10 Ways to Simplify Meal Planning for Busy Moms
When it comes to meal planning for the week, it’s so easy to over-complicate it. We’ve been told by the media and other sources that specific and special rules need to be followed in order to eat healthily. However, if that’s not working for you, it’s okay to start fresh and try a more flexible approach to meal planning. I’ve outlined 10 of my favorite ways to make meal planning quick and easy for the family, while still being healthy and making dinners that we enjoy. 1. Meal Plan with recipes that can accommodate slight variations – If you…
5 Books You Have To Read If You Loved “Girl, Stop Apologizing”
1. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg With so much information available about good habits and bad habits, and how they affect our lives, this book was full of research that was interesting and relatable. First and foremost, Duhigg outlines the science behind habits and how you can make changes for the better. For being a research-based book, this was an incredibly quick read, offering lessons I can easily implement into my day-to-day life. 2. The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by…
Should I Start a Weight Loss Program?
Weight Loss Programs – Do They Work? In having conversations with my clients who set out a goal to lose weight, we often find that there are aspects about one weight loss program they love, but certain things about it that don’t work for them. Then, as we investigate other options, they realize many of the other programs are the same – some things they love, and some things they don’t. Through that process, we end up creating a customized plan just for them that applies an approach that works best with their lifestyle, according to their goals, personality, and…
The Best Ways to Get Fit When You Don’t Have Time to Workout
Often times, when starting something new or working to replace a bad habit with a healthy one, we set our sights high. And by high, I mean we create a goal at the top of a mountain, not taking into account everything else that life might throw at us along the way. I don’t want to say we dream too big because I never want anyone to think their dream is too big. But when it comes to making progress, realistic goals and quick wins are key to success. When it comes to staying active and getting fit, the most…
Going Back to Work After Baby – A Survival Guide
The Post Maternity Leave Life Transition Looking back, I wish I would have had the ability to look into the future so I could see that, first, it would all work out okay. And second, that charging back into work as if it was all going to be the same as when I left wasn’t realistic. I was hard on myself when I wasn’t able to come back to work after having a baby with the same mental capacity or hours worked each week and as a result, it took a major toll on my health & well-being. Going…
When Everything Else Has to Be the Priority
Because sometimes everyone and everything else has to be the priority! This isn’t an act of martyrdom or a complaint. This is life. There are moments, life events and family crises that require our focus shift—shift to the present, the moment at hand, the immediate. Often this means we might have to skip the gym or happy hour with a friend or even the bath that we so desperately need. It means that we have to let things slip and slide until the world rights itself again. The dishes might pile up, the corners become covered in dirt and the…
The “What Mom REALLY Wants for Mother’s Day” Gift Guide
For many moms, it’s about more than a tangible gift that will look good on social media. The perfect gift is one that will leave mom feeling loved and refreshed, valued and recharged. I asked moms all over Facebook what they REALLY want for Mother’s Day. By and large, the answer boiled down to our most precious commodity… time. Today’s moms ultimately want a break. A break from the day-to-day to-do list that only grows. A break from the bickering and constant questions. A break that affords the luxury of time… to do whatever she wants. As you shop for…
Why is it so hard to break bad habits? (and why it doesn’t mean you failed)
Breaking old bad habits (or less desirable habits) and adding in new healthy ones is so much easier said than done. After all, we’re only human and I’ll admit I have broken a few well-intentioned habits along the way, and I fully expect I’ll do it again in the future. Here’s why – When you look at the science behind habits, it makes it a lot easier to understand why you might have a slip up when you’re really trying to create a new healthy habit in your life. And, when you can arm yourself with the understanding of what’s going…
5 Things that Suprise Moms About Working with a Wellness Coach
It’s no surprise that this is the immediate question. It’s a fairly new profession and the term “wellness” has become ubiquitous in just about any phrase you can imagine. Wellness center, financial wellness, pet wellness, and on and on… If you follow my posts and social media, it’s easy to see helping moms create a greater sense of overall wellness in their lives would be my focus. With that being said, the possibilities for how I might work with a client can vary greatly, but the common tie is that they’ve set their own personal needs aside to help their…
5 Quotes All Busy Mamas Need to Keep Close By
When you’re feeling like the pressure of being a good mom, succeeding at work or in your business is weighing heavy on you, or questioning if you’re “enough”, here’s 5 non-judgmental reminders to help you reset yourself and remember you’re doing the best you can, and that’s truly all that matters: 1. No one else is exactly like you, and that is your superpower. 2. You alone are enough. 3. A flower does not think about competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms. 4. Give yourself the credit you deserve. 5. Your imperfections make you beautiful and…
