. It’s important that you reflect on your previous week and the various roadblocks that stood in your way, or the achievements that made you proud of your hard work.

Were there any moments where you ran late for a practice or for dropping the kids off at school? Adjust your schedule and how you can herd your kids to get them somewhere on time. Did you not get enough alone time? Find a gap in the schedule where you can take a bath, get some fresh air, or read a chapter of a book.

2. Plan

Planning is when you can take your evaluation stage to the next level. This is where you journal, write a to-do list, or comprehensively plan everything you’ll accomplish in the upcoming week.

A tried and true method is the 1-3-5 rule: Pick a single major task (like scheduling a family doctor appointment or grocery shopping), three intermediate tasks (taking the family dog on a walk or cleaning the kitchen), and five small tasks (calling a loved one or doing your nails) to focus on during your Sunday reset routine. This can help you create a rigorous schedule that will give you a feeling of fulfillment before the work week starts.

3. Reset

The most important part of your Sunday reset routine is, well, the reset. Approach it with intentionality and purpose. Whatever is on your checklist should get done so it doesn’t keep you up at night.

Whether your checklist is full of busy work and chores or more focused on being a guided meditation for mental wellness, be present throughout the process. Putting your plans into action can be a fulfilling experience, and making it a routine can be a great way to inject this fulfillment into every week.

4. Rest

When it’s all said and done, you should end your weekly wellness reset on a relaxing note. Whether this means spending some quality time with your kids or getting some time away from them, make sure you find fulfillment in your resting time.

Use this time to complete a relaxing small task that you assigned for yourself. Do some yoga, read a book under a fluffy blanket, or even take a small nap. This rest is an important detail when completing your routine and getting ready to tackle the next week.

Sunday Reset Routines for Busy Moms

If you’ve had an insanely busy week and feel like your hair is sticking up from all ends, then maybe organize your Sunday reset around relaxing. If you’ve ever had the “feminine urge to just not,” you might benefit from sleeping in or moving mindfully with a low-energy workout.

Keeping a low profile and staying off of social media or technology may also benefit you. Why not nourish your body and mind with an empowering smoothie or other fresh food? Take time to reset your body and mind.

The “That Mom” Sunday Reset

Let’s be real—as much as you’d like to relax, there’s always something that needs to be done. If this sounds familiar to you, try the “that mom” Sunday routine.

Take advantage of the day by cleaning the house while your kids play outside. If your spouse is around, completing acts of service may be fulfilling for the both of you. Don’t make yourself anxious, though. Regulate your nerves by listening to an audiobook or guided meditation while you plan your next move.

Sunday reset routines are an essential part of creating a mindset of accomplishment to get you and your family ready for the work and school week. If you’d like, you can loop your kids into the activity, too.

A family that resets together, can tackle anything together.

Author Bio

Mona Freund is a San Diego based content marketing specialist. Her background in psychology and creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to design to wellness. When she’s not creating new content, you can find her teaching kids how to swim, baking delicious desserts, or snuggling with her puppy Pesto.

Tips for Moms: Best Ways to Boost Your Mental Health

Being a mom is one of the most challenging lifetime jobs there is. Moms are so busy taking care of everyone else that they sometimes, or more precisely very often, neglect themselves in every sense. However, neglecting your physical and mental health can have detrimental effects both on you and your loved ones. So, you need to find time and dedicate it to yourself. You’ve probably heard people saying that a happy mom equals a happy family. So, moms, brace yourselves as we’ve compiled a list of things for you to do to boost your mental health.

You can start with practicing thankfulness. We all have plenty of things to be thankful for. We just often overlook them and forget to appreciate them. Being thankful can really boost your mental health. As beauty and health come from the inside out, we should be mindful of our diet as well as physically active. Moreover, it’s essential that moms have some time for themselves. Also, opening up to somebody such as a family member or a close friend can help you relate and realize that other people also have similar issues or worries. And lastly, we can’t be at our full mental capacity if we don’t allow our bodies and mind to rehabilitate during sleep.

