Freya, like most 18 month year olds, has so much energy. As I am at home with her until she is 2 years old and we don’t know anyone around with little kids (Corona didn’t make it easy to meet young mums) I’m with her a lot, trying to keep her both safe and entertained.

This task requires a lot of imagination and energy.

I bet it is even harder for any working mum. Finding energy after a long day in the office is quite the challenge. So if you’re fed up of being tired and want to have the energy to have fun and be playful with your little one here is what will help.

1. Sleep

I am dreaming about being able to sleep through the night. Freya still wakes up once or twice at night. It isn’t easy to be bursting with energy when you yourself aren’t getting enough rest. Therefore, going to bed a bit earlier (maybe even an hour earlier) than your usual time will make a huge difference. Improving the quality of your sleep will also help. Stop using any screens at least an hour before bed, have an early dinner (or a light one if there is no option to have it early) and do something that really relaxes you. I love looking at stars in the evening. It really calms me down and makes me happy. I automatically smile when I do that. I also do gentle stretches in bed while I’m reading my book. Sphinx or pigeon stretches work perfectly in bed, I promise.

2. Hydration

I need to keep on reminding myself to drink water in the mornings. There is so much going on that I sometimes forget my pre breakfast pint of lemon water and only have my first sip after having my post breakfast coffee. It affects my energy so much. Therefore, in the last two weeks I have been more focused to hydrate throughout the day, starting out first thing in the morning (with a big squeeze of lemon juice). Staying on top of my morning hydration makes a huge difference in how I feel later. Secondly, if you start feeling tired, any time during your day, make sure you have a glass of water instead of coffee. That way you won’t only increase your energy but you will keep it up for way longer.

3. Food

Nutrition is key when it comes to energy. A high carb, sugar and caffeine diet will only make you feel sluggish. Focus on nutrient dense foods like greens, other veggies, fruits, grains, legumes, herbs, healthy fats, protein and caffeine free teas. Eat foods that are the closest to their natural form as possible. And please, avoid sugar…. This last one is the hardest one for me but the one that makes the biggest difference.

4. Walk

Freya loves walking. She loves being out of the house and exploring. She doesn’t like to stay on our usual path but always wanders off instead. For me, it is at this time when taking care of her and keeping her entertained is the easiest. I focus on my breathing (I started doing breathing exercises a few years ago as they really help me relax), look around and smile a lot. We listen to birds and look at the different plants. I still have to carry her around a lot but that isn’t so bad, once I’m outdoors. I don’t know about you but I love being outside. We’re lucky as we live in the middle of nowhere in the Austrian alps. I can go up or down the mountain as soon as I step out of the house. This makes it the perfect location for me, but perhaps a bit more boring for Freya who prefers the kids playground!

5. Exercise

I don’t mean high energy workouts. I wouldn’t recommend these until you get more regular sleep. I mean gentle, body loving, making you feel good exercises. They wont only give you more energy but will also help you stay painfree (which isn’t easy with breastfeeding, nursing or carrying the baby on the hip). Exercise, and walking, improves our circulation and detoxification. It helps our lymphatic system to work better and as a result increases our energy.

6. Epsom/sea salt bath

I am not a big bath person, but this always lifts my energy up. Every time I really struggle, feel stressed or just uncomfortable in my body, I have a bath. Sometimes it is once a month and sometimes it is twice a week. There are days when I need it more. As I am already teaching high energy classes, but I don’t sleep, I need it more often than before. I could reduce the intensity of my workout (I just need to show my clients what to do), but as soon as the music starts playing, I cannot help myself and I do it. It isn’t healthy at all but I haven’t managed to control that yet. Epsom salt bath is what keeps me alive after working too much (it is what I do for living in the end).

7. Supplements

I am not saying that everyone should now start taking supplements. I leave that decision to you and your physician. But the reality is that most of us have some mineral or vitamin deficiencies. I have always had low iron levels. Since I was 18 I sometimes gave blood and there was often an issue with my iron levels. On top of that in 2017 I had a very painful lower back inflammation which was caused by iron deficiency (I would not believe that there was a connection if my osteopath didn’t prove that to me). Since then I have been taking wholefoods iron. I also take magnesium, vit B complex, vit D and Omega 3. I take breaks sometimes but I get back to it as soon as I feel I need them.

8. Take care of your gut

It is the last one on my list but it doesn’t make it the least important. I think this is actually one of the most important elements here. The gut, immune system, mental health and energy link is well documented. You will keep your gut healthy by eating a variety of plants, staying hydrated, sleeping enough, moving more, breathing and relaxing, taking supplements and adding fermented foods to your weekly menu.

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and yogurt are packed with natural probiotics.

They will support your bowel movements (did you know that if you don’t go to the toilet max 1.5h after waking up you are constipated) which basically means they will help your body detoxify. When our body is able to remove toxins efficiently, our energy isn’t disturbed.

I know it is a lot to take on. You can start with just one or two elements and keep on adding more when the previous one is easy to maintain. Don’t try to change too much at once as it does increase your chance to give up and go back to old habits.

A while ago I decided that I will make each day I spend with my daughter count, as if that was our last day together. These are the steps that I follow to be able to live up to this promise every day. Not every day is perfect but then I make sure I do what I have to do to make it better tomorrow. In the end nothing else matters. The world is crazy and unpredictable and all that is guarantied is that particular moment. I want to make it special.

Ps. If you wonder if I get mad sometimes because Freya is really pushing all my buttons than the answer is yes. This helps me practice my response to her teenager games (it is what I am telling myself to be able to deal with that). But after all emotions cool down I’m grateful for every moment as we need a rainbow of emotions, right? That includes being frustrated, tired, sad and confused sometimes.

With love,

Karo

#26: My 18 month old has so much energy. Here is what I do to be able to keep up with her.