Why Moms Are Struggling to Feel “Enough” More Than Ever Before
There is so much mixed messaging out on social media and the internet right now, and so much of it seems to be focused on moms. Hustle but don’t burn out. Never settle but find a way to be “enough”. Don’t quit until you’re proud but find work/life balance. Be present but stay connected at all times. No wonder moms are struggling to feel “enough” these days. The pressure on us is like nothing the world has ever seen before. To do more, be more, achieve more all while keeping tiny humans alive, capturing it in perfect images to…
How to Define & Build Your Life Balancing Muscles for Moms
Answer this question: Do you have a sustainable life balance as a mom? If the answer is “no”, you’re not alone. This is the most common conversation I have with moms, and especially those who either own their own business, work a full-time career, or even have a side hustle on top of a career. It’s actually a major reason why The Driven Mama exists. Our mission is to redefine what it means to be “driven” and “ambitious”, so that it’s not synonymous with “tired”, “exhausted”, or “barely getting by”. Let’s get one thing straight – being a driven mama…
Why Moms Need To Put Themselves First
I hear it all the time, moms telling me how they feel like a “bad mom” if they decide to go out for a girls night out, or set a goal that also requires them to be away from their family more. Maybe it’s training for a race, or deciding to start a business that requires them to travel some weekends. If you’re familiar with what I’m talking about, then you’re probably also well aware of the term, “mom-guilt”. What is “Mom-Guilt”? Let’s take a second to clarify – Having the urge and desire to want to be with…
15 Self-Care Ideas (& Activities) for When You Don’t Have Time for Self-Care
It’s Time Make Time to Start Taking Better Care of Yourself, Mama If you follow anyone remotely interested in wellness on Social Media these days, chances are good that you’ve seen at least one of their posts show off their latest self-care routine, and you’re left thinking “wouldn’t that be nice if I had time in my day to lounge around?” As busy moms, finding time for your own wellness routine can be a major challenge! It can feel like you don’t have a second left in your day for yourself, and when you finally do, it’s unexpected, or it’s…
Help, I’m Always Tired! How to Boost Your Energy (Naturally) in 5 Minutes or Less
How to Have More Energy When You’re a Busy and Tired Mom “So, how do I have more energy when more sleep isn’t an option?”, an exhausted mom asked me as I finished up my presentation to a room full of women and about one hundred more on a webinar. I felt frozen. I didn’t actually quite know how to respond, because the truth was, I was dealing with that exact same issue. I was a brand new wellness coach at the time and one of my mom friends had connected me with her corporate moms group at her company…
Want more balance in your life? Ask yourself these questions.
Finding Life Balance as a Busy Mom The weather we’ve been having lately has reminded me how easy it can be to get out of balance in our lives. Our family has been welcomed with a lovely case of snotty noses and sore throats this last week, which has now worked its way through our whole family. ‘Tis the season! It’s almost as if the powers that be are testing me to see if I can take on “a little bit more” all while being sleep-deprived because toddlers and colds don’t mix well. Quickly, my well thought out planning process…
Why Decluttering is Good for Your Health & Well-Being (and 3 quick steps to get started)
There’s more to Marie Kondo’s Madness than just Tidying Up –
When I first saw Tidying Up, I thought it was going to be a cute little show about helping people organize their house… little did I know Marie is actually a Wellness Professional, just like me…
Valentine’s Day Roundup (for him)
If you’re like me, finding a gift for your significant other is one of the hardest things. He’s not great about dropping hints or saying what he needs, so it leaves me totally guessing every holiday and hoping I’m on the right track for what he wants. I’ll be honest, it’s been hit or miss. When it comes to holidays like Valentine’s Day, I always struggle more than usual. Do I get him something romantic? Something practical? And because I’m not great with planning ahead, there’s usually no time for some well thought out custom Etsy.com gift (sorry, babe). So,…
Looking Back on 2018 & Moving Forward with 2019
This year, I’ve decided to not only be more intentional with the process of celebrating the milestones in my business, but I also decided to share them with you along the way. Starting a business is no joke, and especially all while raising a family, managing a household, and trying to keep up with all the latest trends….
3 Steps: How to Put Your Goals Into Action
If you tend to be a dreamer or visionary, like me, sometimes to easiest part of the goal planning process can be the planning part. It can be so easy to see the future vision and write out what you would like to happen, but actually knowing where to get started and creating action is a whole other thing. Suddenly, you’ve set your goal and know where you want to go, but you feel overwhelmed, stuck and you might even think about throwing in the towel before you’ve even started. This is the point where the brain plays some crazy…