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August 10, 2017 0 Comments

5 Tips For Back To School Success

It’s almost that time again – time to go back to school! It’s hard to believe that school will be starting any day now, but as summer winds down, it’s important to gradually get back into the groove.

We all miss summer and its flexibility, but the school year also brings a lot of fun and more structure. It can be a great time to reexamine priorities, take a solid look at schedules, and truly get prepared for the year ahead. With a little bit of prep, you’ll be ready for back to school success!

Establish routines

Routines aren’t established overnight, so ease into a new one gradually. Starting a few weeks before school starts, begin having your kids go to bed a bit earlier. Start with 10 minutes, then 30, then 60, and so on, until they’re close to the time they will go to bed during the school year.

This is a much better approach than fighting on the first night back! It establishes expectations, gets kids sleeping more normally for the school year, and allows them to get on a schedule that works for them. It’s also important to try to have them wake up a bit earlier too, so they can practice being active in the mornings.

Revamp your schedule

This is a great time of year to look at your home based career schedule and see where you can improve, change, or be flexible. You might realize that you’re off balance in terms of work. Maybe there’s too much going on, maybe there’s not enough. If it’s the latter, take a moment to browse some new job positions.

You can also take some time to look at the schedule of your whole family for those first few weeks. Will your kids be starting a sport? Some type of rehearsal? Adjust the family’s schedules around those first few weeks and months to make going back a lot easier.

Purchase your items

It’s a lot easier to get your back to school supplies now! Avoid the mad rush and create your list. Browse the list from your children’s teachers, or simply find some basic back to school shopping lists online. It’s better to go in prepared so you don’t forget anything. Go on an off peak time and have your kids select their items. It’s more fun to get them involved, and they can choose items that match their personality.

Also, make back to school shopping fun. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you can make a fun day out of it so your kids are encouraged to start the new year on a positive note.

Set some goals

Setting goals this time of year is important for you and your family members. While this doesn’t need to be done until closer to back to school time, it gets everyone into the habit of thinking ahead and working towards something.

Set some short term goals that can be accomplished within the first few weeks of going back, such as sticking to bedtimes, getting all the lunches packed, creating a work schedule that will work for the school year, and applying to a certain amount of jobs in a week. You can also set longer term goals with your kids, such as making the spring musical, playing a sport, or saving a specific amount of money for a purchase.

The goals don’t necessarily need to do with school, but are more for getting everyone thinking and being more productive during the school year.

Enjoy the rest

Above all else, it’s so important to enjoy the rest of the summer. While you slowly implement tasks and items that will make the school year much smoother, don’t forget to enjoy the rest of this time of year. You can even create a summer “bucket list” of items that you still have time to do.

Take another small trip or enjoy a staycation and technology-free weekend. Take an afternoon to do something fun in your local area. Book reservations at a fun restaurant for your kids. Soak in this time and create memories! Schedule more playdates, more pool days, and fun times with your family.

You can certainly prepare for back to school while still enjoy the rest of what summer has to offer. Then, when the school year starts, you’ll be all set for success!

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August 10, 2017 0 Comments

4 Tips for Healthy Eating in the Summer

Staying healthy in the summer is typically easier than any other time of year. Between family and friend activities, vacations, and sporting events, we’re on the go more. Additionally, produce is more readily available, and it’s often too hot to eat big, heavy meals.

It’s a perfect time to embrace wellness in our diets and stay healthy. This way, we don’t miss any of the fun and excitement of this time of year! Read along for some best tips for optimal, healthy eating in the summer.

Think seasonal

Eating seasonally is a great way to save money and load up on nutritional value. Yes, you can find watermelon in some other seasons, but it’s more expensive and not nearly as tasty! Between tomatoes, watermelon, mangos, and all the fresh berries, summer is a time for all our favorite produce.

These fruits and veggies are also loaded with water content, so they’ll help you stay hydrated and feeling light.

Produce first

Think produce first! When you go to make a plate or plan a meal, fill your plate (or recipe) with produce first. Ideally, half of your plate should be fruits and/or veggies. You can also sneak fruit and veggie purees into casseroles, popsicles, and smoothies! From here, add your carbohydrate and protein sources to make up the rest of your meal.

Pack the protein

Protein is always a key component to any healthy diet. It keeps you full, supports your muscles and bones, and helps to stabilize blood sugar. When the weather is nice, grilling is a great, fun option to get your protein. Here are some best tips for successful grilling.