Practice thankfulness

To set a positive mindset, you should remind yourself from time to time about things you are thankful for. That can be your family, health, job or even some little things that mean a lot to you. However, it’s often way easier to focus on negative things rather than positive things around you. It’s not easy creating this kind of mindset. What helps is noting down three things you are grateful for each day. You can write them down in a journal perhaps. Writing them down creates a habit for you. By doing it regularly, eventually, you’ll be able to do it even without writing them down.

Pay attention to your diet

Our mental health can easily be jeopardized with the choice of food we take in on a daily basis. For instance, many people have reported feeling anxious, nervous or under stress when eating too much junk and sugary food. Similar feelings are evoked with too much caffeine. What we put in our bodies has a significant impact on our mental health. To boost your mental health, you should have a well-balanced diet. Such a diet is based on fresh, nutritious food including fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, dairy products, fish and meat. What you should avoid is highly processed, sugary food and too many simple carbs.

By maintaining a healthy diet, you not only help yourself but your child as well. You teach your child good nutrition habits in that way, which is an essential thing for their overall health as well. When choosing a suitable early learning center, pay attention to their meal choice – it should be based on healthy food mostly for your child’s optimal development.

Get active

Getting physically active and engaged in some kind of sports activity can help you in terms of boosting your mental health. When we don’t feel our best psychologically, the easiest thing for us to do is stay in and watch TV. However, such behavior won’t aid your mental health. Instead, you should get a grip, get up and do something physically engaging. You can opt for jogging, taking a brisk walk, riding a bike, swimming or simply going to the local gym. You can even engage in some family time sports activities and play badminton or some other sport. It will help keep your spirits up.

Dedicate time for yourself

One thing that’s key and that many moms don’t have is time for themselves. As we already mentioned, moms have so many things on their minds that they very often, neglect themselves. There are simply too many things regarding their work, children as well as household and other obligations. If you realize that you are in this kind of situation, you should stop for a moment and make a different plan that involves some you-time. In this time for yourself, you can do whatever you enjoy doing. You can go to the hairdresser, practice yoga, take a long, soothing bath or simply do nothing. Don’t feel guilty whatever you do – you’ve earned it! This you-time can recharge your batteries in no time, making you happier and in a better mood.

Open up to a family member or a friend

It’s essential to have some kind of support, regardless of whether you have an issue or not. It helps us just to speak to someone we trust. It can be a spouse, family member or a close friend. By connecting with someone on such a level, we can learn a lot about ourselves. It also helps us calm our psyche down. And if you are struggling with some issues, it would be most beneficial for you to have someone who’s been through something similar to talk to. It should definitely be a person you can trust.

Get enough sleep

Quality sleep is the essence of good mental health. This is a basic human need and you shouldn’t allow yourself to be sleep deprived as it affects both your mental and physical health. You should have approximately around 8 hours of sound night sleep. Your bedroom should be quiet and dark, the bed and pillow comfortable and the bedding soft and clean. All of these things promote good sleep habits.

When being a mom, it’s important to take a break every once and a while and dedicate some quality time to yourself. It perhaps seems not so relevant, however, try practicing these things and you’ll see a boost in your mental health. After all, it’s true that moms are almost almighty, but they are still made of flesh and blood, just like everybody else.

Author Bio:

Jess Cooper is a part-time journalist and blogger based in Sydney, Australia. She is an energetic, creative highly motivated person with plenty of interests. The most prominent areas of interest include makeup and cosmetics, fashion, style, event organization and decoration, healthy food, fitness, learning languages as well as home improvement. Jess loves learning about new things and having the chance to combine those insights with her ideas and spread them to the world. She enjoys having a mindful and well-organized, healthy life, filled with all kinds of different activities and interwoven with close friendships.

The Secret To Being A Happy, Healthy Mom

What can be more pleasing than watching a happy mom who devotedly balances both a fulfilling career and family? Being a mom, a large part of the time is devoted to kids’ needs. Besides, a busy mom’s life never becomes less tense. You could get so absorbed with motherhood responsibilities that you ignore self-care.

We’ve all been there, and here’s a secret: mothers who indulge themselves take a more optimistic and healthier way of life. It’s a challenging task, but it’s possible! In this article, we’ll help you accomplish this with the most acceptable happy mom hacks, from fitness routines to beauty regimens.

