Everyone would tell you that being a mother is very rewarding. It certainly is, but it is also VERY tiring. It is a role/job/privilege, whichever way you see it, that is mentally and physically draining. It is especially brutal for new mums going back to work.

I remember how unprepared I was when the blog and my business took off months after I launched it. Lauren was about 9 months old at the time and I was still breastfeeding. From mere writing and working on the business plan whenever I had the time, suddenly life picked up a notch and I had client meetings, projects to manage and deadlines, and I remember the feeling of always rushing to get home to see my baby daughter. Life as a new working mum was full on and quite frankly, overwhelming.

I’ve been a working mum for more than five years and I’ve gotten the hang of it now. Let me share a few tips on how us mummies can stay productive without burning out.

Tips for new working mums to ease fatigue:

Take frequent breaks

I know this sounds impossible. Life as a working mum is stressful. That’s why we need to be mindful to take mini breaks throughout the day to de-stress. Not only does stress use up a lot of energy, it’s also harmful to our health. Chronic or long-term stress may make you feel fatigued, unable to concentrate and irritable for no good reason.

Some of the things you could include are leisurely walks, unstructured play with your children, practising mindfulness activities like colouring, reading or simply listening to your favourite music. Whatever relaxes you will improve your energy. And oh, remember to laugh! Laughing is the best way to beat stress!

Exercise

The last thing on your mind when you’re tired is exercise. I totally get that. And I’ve been struggling to get into any regular workout too. However, regular exercise could help you feel less tired in the long run. The good thing is – it doesn’t have to be strenuous. I love walking. To and from the market, to meetings, or simply a 15-minute walk around the park with the kids can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.

Cut Out Caffeine

I’ve written a blog post about why tired new mums should cut out caffeine. But hey, don’t just take my word for it. The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that anyone feeling tired should eliminate caffeine from their diet. It says the best way to do this is to stop drinking caffeinated beverages gradually over a 3-week period.

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, Coke, energy drinks and some herbal remedies. It may be hard to stay off caffeine at first, but here’s a list of caffeine-free alternative that could boost your energy level.

Drink More Water

Sometimes the reason we feel tired is simply that we’re dehydrated. A glass of water could do the trick, especially after exercise.

Snack Often

Nuts

Nuts have a high-fat content, so they can give us a lot of energy. Contrary to common belief, fat is not actually bad for you. But, only if you are eating the right type of fat. Most nuts, like almonds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts contain healthy, unsaturated fat.

As a substitute for foods high in saturated fat and sugar (such as biscuits, chocolates or cakes), nuts can be a good choice. Their high protein and fibre content make them a satisfying snack and they contain nutrients such as vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.

If you keep an eye on portion sizes and avoid unhealthy additions like salt and sugar, nuts can be a healthy choice between or with your meals.

Dark Chocolate

I love chocolates and I eat it on a daily basis. Chocolates can significantly lower levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines. It’s also known to release endorphins in your brain, which is why you feel good when you eat it. I believe, little treats like chocolates, help me feel better and keep me going even after a long day.

Oranges

The high levels of vitamin C in oranges help to boost our immune system and bring stress levels down a notch by significantly lowering the levels of cortisol in your systems. Less stress = better energy throughout the day.

BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken

I started taking BRAND’S Essence of Chicken when I was pregnant. I wasn’t particularly fond of the taste at first, but I didn’t want the many boxes given to us by well-meaning friends to go to waste.

I used to work up to 13 hours a day at my F&B business during pregnancy and I’m pretty sure BRAND’S Essence of Chicken was one of the contributing factors for keeping my energy level up.

After all, it is known for reducing tiredness. BRAND’S Essence of Chicken boosts our energy levels by increasing our metabolic rate.

So, whenever I find myself getting tired these days, guess what I reach for? 😉 And remember how I said that exercise can help energize the body? BRAND’S Essence of Chicken also promotes quicker recovery after physical activity by removing lactic acid build up in the body, which is what causes soreness, making it an ideal post-exercise snack!

These days, one of the biggest challenges as a work from home mum is concentration. You are trying to get work done with kids in the background often interrupting you with snack requests, hugs and kisses and bickering amongst themselves. With BRAND’S Essence of Chicken, I find that I’m able to multitask and switch between attending to the kids and getting back to work a lot faster.

I’ve even developed a taste for it! BRAND’S Essence of Chicken could be taken hot or cold, but I like it in room temperature, partially because I’m lazy. Hahaha!

Oh, another delicious way to consume it is to add it into your cooking. I like that BRAND’S Essence of Chicken is made with natural ingredients while being free from fat, cholesterol and has no added salt or preservatives. It makes it a delicious addition to any recipe! For my steamed ginger chicken dish, for example, I add a bottle of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken into the dish after I’m done cooking it. This is because every bottle of BRAND’S has been crafted at a specific temperature, pressure and time, so to retain its goodness, it’s best to add it after your dish is cooked!

Try it for yourself!

Get 15% off a 68ml x 30 bottle pack of BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken Original (RSP $84.70) on Lazada from 17 Sep – 13 Dec 2018! Simply visit http://po.st/ywZQBK to redeem your Lazada voucher.*

*Limited to one use per customer.

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