Your Daily Routine... - Chicago,IL

Something I did when DD was little was get out of the house. Anywhere. The mall. The library. The park. Walk the dog. Etc. For myself, in the winter, I try to sit near windows, or use a sunbox.

for me the main thing i did was to keep part of my life just mine, and for me that was riding. my horses are old and no longer rideable, but the creaky old thoroughbred was my lifeline and sanity touchstone during the stressful parenting years, even though (maybe because!) she was a hot-blooded handful and gave me endless challenges.
this also had me outside a lot, and that's clutch for me. if i don't feel the sun on my skin a lot i go plummeting off into the abyss.
khairete
S.

I'm 42, with a 6.5, 5 and 22 month old. I have a long history with depression and anxiety.......for me, getting sleep is essential, so I try to go to bed at 8:30 two nights a week, with a normal bedtime of 9:30. I do let myself stay up late one night a week with hubby, so I'm going to bed at 8:30 to make up for that late night. But I aim for 8-9 hours of sleep. It's hard with a small one in the house, so I've even been taking naps. Sleep really is the key to a better state of mind.

Second, I exercise for 20 minutes daily. Some days it's just yoga, but I do something. I also try to do 10 minutes of meditation. I use to try to exercise in the morning, but since sleeping till the LO is up is a priority, I've discovered I can get exercise in during afternoon nap/quiet time. Since switching to an afternoon exercise time, I've been able to do two solid weeks without any interruptions! We have a YMCA membership, but dragging everyone there to exercise takes more time than it's worth, if you ask me.

I recently started taking vitamin d, and I just started taking a women's support supplement because my PMS is out of hand. But I'm also totally changing my diet. I'm eating superfood salads at lunch everyday, and then another salad at dinner, really trying to eat almonds, etc. I've always eaten a high protein breakfast, but I'm trying to get more eggs with veggies,like mushrooms and spinach. It's more satisfying than my high protein cereal anyway.

I also am doing two book clubs to get out and hang out with other ladies. Making more friends is a priority for me in the coming year.

There are many ideas given from others so I don't feel the need to add to those, but I will say that motherhood is a really great time to learn even more about yourself and what helps you function at your best. With your personal time whittled away to almost nothing, you better do something that counts! Pay attention to how activities affect your mood. Sure watching tv or browsing the internet makes me feel relaxed and entertained for that half hour or so, but investing a little energy into doing something creative will make me feel rejuvenated and re-energized for the whole day, and that translates into happier mommy and happier family. It doesn't really matter what it is that makes you feel fulfilled and balanced, but once you find it, make that a priority!

For me the most important thing to do was to get showered and dressed each day and get out of the house. It didn't matter where, as long as I was out in the world. Usually I went to playgorups, parks, the zoo, the museum, the grocery store, the YMCA, the library, the mall, the beach etc. I had to have a purpose and could not sit around at home. I took prenatal vitamins until I stopped nursing and have taken a multi-vitamin ever since. I also need to supplement with iron because I am anemic most of the time.

I've been where you are in many ways - although each person's experience is her own, for sure. I was an older mom (37 when I gave birth), suffered from depression (not specifically post partum because I'd had it for years but definitely made worse either from hormones or exhaustion), and tried every vitamin in the book.

I did many of the things you list, when I had the energy to do them: definitely getting out of the house was important, and absolutely NOT to do errands or "family stuff" but rather "me stuff". I went to the gym but I also took myself to the movies (often sitting there at the 12:30 show with 3 other people in the theater). I either took myself to lunch or I got a surreptitious thrill from smuggling my own sandwich into the theater to eat in the dark when no one wanted a piece of me. I have a friend who had 3 kids 2 years apart, and she often went to the gym and hauled all her clothes there so she could take a long shower without anyone wanting a glass of juice or a referee. It was worth it to her. So a long hot shower is great but not if your life's pressures are waiting outside the door (and usually banging on it).

I also did antidepressants (with mixed results) and therapy (good results in many areas but not all). Do what you need to to get to where you want to be.

Supplements were a huge answer for me, not just for energy but also for help with the depression. They also kept us from getting sick - and a sick family is a surefire way to bring yourself down when the flu hits or the stomach bug makes the rounds. My husband and I had spent a small fortune on everything that was in vogue. Waste of money. I had a background in health education but this wasn't covered. So I worked with food scientists and more cutting edge people (in epigenetics, especially), and got much better education and answers based on (gasp!) real science!

The vitamin industry is fraught with problems - there's been a huge boom over the past 30 years in micronutrients (Vitamin X for this, vitamin Y for that). It's been almost entirely unsuccessful for everyone but the vitamin industry - every "health food" store is hawking individual nutrients,, and so are the supermarkets and the gyms. Doctors (who are great for acute medical issues but not chronic or nutritional ones) don't know what to do (and most have never had a course in food science or nutrition), tell you that "you're low in Vitamin D so take more" - despite overwhelming evidence that it has no effect. There's a psychological boost in feeling that "at least I'm doing something" but if you ask any of them to show you clinical data on this, they can't.