The Secret To Being A Happy Healthy Mom — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Personal Time and Space for a Happy Mom

We can claim one irresistible rule on how to make any mom really happy: find time for yourself every day. Separate no less than 15 minutes a day all yours, and throughout this 15 minutes, do something that you need or something you love. It’s not selfish, our promises. Personal “me time” can be a brief but chilling warm bath, an energy-intensive workout to renew your inner batteries, a fast walk outside, or brief run meditation. Whatever that causes you to feel better! Since once you are cautious of yourself, you get more power to share with your beloved.

Meet People

Several moms interviewed for this article approved that happy moms love night-outs with their friends that equip them with more optimistic feelings. And science proves this too. Investigations show that time spent meeting with friends increases a woman’s level of oxytocin, a natural hormone that lessens the stress level. Check out mothers’ groups in your area, visit free dating sites, just do something if you are struggling to build a support network.

Self-Care Tips for Stay-At-Home Moms — .

Eat Healthy Food

When you’re constantly busy, you can hardly relish a nice homemade meal, even if you work at home or stay at home with kids. Food is probably the least of your preferences when your hands are tied all the time. Reasonable nourishment for your children is essential for a happy mom’s life as well. A healthy diet sustains your mind and body in top-notch condition. The proper food can stimulate your mental potential and performance.

Mothers have to stay optimistic and effective to get through the day, which is why you should eat good food. It’s incredibly complicated when kids prefer chips, sweets, and other types of junk food. You should stay off of these snacks. Or even more, get over with them for good. Rather, fall for whole fresh foods, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. If doable, pick up organic. Likewise, keep a tab on processed food or those with extra sugar as they lead to maturing and many health problems. At times, it gets crazy solving your kids’ needs when working. So, take care of yourself first, and you will have more energy for little monsters.

Set Boundaries

One of the most favorite happy mom captions says: “Mom: A title just above queen.” So, when it comes to your family and friends, don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Moms who are happier make mindful decisions day after day about who and what is possible in their lives. Reversing this way of thinking is important for a happy mom. You don’t have to be rude or severe to achieve this goal. Politely decline invitations that don’t fit with your priorities and restrict communications with negative people. When you set clear but strong boundaries, some people will be offended. Usually, it happens with people who try to benefit from you most of the time. So, you are on the right path to happy well-being.

We hope that our working tips were helpful for you and you will successfully apply them to improve your work-life balance. And how do you balance routine life and numerous responsibilities? Maybe you have some special tricks to share with us?

How To Practice Self Care by Doing Less Instead of More Info Graphic — Pin it!

Author Bio:

Miranda is an experienced relationship writer. Miranda enjoys studying relationship counseling, education, and development that focuses on improving communication on free dating sites. Miranda is passionate about cooking and yoga.

5 Step Self Skincare Routine for Moms

Hey, Mommies! How’s your skincare journey? A mother’s job is never-ending. You have so much to deal with that you can’t help but feel drained. You hardly have any energy left to pamper yourself. As it turns out, even your self skincare routine ends up taking a seat on the back burner.

Fret not, super mommies! You don’t need an elaborate or complicated beauty regimen to achieve a clear and glowing complexion. Tons of self skincare ideas are simpler and more flexible so that even moms with the most hectic schedules can still manage to maintain their skin and manage breakouts.

How to pull off an effortless self skincare routine

It’s 2021, and prioritizing your well-being should be paramount. As always, the first thing you need to know before incorporating any kind of skincare ritual is to know your skin’s condition. Do you have dry, flaky skin? Are you prone to acne and crazy breakouts? Is controlling the oil on your skin a major struggle for you?

It is not always about filling your arsenal with the most expensive brands. In the long run, you might end up splurging cash over face washes, toners, and creams that do more harm than good to your skin.

Identify which products are ideal for daily application from those best used once or twice per week. An example of this is the use of exfoliating creams and masks. Exfoliation should be done once a week, depending on your skin condition. When done excessively, it can slough off the barrier on the outer layer of your epidermis. As a result, your pores open and become more susceptible to dirt and infection. If you have sensitive skin, it is best to skip this step. Meanwhile, if you need an extra intensive type of self-care during your period, you might want to look into using facial masks as an additional treatment for problematic skin and sudden breakouts.

