TOP MOM HABITS TO CULTIVATE

Habits are automatic actions, that we do without thinking– allowing us to use our energy on more difficult tasks. This leaves our brains to spend more times on other tasks. And for moms who are incredibly busy, the more brain power we have left over the better.

Almost 50% of our behavior is determined by our habits – which is why it is so important to work on cultivating good habits. To read more about habits and how to create new habits or change old ones click here.

Your kids want to be like you!

Child psychologists have long since said that children learn best by imitating adults – their parents in particular. So if you want your child to behave in a particular way, model that behavior yourself.

Keystone habits

Want to improve your life overall by making a few simple changes? Then improve your keystone habits.

Keystone habits are habits that have a cascading affect. Researchers have found that if you can improve these habits, you will automatically see other areas of your life improve.

Here are the top 7 keystone habits for moms to adopt

Sleep

When mothers think of good habits to develop, sleep is rarely even on the list. After all ,who has the time. But getting a good night’s sleep will influence your energy levels, happiness and decision making skills. And that will let you get so much more done the next day

Try creating a sleep schedule. We often do it for our kids to help them sleep better – why not for ourselves? To stay on schedule, you can set up an alarm one hour before bedtime. This gives you enough time to complete everything you have to at night and be in bed on time.

Exercise

This is another energy booster – which most moms are low in supply on. It releases endorphins, which are feel good chemicals that make you instantly happier.

Research shows that when moms exercise regularly, their children are less likely to be obese.

If you find you don’t have time to exercise make it a practice to do with your children. They’ll adopt a good habit and it’ll keep them entertained for a while.

Any kind of exercising is beneficial so chose something you enjoy. That will make it more likely you will stick to its. You can start dance classes and use it as an excuse to get out of the house. Or you can take a walk outside with a for some good conversation. Or maybe put on a short exercise video at home whenever you get the time.

Mindfulness

The benefits of meditation seem to be endless. It helps fight stress, regulates emotions, improves relationships, promotes health….well you get the idea.

For me the biggest advantage of meditation is that it allows me to be more present with my children. That shows them that I care, and that I’m listening to them. And that does wonders for improving their behavior.

To develop the habit of meditating you can download the app “Headspeace” on your phone, or you can just use guided meditations on YouTube.

Don’t worry about doing meditating the right way - because there really is no right way to do it. Your thoughts will wander no matter how advanced of a meditator you are. The purpose of meditation is simply to notice that your thoughts are wandering. So the more you’re noticing your thoughts wandering, the better you’re probably getting!

Reduced screen time

We use digital media for almost all aspects of our lives. The average person uses their phone for 277 minutes and checks their phone 77 times a day. And that doesn’t include our ipads, alexa or our computers. Research has consistently found that higher rates of digital use are linked to depression, overeating and lethargy. Which is why we all want to limit our childrens screen times. But in order to do that successfully, we have to reduce our own screen time first!

Start by monitoring how often you use your phone. Most phones now have an option where you can check your daily usage. See what your average usage has been for the last week, and then slowly work towards reducing that amount.

You could also implement a no phone rule at dinnertime rule. But in order to be effective the rule should apply to your whole family.

Eat Healthier

There are a myriad of reasons to eat healthier, including increased better overall health, increased energy, brighter mood, good decision making, a lower chance of falling ill and of course losing weight.

Research has found that children imitate parents eating habits. So the healthier you eat, the healthier your children will eat. And the happier, healthier and more energetic they will be.

Like with any other habit it is important to start small. It may be tempting to suddenly change all your eating habits at once, but that has a higher chance of failure. Instead start by focusing on a single eating habit that you want to change and gradually work up to changing more habits.

You can start with something simple like developing a habit to eat vegetables each day. Or you can be a bit more ambitious and aim to eat 1 healthy meal on a daily basis.

Remember healthy eating starts with planning. If you’re cooking at home, plan your meals in advance. If you’re trying to cut out sugar, clear your cupboard of junk food so that the cue

Daily Gratitude

Few things in life increase your happiness – and daily gratitude is one of them.

It might sound like a cliché but it’s true. Simply spending a few minutes each day thinking about what you are grateful for will make you a happier person. The brain is truly amazing isn't it.

This is a fantastic habit to create for the family together. It takes very little time to do and simply requires consistency. You can go around the table while you’re eating dinner with each person talking a little about what they are grateful for that day.

Or you may want some privacy while reflecting on your day. And decide to do it alone.

Relationship habits

Research has found that having children can be detrimental to spousal relationships. Mostly because couples have a lot less time to nurture their relationship after becoming a parent. That’s why it’s so important to create relationship habits that increase goodwill between you and your spouse.

The habits you decide to cultivate will depend on the state of your relationship. And your love languages. If you don't know what your love language is click here

If you and your spouse have become less affectionate after having kids you may want to develop the habit of giving each other a hug and a kiss at the end of the day. Make sure to really enjoy the moment of affection. and do it for more then just a second. Just affectionately touching each other can improve the state of your marriage.

Or you can set aside one day a week - or month - for date night. Hire a baby-sitter, or ask a grandparent to babysit. Use this time to discuss anything and everything OTHER than your children. Catch up on your hopes and dreams outside of your kids.