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Those high energy mums. Where do you get your energy from?

93 replies

daisymay1020 · 16/01/2024 14:09

Where do you get that 'get up and go' from?

I heard someone say they don't ever sit down, because if they did, they wouldn't get back up again... so that's how they keep on going.

I just want to have more energy for my toddler. I don't right now. I can just about get out of bed, let alone whizz around and go here, there and everywhere.

What gives you enegry?

OP posts:
Hooplahooping · 18/01/2024 00:01

Childcarereconfirm · 17/01/2024 23:30

Would you mind sharing your recipe @Hooplahooping ? It sounds brilliant and I love soup!

Haha - for sure - it’s nothing very exotic!

2 large onions, chopped
6 large carrots, chopped into rounds
4 courgettes, sliced
2 red peppers choped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 x 400g cans white haricot or cannellini beans
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
Tsp chilli flakes
salt and black pepper
stock cube
big glug olive oil

jar of supermarket pesto or a giant handful of basil chucked in a blender with some olive oil and another two garlic cloves.

On high heat : chuck the onion + garlic + chilli in the pan with the oil and coat. Stir for a minute until fragrant

add the carrots + courgette + red pepper for a couple more minutes

add the cannellini beans + the water from their tins

add the tomatoes + crumble in the stock cube. Give it a good stir and add a bit of water if it needs it to cover everything comfortably

Bring to boil and then turn down the heat + let it simmer for 30 mins / until the carrots are tender.

take off the heat. Salt and pepper to taste - astir through a jar of pesto / your basil concoction.

voila. It’s super simple - but I suppose the easiest habits always are - and it keeps well for a whole week in the fridge.

i eat it by itself sometimes - or if I’m having a hungry day I’ll cook some orzo to stir through it or pick up some crusty bread.

I usually grate a little bit of cheese on top.

Remaker · 18/01/2024 00:10

A lot of this is about personality types. You can see it in this thread. Some people measure their worth in quantity of activities and ‘busyness’. You ask them how they are and they reel off a list of things they’re doing. Or talk about how busy they are. Our society holds this up as what we all should strive for. But there are factors in life that you can’t easily measure. I value a calm house and kids with space to breathe, who know how to just be, who don’t panic if they’re not constantly on the move and surrounded by people. I have plenty of energy for the things that matter to our family. But I don’t define myself by how full my calendar is.

Marblessolveeverything · 18/01/2024 00:16

My children are 10 & 16 now. When they were young I was up and out everyday for exercise (spine issues), worked full time cared for ex with MH issues and for the craic took on a master's on one maternity & PhD on second.

Honestly it was to keep me being me. And I know the more I do the better I feel health, energy and mood wise. Don't forget a ridiculous amount of caffeine!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

CharlotteBog · 18/01/2024 00:19

I'm highly strung - I think that's what keeps me going.
I do a lot of exercise, and try and do lots of things that I enjoy outside of my work and raising my family.

foghead · 18/01/2024 00:40

Do you need high energy? You have one toddler. You just need enough energy to get out for a walk or play in the park with them, maybe a trip to the library or museum every now and then and be able to feed them, give them some attention and do a few chores.

If you can barely get out of bed then that's an issue. Are you getting enough sleep and good food? Get a blood test done.

Orangeandgold · 18/01/2024 00:53

Is say it’s influenced by mindset and personality. I think in life, when you’ve tapped into something that gives you a reason to get up and stay up - the energy probably comes from the adrenaline or excitement of whatever that is.

I’ve been asked many times how I have a daughter, work full time and find time for hobbies and a side hustle and the truth is, I do find elements of parenting fun, and often I find many parents moan about their children (which I can imagine is draining) - yes it’s hard but there are some funny convos and cute places I’ve gone with my DD that we’ve both enjoyed.

In terms of finding that spark or passion - some parents find it in running marathons, a good TV show: journaling; a mum from my DDs school in her 40s shocked me when she said that she was an Instagram Influencer for plus sized women and when she shoots her videos it’s coupled with dragging her sons out on a walk; some love cooking and get excitement from there and others enjoy learning a new skill.

It’s exhausting but a lot of it is finding the positives, having something to look forward to no matter where you are in life.

Orangeandgold · 18/01/2024 00:56

To echo what other posts have said - be in the moment. I had a very simple life when DD was younger - it was parks and trips but the one thing I did for myself was join a class at the library - once a week for an hour which made me feel human.

A lot of the high energy for me came afterwards. But also be in the moment and deal with everything a day at a time - and don’t compare yourself. Sometimes the high energy ones burn - it might just be in private.

BayCityCoaster · 18/01/2024 01:02

I’m not sure why @redheadsaregreat is getting such a hard time.

The OP is asking very specifically about people with endless energy, who’re constantly on the go, so I’m not sure advising her to do a 10-min walk is the kind of tip she’s looking for.

BayCityCoaster · 18/01/2024 01:05

In all honesty, I think you’re either high energy, or you’re not. It comes naturally, or it doesn’t.

Life is busy for me, but I’m not one of those whippet-thin, constantly on the move, full of nervous energy people, and I never will be. I wish I was, though!

avocadotoaststoppedmebuyingahouse · 18/01/2024 01:43

I used to be like this. I used to volunteer as well as working full time, having young children, and doing housework and cooking. I look back and wonder how I did it. I think it was being young. Then peri menopause hit.

PrimarilyParented · 18/01/2024 02:18

During my pregnancy my b12 was low so I had b12 injections and they honestly made so much difference efen when I had little sleep. I’m coming up to 3 months since my last one and I can tell.

also I go in cycles of energy that matches my menstrual cycle, I’m utterly exhausted in the week leading up to and first days of my period, but less so if I eat more healthily that month.