Masks and serums are add-ons that are not an essential part of your regular self skincare routine. However, these products help enhance your glow and skin texture. They are meant to enhance and balance the effects of regular cleansing and toning.

That said, what basic products are a must-have in your personal beauty formula?

Cleanse

Cleansing the face is the first step to any kind of skin pampering routine. It replenishes your skin by washing away all the dirt and oil that have accumulated on your face. It preps your face for the succeeding treatments and products that will be applied to it later on. Washing your face becomes even more crucial if you like to wear makeup. No matter how hectic your schedule may be, never go to bed with your makeup on! It is one of the notorious causes of breakouts and skin infections.

When choosing a facial wash or cleanser, pick one that does not overdry your skin’s surface. Preferably, go for products with ingredients that help lock in moisture. Avoid cleansers with microbeads because these can leave small cuts and abrasions on your skin. The toughness of the texture might even peel off protective layers on your dermis, making you more prone to acne-causing bacteria. Not to mention, these tiny beads added to beauty products are made of plastic and pollute nearby bodies of water once you rinse it off of your face.

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Skin Care Guide for Glowing Skin — .

Tone

Next to cleansing is toning. Using a toner on your face means triggering your skin’s inner layers to commence restoring its vitality and balance. Toners are akin to essential vitamins and minerals that reinvigorate the skin cells, protect your face from drying, and minimize your pores. If you have oily skin, then this step will benefit you greatly because it also aids in regulating sebum production and even your complexion.

Some skincare brands have toners with a thicker consistency, while others offer products that are more lightweight and are created with a water base. The key is to check the effect of your chosen toner. Does your skin feel a little tighter or dryer once the product is applied and absorbed on your face? If so, then you need to switch to a toner with a milder concentration of ingredients.

Sun Protection

Sunscreen is often an undermined part of caring for one’s skin. Mommies who spend time outdoors, either to run errands or work should not skip adding a trusty layer of protection against UVB and UVA rays. The constant exposure to the harsh rays of the sun speeds up your skin’s aging process and contradicts the positive effects of religious skin cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Dermatologists recommend sunscreen with an SPF no lower than 30. You can also go higher if you want full protection from the sun. Anything lower than that SPF 30 will give you a more penetrable barrier against the skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Moisturize

Moisturizing your skin religiously is the secret to retaining a youthful glow and an even complexion. Dry patches on your skin typically reveal fine lines, wrinkles, and even make acne scars more prominent. Applying moisturizer after cleansing and toning keep your face well-hydrated while reducing the appearance of fine lines. It retains the plump texture of your skin so that you retain your youthful glow.

How To Practice Self Care By Doing Less — .

Night Cream

A night cream, preferably one with retinol, is the last but definitely not the least important part of your daily skincare routine. A popular type of night cream is one that contains retinol. Retinol is considered a holy grail for anti-aging products. It adds an extra layer of moisture to your skin, enhances the texture of your face, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and overall aids in achieving flawless skin.

Taking good care of your skin is the easiest and best way to pamper yourself. In this day and age, self-care and a self skincare routine especially for moms should be normalized and encouraged more. After all, it is not that easy to take on several roles and responsibilities. Don’t feel guilty about taking a step back and spoiling yourself first, mommy! You deserve it.

Author Bio

Kat Sarmiento writes articles with the hopes of reaching out to more people. Her writing is focused on lifestyle, science, and smart hacks, that will definitely (well, hopefully) be useful to her readers.

Workout Tips to Stay Active for Stay-At-Home-Moms

Stay-at-home moms do not have it easy, we have heard that statement countless numbers of times. But it is undeniable that caring for little people who have their agenda and a never-ending list of needs, takes a toll on the mamas that live to make sure their kiddos stay happy and healthy. To keep our little ones healthy, we need to stay healthy ourselves. Try some of these workout tips while you’re stuck at home with the kids.

Workout Tips for Stay at Home Moms — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

It’s Time for a New Routine

It can be tough trying to shove more things to do into an already very busy schedule, but that does not mean that moms should have to neglect their health. It is very important to start getting back into working out. Whether you get some help from family or friends, or you play ball or jump rope with your kids. It may be time to add some more healthy movement to our day. One of the simplest workout tips is to change up your routine to include some self care time for yourself.

