5 Steps to being a Happier Mom | Motherhood Unplugged

Social media can make you question just about every aspect of your life including your own level of happiness. There are so many perfectly curated profiles online that it can be nauseating at times; especially if you spend a lot of hours viewing other peoples profiles. I often see this meme floating around that encourages you to 'unfollow' every account that makes you feel like you are not good enough and in fact I have done just like that a time or two. I personally enjoy following along with accounts that both are inspirational + realistic at the same time and it is my hope that my social media presence conveys that very message as well.

Today I wanted to share with you all 5 steps to being a happier mom. First up is leaning on your community. When I was single and ready to mingle I spent a lot of time hanging out with the girls. We would hit the clubs and dance all night sometimes. My 20s were definitely filled with lots of partying, restaurants, wine tastings and events with friends. Just today I watched a group of fitness models on vacation in Mexico twerk their way through an entire weekend on Instagram and smiled remembering how fun it was to be 25. Now that I am past that stage of life I find that I don't spend much time with those friends at all anymore. However, I do need to start reaching out to my friends, especially the ones who are not moms to let them know that I haven't forgotten about them + make more of an effort to rekindle those relationships. Having a sister circle is very important to me and can often lead to a more stable emotional health + happier state of being. In fact, I'm going on my first momcation with a girlfriend. I've known her since my CAU days and I can't wait to relax in the sun, have fun and catch up with my friend.

Secondly, you should commit to a healthy lifestyle. I look forward to working out in the gym to get time to myself and space to unwind after a long day being a mom to my children. Exercising regularly, getting ample sleep, partaking in self-care routines such as hair care, mani-pedi's, facials or massages can also heighten your sense of being happier in life. Taking time for personal pursuits is also necessary. This is the reason why I created the #mommmyminute a daily motivational email for moms that you can read in 60 seconds or less. Sign up for our email newsletter to get that boost you need to kickstart your day!

Access to good babysitting. Girl, this ought to be numbero uno on the list because having a date with your man regularly can heighten your mood and his as well. I have been so hesitant about hiring a sister after hiring a nanny gone wrong a few years ago but we recently hired a friend's teenager who is a dream. We had our first date in forever last month and I'm looking forward to another this month. Those few hours of couple time surely does a marriage good.

Avoiding comparison can also lead you to having a happier state of being. It is often said that comparison is the thief of joy and it surely is. This directly points to my first mention of social media making people feel less valuable simply because another person's life seems more lively, fun, or meaningful. Whatever the emotion is that is brought about, it certainly can make one question their own self worth. I'd definitely recommend cutting ties with anyone that makes you feel less than but also sit back and evaluate why you are actually feeling this way. Personally, I know that I can be emotionally triggered when I'm going through my cycle so I try to avoid making rash decisions like cutting people off during that time when 'I'm in my feelings' like Drake! lol

Lastly, when it's time for the perculator aka the adult happy dance you should just do it like Nike says. It is often said that romance is dead in marriages after so many years and lots of couples stop having sex for reasons like simply being too tired, feeling unenthusiastic, loss of libido after childbirth or more serious reasons like past infidelity and falling out of love. Whatever the reasons are for a dwindling sex life I do know that simply not engaging in sex with your partner surely won't raise your pheromones or level of happiness. Do yourself a favor and put having an O or two in your Happy Planner this month :) Spice it up and try something new!

Cheers to a happier you!

#motherhood