Select healthy meats and spice them up with unique seasonings, marinades, and dipping sauces. If meat isn’t your thing, there are plenty of fibrous bean and grain salad recipes that will keep you healthy and satiated. Here are a few options to get you started.

Lighten up

In the hot summer months, we’re typically running around more and certainly spending more time outdoors. Because of this, we need more hydration, water, and electrolytes. Focus on foods that provide this and keep you feeling good. Watermelon is a great option, along with coconut water for balanced electrolytes.

It’s easy to feel sluggish and rundown in the summer, and you can avoid this with diet and lifestyle choices. Make choices that keep you feeling light, healthy, and satisfied. It’s a great time of year for those lightened up recipes, as well as an abundance of colorful fruits and veggies. Indulge in nature’s seasonal offerings and stay healthy with seasonal offerings!

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August 10, 2017 0 Comments

5 Ways to Fit Exercise Into Your Day

Fitting exercise into our already-busy lives can be quite the challenge! We want to stay fit and healthy, but work, family and friend obligations keep us pretty busy. There are only so many hours in the day, but taking the time for exercise is very important for a long, healthy life.

Read along for some best tips on fitting exercise into your busy day.

Use the morning

It’s not for everyone, but working out in the morning can be a great use of your time. Your family is likely still asleep, and you’ll be able to give dedicated time to your workout. Whether you workout or join a gym, working out in the morning is a great option. This is an especially effective option if you’re a morning person. If not, it may take a few early mornings to get into the groove – but don’t give up!

Lay out your exercise clothes the night before, lay out your water bottle, snacks, headphones, and anything else that you need to grab and go. Not having to think in the mornings makes it much easier, and seeing your items will make it more likely that you go and do your workout. The more that you complete your morning workouts, the more your body will get used to them. Don’t be surprised if you’re a little tired and slow moving at first! It just takes some time for your body to adapt to moving first thing in the morning.

Use your lunch break

You can use your lunch break (or any break during the day) to complete your workout. Go out for a walk, meet up with a friend, or hit up a group fitness class that takes place during the day. Breaking up your day with exercise can really boost your energy, mood, and fitness levels. A lot of us feel more awake midday, so it can be the perfect time to fit in some fitness.

Make it social

Exercise doesn’t need to be painful or isolating! It can be really fun to involve your family and friends and make it a social event. Exercise also doesn’t need to take place at a gym or involve a workout video. You can get in a few miles, squats, or dumbbell exercises during your kids’ games or activities!

When you’re waiting around at practices, instead of playing on your phone, do a quick workout. It will make the time pass without taking away from family and friend time outside of the practice. Fitting fitness into your life is a great way to make it a habit that sticks!

Multitask

Multitasking can be very helpful when it comes to your new exercise routine. If you find yourself ready to watch TV at the end of the day, you can combine both activities. Watch your favorite show on the treadmill, or do strength training exercises in your living room while your movie is playing. You can also listen to music during your workout. This can also be a great distraction that gets you into the workout zone, and you won’t feel that you’re missing out on anything. You get the best of both worlds – fitness and your other favorite activities.

Keep it realistic

Realize that fitness might not play a huge role in your life right now. It can be hard to workout with small children or a lot going on in your life. You might not have time for an hour, but can you spare 20 minutes? Most people have 20-30 minutes in their day to get healthy. Make it happen and stay in the groove. Once you feel better and see results, you’ll more than likely want to keep at it. Results and positive feelings are great motivators to keep going!

Utilize the tips below to keep at your exercise regimen long enough to feel great, and you’ll be well on your way to establishing a very healthy habit.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

Working Moms: Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes During Baby’s First Year

Your maternity leave is over, and it’s time to go back to work. In one arm, you have a newborn baby to care for; in the other, you have a laptop. First realization: You will be living a double life from here on out.

If you are fortunate enough to work from home, it will be (slightly) easier to strike a balance and remain (somewhat) in a state of harmony. Take a look at four common oversights many working moms make in their baby’s first year, so you don’t make the same mistakes.