A Few Ways to Work-Out As a Busy Queen Bee

Here are some workout tips that can help improve our mindsets, happiness, and the way we feel overall:

1. Try not to think of exercise as work

Do something you normally enjoy, and even involve the kids if possible. You can dance, you can do wheelbarrow races, or even organize a maze or a type of team builder that requires movement.

2. Be the early bird that gets the worm

Try waking up before anyone gets out of bed and do an early jog with your dog or your significant other if grandma can come over that bright and early.

3. Take up something new to you

Deciding to try something new like yoga or belly dancing or maybe martial arts will not only boost your health but also challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and gain some confidence in realizing that you are capable of more than you even realized.

Helpful Exercises That Will Strengthen the Back During Pregnancy — .

A Workout, Without Having to Go Anywhere

A home workout is sometimes all that we can afford or have time for. And that is perfectly fine too. If we find a way to work out two or three days per week, we can still find ourselves feeling so much stronger, healthier, and even more beautiful from thinking more clearly. Sometimes all we need is to follow an exercise video we find online or lift some weights and do some crunches in our room in between changing diapers.

Conclusion

Working out does not have to feel like mommy boot camp, but there are workout tips to find time for it that will help us feel more like ourselves on our worst days and be the best possible mamas for our children when they are having their bad days too. Both us and our kiddos can benefit from squeezing some healthy movement into our everyday routines, and in the long- run they will thank you for helping them take up healthy habits at such a young age.

Author Bio

Joyce Kimber is an entrepreneurial writer. She always finds new ways to improve her work performance and productivity. Connect with her on Twitter via @joyce_kimber91.

Ways for Parents of Autistic Children to Cope

Being the parent of any child, while exhilarating, can also be very difficult. But when you’re the parent of an autistic child (autism spectrum disorder -ASD), it can feel overwhelming. There’s a whole world of autism knowledge to learn, not to mention the special needs your child will have.

The bright side is that you’re far from alone. Millions of people have been through it before, and we know more about autism than ever. And when you need a little help, you can refer to this list of tips for coping when you’re parenting an autistic child.

Ways for Parents of Autistic Children to Cope — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

We’ve divided them up into two sections. The first is a set of tips focused on your child and helping them cope with the world. The second focuses on things that can be good for your knowledge base and personal mental health.

For Your Autistic Child

Being the parent of an autistic child is hard, but so is being someone who is autistic in a world designed for people who aren’t. As a parent, part of your job is helping your child learn how to deal with that. What we’ve put together are some tricks and tools you can use to make it happen — when you find what works for your child, it makes everyday life easier for you as well!

Behavior and Communication Therapy

A major part of ASD is issues with personal interaction. But, especially if you get an early diagnosis, therapy can work wonders. Ultimately, behavior and communication are skills that can be improved, even if you have a different starting point. Working with a professional is almost always the best way to do that.

Therapy is the most recommended treatment for autism because it meets your child where they’re at and helps them improve. There are several other kinds of therapies that are also available, like educational or family therapy, and as a parent, you can decide if you think they would be beneficial for your child’s situation.

8 Creative Ways to Deal With Bedtime Excuses — .

Tools To Prevent Sensory Overload

Sensory Processing Disorder doesn’t always go along with ASD, but they often go hand-in-hand. The bright side is that there are plenty of tools out there to cope with it. Learning what throws your child into sensory overload and then working with them to find ways around it can be a huge help in everyday life.

Whether that just involves looking for certain kinds of products while shopping, like extra soft clothes that don’t have tags, or buying specific tools, like headphones to muffle sound for loud events, managing sensory processing disorder at home will make everyone feel better.

Set A Routine

Autistic children thrive on structure and routine, so it’s important that you establish one at home that you can stick to every single day. Make it clear exactly what you’ll be doing, when, and what’s next and refer to it regularly so your child feels more in control and knows what to do after finishing each task instead of filling the downtime with problem behavior.