The body simply doesn't use nutrients individually. This vitamin or that mineral or that herb don't work on their own. So people who treat depression with A and frequent colds with B are frustrated. There are a lot of products advertised on TV but so many of them have had to pull or change their advertising because they made claims that couldn't be substantiated (and got in trouble with the FDA). Even one of the big yogurt companies was fined for claiming that a probiotic-laden yogurt would do certain things.

The other thing to watch for is pills - the absorption rate is so low. So even a multivitamin (which has some groupings of vitamins/minerals but is still way too deficient) has very limited use/effectiveness.

There are a few multi-faceted, highly comprehensive, highly absorbable supplements that also go through clinical studies and which are showing incredible results - everything from kids' health to immune system support to cholesterol reduction and anti inflammation, and now with advances in epigenetics there is even data on repairing cells so they function effectively and die off if they are diseased (e.g. cancer which is probably the most impressive). If a supplement company (or a pharmaceutical company, for that matter) can show you independent clinical studies (not ones they ran themselves), peer-reviewed papers, evidence of where the products are manufactured (vs. just something made in another country for a bunch of distributors to slap their label on), if there are patents on the formula (vs. one ingredient), then there's reason to look into them further. And of course they should all be safe for pregnant/nursing women - there should not be warning labels on them. 99% of vitamin products do carry warning labels because you can overdose - so that's a huge red flag.

So I wouldn't bother with the vitamin C and D by themselves, and I'd question the prenatal if it's in pill form. The probiotic is fine if it truly makes you feel a lot better digestively. For me, the true test was having my doctor take me off all those medications because a) I felt so much better and b) my lab results were phenomenal. Add to that the science I learned about long-term health, longevity and prevention, and it was a perfect balance. A decision I've never regretted.

Every morning I run. I have a half a cup of coffee, my running partner shows up at 0715, we go run a few miles, come back to the house, and I pour her a cup of coffee and drink the other half of mine while we chat. It's great. I actually look forward to getting up in the morning.

I also struggle with some anxiety (which is why I only nurse one cup of coffee). Running releases natural endorphins which calm my nerves and help my anxiety throughout the day.

I take a women's whole food multi, a live probiotic, vitamin D3 from cholecalciferol, vitamin C from acerola, and calcium citrate. It is important that the vitamins you take can be readily absorbed. Do your research and be careful, as not all are created equally.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. I'd be a neurotic mess without it.

Well, motherhood can be a little anxiety-provoking and a little depressing. We all love our kids but the monotony of diaper changes, mealtimes, nursing, baby classes, tantrums, more diaper changes, more nursing... it wears you out.

The three things that help me are my husband, my friends, and trying my best to remember that being a mom to little ones is only a short time in my life, so appreciate the good, sweet moments.

As far as the rest of the question, I don't know about vitamins helping anxiety and depression, but I supplement with a food-based multi. Iron and B12 help with feeling tired and rundown. I was a strict vegetarian for 15 years, but because lack of B12 and iron was a concern, I now eat a bit of fish or shellfish. I can't do red meat or (barf) liver, but both are awesome sources for iron and B12.

We need to keep busy or the kids and I go crazy. I don't do well sitting around with them at home - they fight, I get frustrated, etc. My son is in elementary school, so every morning we walk him to school. It's good exercise for me and a good way for my daughter to get out for a bit too. She gets to see her friends (all the little siblings that also walk older sibs to school) so it's fun for her.

Daughter goes to preschool three mornings a week. On her off days, she takes classes - dance and gymnastics. We meet up with other moms and same-age kids once a week for a playgroup at the park. I make sure we do this every single week to stay connected.

We usually don't have set plans from 12-3. We often meet friends for lunch at a park or someone's house. This keeps us busy until we pick up my son from school.

After school, both kids have quiet time - this is necessary for me to regain a bit of sanity before the evening routine! After quiet time, either my son has sports practice or, on off days, we just play at home. I like playing board games with the kids. Sometimes we have friends over or go to a friend's house.

We definitely keep busy and it makes us all a lot happier. Even when my kids were younger, the weekly playgroup was always a priority. I did classes like Gymboree and Music Together when they were little (both are nationwide, so you could find them near you).

I take a multivitamin, a calcium + vitamin D, and an omega-3 daily. You should consider talking to your doctor about antidepressants. Zoloft is safe while you're nursing. It might help with the anxiety and depression.