1. They Don’t Swaddle

A fussy baby will take the wind right out of your new mom sails as persistent exhaustion sets in. Swaddling is a time-honored technique that creates a safer sleeping environment for babies. Swaddling gently supports the baby’s natural position with legs and hips flexed inside a snugly fit blanket. The many advantages of swaddling include:

  • Supine swaddling (swaddling and placing babies on their back) can help reduce risk of SIDS
  • Swaddled babies sleep better
  • Swaddling reduces colic and fussiness
  • Swaddling can help when baby is learning to breastfeed

Not all swaddles are made the same. Choose blankets that are large enough to swaddle properly and are made from soft materials like cotton flannel and cotton muslin. Swaddle blankets made by SwaddleDesigns come with instructions sewn right on the tag, so you’ll never be left scratching your head. These designs are available online or at Target stores nationwide.

2. They Don’t Preserve Enough Memories

Sixty-one percent of mothers return to work at some point in baby’s first year, according to a Child Care Aware of America study. Because parenthood, work and life in general consumes so much time, many parents are not able to preserve the memories they’d like to. Then later on, feelings of guilt crop up.

If you work remotely, you have a better chance of catching and preserving milestones. For a little help to that end, check out this Parents article featuring creative ways to preserve memories.

3. They Don’t Let Others Help

The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” still rings true in many ways. If you are fortunate enough to have family and friends nearby, take advantage of your personal village. Here are some tips to help reduce stress:

  • You can’t effectively do it all. Ask your family for help.
  • If your spouse or other children ask to help you out, say yes. You may not realize it, but when you accept their help, they feel good about themselves. This can create a stronger family bond and reduce the stress on everyone.
  • If budget permits, get help from outside sources. Let the dry cleaners do your ironing or call a home cleaning service to dispel the dirt.
  • Delegate the things you don’t like to do.

4. They Rely on Motion to Get Their Baby to Sleep

Many parents will go to great lengths to help their child fall and stay asleep, but some of these methods are mistakes. Put an end to aimless driving through the neighborhood at midnight because your baby can’t sleep without being put in motion.

A child misses out on a deep, restorative sleep with motion-induced sleep. You don’t completely have to give up the idea of a musical swing, though. It’s okay to sooth an ornery baby with motion, but once sleep hits, stop the action and let him sleep soundly.

Being a working mom with a newborn is hard. But if you avoid these common pitfalls, it can be the most rewarding time of your life. And by swaddling, preserving memories, letting others help and teaching your baby to fall asleep without motion, you can sit back and feel a little less stress and a lot more connection.

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December 22, 2014 0 Comments

5 Ways to Stay Healthy in a Home-Based Job

When you accept a home-based job position, you might envision days of work mixed with lots of movement and exercise. Imagine your surprise when the clock hits 5:00PM each day and you’ve barely moved! This is a common plague among home-based workers, and it’s something that can truly affect your health in the long term.

There are numerous recent studies proving how sitting is bad for our health, and when you work from home, you’re likely logging long hours on your computer. This isn’t really avoidable, but utilizing healthy tips and habits is a great way to ensure that you stay healthy when working from home.

When you’re making your 2015 resolutions, be sure to include these work at home exercises and tips to stay happy and healthy!

1) Stay active throughout the day: It doesn’t have to be anything excessive! Get up and walk around your house or neighborhood, stretch, lift light weights, or run in place for a few minutes. Do this approximately once per hour, and you’ll find that these little bursts are not only good for your body, but good for your mind.

2) Drink water: Working from home has its benefits here! Staying hydrated is key to health – you will avoid overeating and keep your energy high. Set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind you to drink water every hour.

3) Schedule your workouts: Whether you want to work out in the morning or the evening, working from home makes scheduling your workouts much easier. But you still have to do them! Schedule your workouts just as you would schedule a meeting or appointment. Write it down and stick to your plan.

4) Choose the right foods: If you’re used to having junk food around the house, do your best to stop buying it once you start working from home. If it’s in the house, it’s tough to avoid! At the very least, keep tempting foods out of view. Put healthy snacks such as fruit, trail mix, or protein bars out in a bowl, so you’re more likely to reach for them when you need a snack.

5) Take breaks: Mental health is just as important as physical health. It’s great to be productive, but not at the expense of your health. This will only lead you to feeling frazzled and burnt out – not a good combination. Take small breaks throughout the day to step away from the computer, get some fresh air, and relax your mind.
Incorporate these work at home exercises and tips into your daily schedule and start the new year out right.

Check out these other great articles about staying healthy as a work from home professional. Also check out our current job postings for mom professionals.

(Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

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