Don’t feel confined to a text schedule or calendar app, either. Many parents have found that visual schedules, with pictures of what your child should be doing, are helpful for kids with communication problems because images are always clear. You can also consider using videos, or something else entirely. Whatever works for your family is what’s best.

Clearly Communicate Changes

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always run on schedule. Sometimes emergencies happen and you have to alter your schedule or make different decisions on the fly. But whenever you can prepare your autistic child for upcoming changes in anything from their schedule to getting new furniture for your home, it’s a good idea.

Start by explaining to your child that something is going to change, and tell them exactly what it is, ideally starting a few days to weeks beforehand. Then work on reminding them about the change into their routine, like bringing it up every day when giving them lunch. They might still get anxious when the change happens, but preparing them for it still makes it easier.

For You

When you become a parent, it takes over a significant amount of your life. But you still have needs that are important, and you can’t pour from an empty cup. So here are some tips for helping you as a parent cope with the everyday realities of having an autistic child.

Find and Accept Help

They say it takes a village to raise a child. When it comes to having a child with autism, between your regular support system and their therapists, doctors, and teachers, that village can feel more like a sizable town. This is a good thing! Your child has special needs, but there are more people who care and want to help.

Accept the help when it is offered, particularly if it comes from someone where it’s free of charge (after all, having a child with autism can be expensive). Whether it’s family or therapists, in the form of expertise, or just a desire to make your life easier, take it. It’s not a failure on your end if you can’t do everything on your own. In fact, it’s impossible to do it alone, so embrace it.

Join Support Groups

No one will ever have your back like your partner, family, and friends. But if they don’t have experience with parenting a child with ASD, then they won’t always understand what it’s like. That’s why it’s invaluable to join communities of people who are going through the exact same thing you are, including a few people who have been there before and can give you advice.

Whether you need a place to vent with parents who get it, suggestions on products to help with sensory processing, or you have questions and you’re not sure where to turn, support groups can give you the backup you need. Go to one in person or join one online, just so long as you make sure you have that resource.

Take Advice With a Grain Of Salt

No one should give a new mom unsolicited advice, but this often happens. Even if you seek out help, other parents still only know what worked for their kids. Dr. Stephen Shore famously said: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” If someone gives you advice that doesn’t work, know that you might not be the one who is wrong.

Expert advice holds more weight since they look at things objectively and are highly educated on the subject, but there’s still so much about ASD that nobody understands. Never be afraid to get a second opinion or disregard advice that isn’t working. Your primary source of information is never someone outside the family, it’s your child and whatever is working for them.

Take Time For Yourself

Being a parent is one of the most wonderful and fulfilling things you’ll ever do, but it’s also exhausting and constant. If you need to have someone else look after your kid and take a day for yourself to relax and unwind, that’s okay. You’re not a bad parent for needing time away from your child.

Use your village (or town) of support and take the day that you need when you need it. Instead of burning out, getting exhausted, and having limited patience, you’ll be rested so that when you’re back to spending time with your child, you’re energized and present.

Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself

There are so many things to do and be aware of when you’re the parent of a child with autism that it can feel like you’re always behind and you’re never doing enough. That feeling gets compounded if you’re also working an 8-5 job, even if you know that you need the job to make ends meet. Accept that you’re doing the best you can, and let go of everything else.

Whether you do that with religion and trusting in a higher power, giving yourself a mental health day, or leaning on your friends, when you give yourself a break and acknowledge that you’re not perfect, doing the best you can not only become easier, it becomes a true joy.

Parenting an autistic child won’t be anything like what you expected parenthood to be before. But with some help and a few coping mechanisms, you’ll find that no matter what your child is like, being a parent is one of the best parts of the human experience.

Author Bio:

Aaron Smith is an LA-based content strategist and consultant in support of STEM firms and medical practices. He covers industry developments and helps companies connect with clients. In his free time, Aaron enjoys swimming, swing dancing, and sci-fi novels.

Why Every Woman Needs a Day to Themselves: 6 Essential Self Care Tips

Women need to practice self care because they take on a lot. Whether it’s a mom juggling the kids’ school and activities or a college graduate in the thick of their thesis paper, life can be quite exhausting. All of this overthinking and overworking can have a real impact on our mental health. That’s why every woman needs a day to themselves from time to time.