Passingthethyme · 18/01/2024 02:23

Theshieldofdoom · 17/01/2024 09:49

Honestly everyone is just different, some people are out at it from 6am until midnight and others crashed on the sofa by 7pm. I think it just is individuals rather some secret we can all unlock.

I agree with this to some extent. Although if you do eat well and get a decent sleep that makes a huge difference, and when you do I find it's a slippery slope. The worse I feel, the less I do, the less I want to do etc

redheadsaregreat · 18/01/2024 07:08

BayCityCoaster · 18/01/2024 01:02

I’m not sure why @redheadsaregreat is getting such a hard time.

The OP is asking very specifically about people with endless energy, who’re constantly on the go, so I’m not sure advising her to do a 10-min walk is the kind of tip she’s looking for.

Exactly. If someone 'doesn't stop' then their life is already active. A 10min walk is not the key to their energy levels. The OP wants suggestions on how to improve their energy.

Tinybrother · 18/01/2024 07:12

i think for many that dip in energy levels is a feature of having very young children

EarringsandLipstick · 18/01/2024 07:16

Remaker · 18/01/2024 00:10

A lot of this is about personality types. You can see it in this thread. Some people measure their worth in quantity of activities and ‘busyness’. You ask them how they are and they reel off a list of things they’re doing. Or talk about how busy they are. Our society holds this up as what we all should strive for. But there are factors in life that you can’t easily measure. I value a calm house and kids with space to breathe, who know how to just be, who don’t panic if they’re not constantly on the move and surrounded by people. I have plenty of energy for the things that matter to our family. But I don’t define myself by how full my calendar is.

Great post. Definitely some of how I am (re busyness) and I would aspire to be more like you in terms of a calm house.

EarringsandLipstick · 18/01/2024 07:18

Tinybrother · 18/01/2024 07:12

i think for many that dip in energy levels is a feature of having very young children

It was the opposite for me. Once I had kids, I did way more. It was like a motivation to be more active & embrace that busyness.

I'm a single parent & kids always with me. Very occasionally they might all be away. I'm both bad at relaxing or doing something productive I had planned.

ThreeRingCircus · 18/01/2024 07:39

Things I did to improve my energy:

Get a good sleep routine as far as possible with children. So I prioritised getting them into a sleep routine too. I go to bed at 10pm every night and I get a lie in (until 8am) once a week as DH gets up with DDs. If I napped/snoozed any longer I feel worse.

Taking vitamins. I got a blood test when I felt knackered when DD2 was very small and I was Vitamin D deficient. So I now take vitamins every day.

Eating food that isn't ultra processed. Honestly I was amazed the difference it made to my energy levels when I cut out UPFs. I still eat bread, biscuits and crisps more than I should but choose the ones that are made with ingredients I could find in my own kitchen and aren't packed full of emulsifiers and flavourings. I gave it a trial for a week and felt incredible so have kept it up.

Forcing myself to do things. So just getting up and out with DDs. No procrastinating. We always go out in the mornings nomatter what as I think if we end up having a quiet afternoon at least we've been out of the house that day.

foghead · 18/01/2024 07:44

My 2 biggest energy sappers are sleep and phone. It's amazing how much I can do if I've had enough sleep and put my phone away.

Tinybrother · 18/01/2024 07:44

EarringsandLipstick · 18/01/2024 07:18

It was the opposite for me. Once I had kids, I did way more. It was like a motivation to be more active & embrace that busyness.

I'm a single parent & kids always with me. Very occasionally they might all be away. I'm both bad at relaxing or doing something productive I had planned.

I was thinking less about actual activity (having small children is often busier whether you like that or not) but the energy level you feel - I’m glad you didn’t feel a dip. I don’t think it’s uncommon to feel that though.

Tinybrother · 18/01/2024 07:45

What I mean is - I didn’t need to do what other people do, or follow any “one quick trick to feel more energetic” again - I just needed my youngest child to reach a certain age.

Charlie2121 · 18/01/2024 07:48

I do think a lot of it is mindset. I’m mid 40’s with a toddler and DH is nudging 50.

We both have very senior FT jobs and almost no family support.

We feel like we’ve gone back in time and living a younger lifestyle again. Contrast that with some of our neighbours who are now grandparents at a similar age and act as if they are pensioners.

Of course at times it is tiring physically but you have a very different focus when you have a young child as older parents. I’m so grateful we are in that position rather than pretending we’re older than we are.

Serpentiner · 18/01/2024 07:52

Discipline, exercise, early mornings, high standards and sometimes nervous energy. This is how these mums do it. I think a lot of them are just super disciplined

Dollmeup · 18/01/2024 08:10

I agree that it's a case of high energy or not in many cases.

I have a couple of friends who are very busy and lead very active healthy lives always busy with busy with PTA, parties, trips away.

I'm not saying it's the case for everyone but in my case these friends do have a bit more money and flexible jobs than I do which helps I think. They can afford to outsource some things like gardening and cleaning which gives more time for exercise and healthy cooking, which probably gives more energy. They are also very sociable whereas I'm naturally more introverted and pta meetings are my idea of hell.

I used to wonder why I couldn't be like them but the truth is I don't really mind. I value having a calm household and I'm quite happy to pass the time chilling out with the kids doing crafty stuff and letting them play together with their toys.

eurochick · 18/01/2024 08:28

I always assumed they had those mythical sleeping children I hear about. If you have quality sleep, energy levels follow.

SouthLondonMum22 · 18/01/2024 08:30

eurochick · 18/01/2024 08:28

I always assumed they had those mythical sleeping children I hear about. If you have quality sleep, energy levels follow.

I was just going to say that I have a child who sleeps 12 hours at night which definitely helps.

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