I try to do a lot of things to put make myself feel better:
-I go for a walk. For me, that clears my head.
-I keep a list of things I'm grateful for. Just a short list of my top 5 things
that I keep where I can see it. Also, a copy in my purse.
-I eat better, take vitamins.
-Buy myself cheap flowers, put in a pretty vase & keep on my dining room
table where I can see them often.
-Call friends for a quick chat.
-Laugh. Any chance I can, any way I can get it (watching a quick 30 min
comedy, calling a friend for a quick laugh).
-Pray for strenghth & a good day
-Turn on the news every morning for 30 mins to see how truly lucky I am.
-take pleasure in the simple things (my kids, my dogs, stopping to smell
the roses.....literally, treating myself to a hot latte, catching a rainbow).
-Life passes quickly. You've got to enjoy the ride before it stops. Do it
now.....today.....this very minute. It starts w/a minute.
-Oh & I also remind myself that every day starts anew. It's a clean slate.
I get a do-over for anything I didn't get to do, any wrong I may try to
make right, give people a chance).
-Look for the good first.
-go to the gym as often as I can
-do something fun w/my kids. I love to see their smiling faces &hear their
laughter.
-let the house go when I am not feeling up to it.
-try to dump stress in a healthy way. Stress isn't worth it. It doesn't
change anything. It just hurts our body so I try to let it go.
-be kind, do something nice for someone else. It takes the focus off of my
worries & makes me feel good.
-take things 24 hrs at a time. Tomorrow is a new day w/new possibilities.
Anything can happen.
-I give myself a break.
-I treat myself to little moments of cheap treats (indulging in a 30 min
comedy, cheap bouquet of flowers etc.).
-Write positive notes on post it notes & place around your house as a
reminder.
-give yourself a break....nobody's perfect.
-don't push yourself too hard over things that don't really matter in the
grand scheme of things (a perfectly clean house....a happy, loving house
may have a little mess as loving ppl & beautiful kids live ther).
-Make each new day a do-over. Take it one step at a time. Remind yourself....."you've got this". Be your own cheerleader & when you can't
call someone you will be for you.
-I pray asking for strength.
-I try to be a better person every day. Some days are better than others in
regards to my accomplisment of this task.
Take care of yourself & be happy.....every day. You can do it. Sending hugs

If you are looking to impose some sort of structure on your day, try Flylady.net. She is very good for order and good daily habits.

My biggest advice that I have learned is to downsize. Especially with 3 little kids. Stay on top of getting rid of the toys they no longer are interested in and things you and your husband don't need or use. It makes cleaning and putting away things so much easier. I finally have our 6 bedroom house manageable and am now starting on the 3 car garage. My goal is to have that done by the time it gets hot here in AZ.

Also, my kids are 15 and 12 and for the last 7 years that my husband and I have been together, the kids get in the shower and then are in their rooms at 8pm every night. They don't have to go to bed but they have to stay in there. That way my husband and I have some time together to catch up, watch shows, whatever before we go to bed. This has never been a problem doing this with the kids and they have learned to go to sleep on their own. I just go in and shut off lights and radios when I go to bed but have never had to fight with them to go to sleep or to get up in the morning.

My husband and I 90% of the time go to bed at the same time and usually a little earlier than when we want to sleep. We put our clothes away if we need to, clean up the bedroom a little and then my husband reads a daily devotion to me every night. Then we will either make a little love, read or go to sleep, or all of the above. lol The point is its some down time together, without the kids. I have never been a believer in the family bed because we need time for ourselves.

If your kids are busy watching a movie, don't feel like you have to be busy doing something productive. Take the time to sit with them and work on something fun like a craft or read a book or waste time on facebook. Do something that will make you feel better about the day. You don't have to spend every minute cooking and cleaning.

My last advice is to not sweat the small stuff. Don't stress if there's some dust on the shelves or dishes in the sink or clean clothes in a pile on the floor. In reality, ALL of us have this to some point. I always felt like my house was such a mess and unorganized but then I'd go to friends houses and theirs looked just like mine, some even much worse! So cut yourself some slack and don't try to make everything perfect. Hope this helps, good luck!

My daily goals are to feed the kids and not get so busy I forget. We graze a lot...lol. Ours are older though.

I have activities and interests outside of the home. I appreciate having adult time without anyone with me and I also feel better about myself when I am able to achieve success and make friends that aren't through the kids or hubby.

I definitely feel better when I hit the gym 3 days per week.
Eat real food, drink plenty of water.
Are you familiar with Dr. David Agus?
His book "Short Guide to a Long Life" makes recommendations based solely on data.
For example, there is NO data that a daily vitamin does anything for you, therefore he does not recommend it.
For example, people that get a yearly flu shot when they're young ARE healthier later in like-so he recommends O..
Good, short, concise read.