To get you started, here are six essential self care tips for that special day all to yourself!

Why Every Woman Needs a Day to Themselves: 6 Essential Self Care Tips — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Get Good Sleep

Sleep deprivation can have multiple compounding effects on the body. So without it, our bodies fail to repair damaged tissue, metabolize hormones, and even create memories or simply retain lessons learned. So, while women are stressed at work or worried about their kids in some way, it’s hard to shake it off before heading to bed.

To combat this, one essential self-care tip is to change your bedtime routine. Avoid foods with caffeine and sugar and, instead, drink some soothing chamomile tea. Another nasty habit women tend to have before bed? Checking their phone and watching television. For many reasons, it’s important to put these devices away or turn them off and on silent. Not only do they stimulate your brain when you should really be unwinding, but the blue lights screw with our melatonin hormone, which, in turn, confuses our circadian rhythms and disrupts proper REM. Instead, read a self-care book or write in a gratitude journal.

Other than your phone, keep bedroom lighting to a minimum to achieve proper sleep. Use blackout curtains and avoid using a nightlight, even in conjoining bathrooms. To get the best rest of your life, it should be perfectly pitch dark!

Be Mindful of What You Digest

This goes for food and everything that goes along with it—like nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Food is such a crucial role in how we feel, mentally and physically, and it can be affected on a daily basis. Reach for high-nutrient foods such as fatty fish, dark leafy greens, and brassicas (think broccoli and Brussels sprouts). The best way to be more mindful of what you digest is to know precisely what your body is absorbing. When you eat fast foods or takeout on a hurried day, you rarely stop to question what’s in it or from where it came. Instead, make sure you get the proper nutrients by creating a healthy meal at home, for family dinners or to carry into work for lunch.

Even if you don’t have time to go grocery shopping, you can have your local supermarket deliver weekly produce and ingredients straight to your doorstep. Not to mention, there is practically an endless variety of boxed meal delivery services from which to choose. Supplements can also improve our physical and mental health enormously. While it’s always best to first consult your physician or nutritionist, several supplements that could be beneficial are Vitamin D3, iron, omega-3, and even digestive enzymes.

Probiotics can especially enhance your gut health. Called the “second brain,” our gut plays a significant role in mental well-being, as our digestive tract is responsible for 90% of serotonin, which plays a major role in our mood and mental state.

7 Vitamins and Minerals All Women Need To Be Healthy — .

Spend Time Outdoors

Fresh air does more good for your body than you realize. So, it’s essential to remember to take a step outside every now and then. Seasonal Affective Disorder rears its ugly head in the winter as we tend to stay indoors, plan for the stressful holidays, and experience nothing but a cloudy gray haze. But it’s still important to get some sun and nourishing Vitamin D, which can be a real mood-booster.

You don’t have to go for a run—just a leisurely stroll in the park is enough. And, in doing so, you will also be getting some physical exercise, which will help clear your head and allow you to sleep sounder and deeper.

Organize Your Home and Thoughts

Sometimes, even the clutter we leave lying around can affect our mental state. It’s important to reassess the home every so often, declutter, and organize. Whether that means donating boxes to secondhand stores or gifting items to friends and family, tidying up your living space can leave you feeling refreshed. And that, in turn, can improve your mental clarity. Brightening up your space with new home treasures and décor can drastically change the look and feel of your home, bringing you a refreshing new outlook to your day to day!

When it comes to your thoughts, those need to be organized too, but in a different way. There are several ways to bring clarity to the mind. You can create lists as a way of “brain-dumping,” which can center or ground you, leaving you less overwhelmed about all the tiny menial tasks, and even big ones, too! Here’s a fantastic brain dump exercise to help guide you.

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Slightly different than a brain dump, one essential self-care tip is to create a gratitude journal. It seems simple enough, but, by acknowledging the small moments and accomplishments you feel grateful for, you can let go of regrets and learn not to be so hard on yourself. You can start with morning affirmations and end with what you enjoyed about the day.

Meditate and Learn to Breathe Again

Chronic stress can lead to depression, anxiety, and a whole range of mental and even physical health issues. However, according to some studies, meditation has been proven to alter our heart rate and blood pressure, reducing these stress-driven health issues.

