Tired Mom Syndrome (TMS)
Have you heard of it? Probably not because I just made it up.
But 4 in 4 mothers suffer from it.
Here are the symptoms so you can self diagnose:
– Tired upon rising in the morning
– Tired at 10:16am
– Tired at lunchtime
– Tired at 3:31pm
– Tired at dinnertime
– Tired at bedtime (but can’t fall asleep)
– Excessive yawning until your eyes water
– Excessive consumption of coffee or other caffeinated drink to function
If you have 1 or 7 of these symptoms, you probably 99.9% have TMS. Maybe.
But don’t worry, there’s hope.
Below are my top tips on curing this syndrome that seems to be plaguing millions of mothers worldwide at alarming rates:
1. Move your body. Yes I know. This seems counterintuitive. Why would you want to move when you’re already tired? Well because exercise gives you energy. You don’t have to attend Bootcamp or lift the equivalent of a semi truck every day but find something that you can actually LEARN to like and do that. I emphasize LEARN because you may not enjoy it the first few times. Do this every single day even if it involves just wrestling with your kiddos.
2. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every single day. Your body needs hydration for energy. And you’re not a cactus, so you must drink water daily.
3. Fuel your body with healthy, whole foods. You don’t have to be a classically trained French chef to make a delicious meal. Cook up some rice or quinoa, throw in some black beans, salsa, and avocado and you’ve got yourself a nutrient packed meal. Easy does it Rachel Ray.
4. Go to bed early and turn off those screens an hour before bedtime so you can fall asleep. Sensitive to caffeine? Don’t drink it OR don’t drink it past 9am. Also, don’t drink alcohol before bed. It is TERRIBLE for quality of sleep not only that night but the night after as well.
5. Meditate. No woo woo here. Just close your eyes, don’t talk, breathe, and sit still. You can do it anywhere. Just turn off your brain and allow it time to decompress from the crazy sensory overload we put it through every single day. Mom brains work the hardest. Period.
6. Stop being everything to everyone. Believe me, you cannot be the best version of yourself if you’re exhausted. You can’t be brave, creative, and super fun if you can’t keep your eyes open. Ask for help and call it a day.
7. Find something that lights your heart on FIRE and do a little or a lot of it every single day. What would make you jump out of bed excited to start the day? DO THAT!! For me, it’s writing articles for Thrivekin and seeing my patients 1:1. It’s what fuels my soul (along with being a mommy and wife of course!). Do something that reminds you of you. What makes Susan happy? Not the Mom, the employee, the wife, the daughter. Just Susan. Life is too short to be only 10% of who you are meant to be. Read that again.
8. Hate your job? Quit. But have Plan B in place first.
9. Read, listen to podcasts/audio books, and FLOOD your mind with positive messages. Seriously, drown yourself in positivity. Find your tribe of people that lift you up and surround yourself with them. Also, cut people out of your life that drain you. Snip snip.
10. Give yourself some darn grace already! You’re not a robot. You need rest, food, water, and love just like those little people in your life. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re also going to do a lot of things right. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re doing the best that you can and that.is.enough.
And if all that doesn’t work or you need help with any steps along the way, reach out to me, because TOGETHER we will cure your TMS.
You no longer have to live with this horrible disease. There is hope.
Xoxoxoxo
*P.S- In case you didn’t get the joke, TMS is not an actual medical disease and I am not a Doctor. Just so we’re clear.
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.