Moms aren’t always good about doing things for themselves. As moms, we tend to push off making exercise a priority—it takes too much time, we’re too tired, we don’t want to spend the money on it, etc. The excuses are many. But try to remember that taking care of your health and being fit benefits all areas of your life, including your ability to be the best mom possible.

Use this fact as your motivation because it’s true. When Mom takes the time to have good health and fitness, the whole family benefits. Here are seven ways that Mom’s improved fitness is good for everyone:

1) Increases happiness—and happy moms are good moms

Exercise elevates levels of serotonin which make you feel happier. Working out also releases those feel-good endorphins, which make you feel better too. We’ve all heard the old saying, when mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. Truly, a happy mom generally makes a happy family.

2) Improves sleep

If there’s one thing that moms consistently say they wish they could have more of, it’s sleep. Exercise helps here, too. Research shows the more you exercise, the better you sleep. Exercise improves not only the duration of sleep, but the quality of sleep as well. One study showed that women who exercised 30 minutes a day, five days a week, improved their sleep quality by 65 percent. That’s a big improvement!

3) Manages stress and anxiety

There’s not much argument that motherhood comes along with varying amounts of stress. It’s never good to let this get the best of you. Fortunately, exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Just 30 minutes of physical activity can help you feel less stress and anxiety. Working out not only reduces the hormones that signal stress, but raising your body temperature during exercise has also been shown to calm nerves.

4) Boosts energy

Another thing moms wish they had more of is energy. Exercise increases your circulation and your heart muscles which improve energy levels. Regular, consistent exercise has an exponential effect on your energy levels—the more you exercise, the more your body learns to create the energy you need.

5) Increases strength

Feeling fit and healthy is not about feeling skinny. Strong is the new skinny! Today, it’s all about being healthy and strong, and these are things that moms can definitely benefit from.

As you get older, not only does your body build muscle less efficiently, but the muscle you already have breaks down more quickly too. This makes exercise an important part of staying healthy as you get older. Working out keeps your metabolism up and gives you the strength to complete your everyday tasks.

6) Increases productivity and focus

Studies show exercise increases productivity and focus. A study by the American College of Sports Medicine found that 65 percent of people surveyed reported an increased ability to manage their time and get more done when they exercised that day.

7) The most important of all: you are a very important role model for your kids

Whether they make you feel this way or not, you are one of the most important role models your kids will ever have. They are watching you and are influenced by what they see you do. This can be eating healthy and exercising or the opposite.

Be the role model you want your kids to have and show them that exercise is an important daily habit. You’ll most likely raise healthy kids who later exercise as adults. That’s a great gift to give your kids.

This Mother’s Day, give your family the gift of a healthy, happy mom

As we honor moms on this Mother’s Day, let’s remember that a healthy, happy mom is good for the entire family. Give yourself (or the important mom in your life) the gift of health. Call Outlaw FitCamp today about our personal training programs and group fitness classes so we can help the mom in your family feel her best!