And this lies in the relationship between our diaphragm and our sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” response. Breathing exercises that accompany meditation engage the parasympathetic nervous system, which essentially tamps down the “fight or flight” response that chronic stress brings. And, by breathing through the diaphragm, women can trick the mind and body into this parasympathetic response. Here are some beginner tips for developing a meditation practice.

Meditation Tips for People Who Hate to Meditate — .

Create a Self-Care Reminder

Every once in a while, a woman needs a day to themselves. And, with our hectic lives, it’s important to pencil it in, guard it, and cherish it. Make it a regimen and schedule it once a month, at least. But, until that day, also be sure to practice a little self-care in your everyday routine.

Author Bio: Carolyn Eberhart serves as the Digital Marketing Manager for Natural Life. Carolyn oversees all digital marketing efforts relating to Paid Social Media and Email Marketing remotely from Redwood City, CA. During the week she is passionate about her career, cooking, exercising and hanging out with her family and on Sundays you can find her cheering on the Buffalo Bills!

Pregnancy Self Care Tips That Will Benefit Mom and Baby

Practicing self care during pregnancy can benefit moms as well as their growing babies.

Expectant mothers have a lot on their minds, in addition to making it through the discomforts and excitement of pregnancy. These pregnancy self care tips are something all moms can try in order to ease symptoms of prenatal depression, anxiety, stress and to ensure a healthy 9 months for both mom and baby.

Pregnancy Self Care Tips That Will Benefit Mom and Baby — *This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate and/or paid links. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before implementing any changes to your normal routine during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a time of massive change in a woman’s life, and becoming a mom brings the most significant life transformation ever. Society tells us that pregnancy is a magical time, and while this is true, it is also a time of many other emotions too.

Many women can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of their impending arrival and may feel anxious about what they will experience as life as a parent. With such a life-changing moment just around the corner, it can help to put some self-care habits into place to help you feel as prepared as possible for your new baby’s arrival, and to make the rest of your pregnancy as relaxed as it can be. As soon as you find out that you are expecting, subscribe for monthly Bump Boxes to make your pregnancy go smoothly.

Nutrition

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is of course always important, but doing so in pregnancy can feel like a challenge if you are suffering from morning sickness, or worse still, hyperemesis gravidarum. Trying to eat a diet which is as healthy as it can be is not only a great way to keep yourself feeling good but could also keep your baby healthier in the future too.

According to the Early Life Nutrition Coalition, the First 1000 Days are a crucial time, where your diet can impact on the chances of your child becoming obese in the future, and can also affect them having allergies. What you eat at the preconception stage and throughout pregnancy is worth considering carefully to get your child off to the best start in life.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful tool to use in life in general but can come in especially handy during pregnancy and your life as a parent. Mindfulness is all about bringing your attention to the present moment and letting your thoughts come and go. With regular practice, mindfulness becomes second nature for use at times of anxiety and stress.

Keeping calm, and practicing mindfulness should help you from worrying about future scenarios, and past events, enabling you to focus on the here and now, and yourself and your baby.

Gentle Exercise

During pregnancy, you will probably need to change your existing exercise routine if it could be unsafe to follow during your pregnancy. Although you may have to put your usual routine on hold for a little while, you can try out some completely different activities instead, which will provide you with some gentle exercise.

Pregnancy yoga is a popular choice of exercise, which is no surprise as it offers many reputed benefits. Pregnancy yoga enables you to focus on your growing baby without all the interruptions of everyday life to disturb you. Your yoga session should fit well with your mindfulness practice, meaning that you can relax and exercise all at the same time, which should leave you feeling much calmer after the session. Joining a pregnancy yoga class is also great for making friends with other local expectant moms, and if you keep in touch, your baby will have a ready-made friendship group as soon as they are born!

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All women experience pregnancy differently but one thing remains the same. It’s a time to prepare for the changes ahead. Once baby arrives, life will become significantly different. Taking the time to focus on yourself now, means that baby will also benefit from your peaceful state. Using some of these pregnancy self care tips will give you a head start for maintaining your self care routine once you’re juggling the demands of a newborn baby.