“I am in charge of how I feel and today I am choosing happiness.”
I know what you’re thinking: you’ve already put in a full day at the office, made dinner for your family, and you still have an hour’s worth of work to finish before heading to bed. You don’t even have the energy to think about going to the gym. I don’t blame you. Being a mom is a full time job on top of the one that pays the bills. But did you know that taking just one hour to workout will take up less than 4 percent of your day?
Too often women/moms/wives put others before themselves. Why? Why should everyone else’s happiness rank more important than ours?
Well, I’m here to say it… it’s time to make MOM priority NUMBER ONE.
It’s not selfish to reward our body and mind with one hour completely dedicated to improving our self worth. That hour, though it may be away from the home, will undoubtedly give back to your family in ways you may not have thought were even connected. Remember that scene in Legally Blonde:”Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” While your life is probably not that dramatic; I’m sure if you’re like me, you’ve snapped because the dishes weren’t put away when you got home or the laundry wasn’t folded. Could that hour at your barre class have made the situation better? Surround yourself with other happy, positive people that can help you achieve your personal goals and make you an even greater asset to your family.
If you’re thinking that you don’t have an hour a day to dedicate to a gym or fitness studio, there are certainly things you can do at home to improve your well-being. Take 10 minutes of deep stretching or meditation before getting into bed for the night. Allow your mind to clear and let go of anything that no longer serves you. You’ll never know how this repetition can positively influence your sense of self unless you start trying.
In addition to giving yourself one hour of “me” time, start setting (realistic) goals for things you’d like to accomplish in the coming days, weeks, months or maybe even this year. Goal setting allows us to hold ourselves accountable for what we want in our lives. I’ve found that when I state my intentions and give myself a respectable time-frame, I’m able to appreciate the hard work I put into mine and my family’s lives.
Most importantly, don’t forget to thank your body for everything it has accomplished (including the fact that you brought life into this world!). The 4 percent of the day that you’ve dedicated to yourself will help lay the foundation for your family’s needs tomorrow and your mind will be prepared to take on whatever life throws at you. Besides, the work will still be there when you wake up in the morning.
