When was the last time you took time for yourself? I’m not talking about a 15-minute break at work or momentarily venturing away from your errands or endless to-do list to enjoy a Starbucks. I mean real time – time to think about yourself and, more importantly, time to take care of yourself.

If you’re like most moms your health is low on your priority list. I know, it’s not due to a lack of interest or desire, it’s simply that life has a way of robbing us of our time and our energy.

As a mom, I desperately try to keep up with my three always-on-the-go kids and, with the added stress of running a business by day and a blog at night, there are days I’m so exhausted and stressed I could crawl into bed at 5 pm and call it a day. But, we all know moms never get the luxury of shutting the world out. Despite how crummy or tired we feel, we have to keep going.

As counterproductive as it sounds, regardless of how exhausted I am, I still take time for myself to workout or take a walk because when I don’t… I pay the price.

When I don’t eat right, don’t get enough sleep or I choose Netflix over exercise, I’m a mess. I feel sluggish, I’m cranky with my kids and my husband, I’m moody and I have the attention span of a two-year-old.

I’m not a professional fitness expert. I’m just a busy mom, like you, trying to balance family, work, life and my health. Some days I nail it, other days I fail miserably.

But, there is one thing I have learned… a healthy mom is a happy mom and arguably, when you’re happy, it makes you a better mom.

So, if you’re ready to regain control of your health, trade out excuses for solutions and make your wellness goals both manageable and within reach, here are five of my favorite ways to stay healthy and fit, even if you’re a busy mom with only a few minutes to spare every day.

TIP #1 Be Kinder to Yourself

We live in a culture that places a lot of emphasis on perfection. We’re expected to be a multi-tasking, juggling, super mom with the uncanny ability to handle everything with ease all while looking completely fabulous.

The harsh reality is, this mindset is making moms feel less than perfect as we desperately try to keep up with the haze of synthetic realism. In the end, we’re striving for standards that can’t be met, we’re putting everyone else’s needs before our own and, by the end of the day, we’re completely worn out.

Rather than falling into the trap of comparing yourself to everyone else, be kinder to yourself. Stop striving to be something or someone you’re not and stop beating yourself up when you fall short. Hit the reset button in life and focus on your own physical, mental and emotional health. You’ll be far happier, less stressed and more content in the long run.

TIP #2 Choose YOU Over Tasks That Don’t Matter

If you had to guess, how much time would you say you spend sifting through emails (most of which is likely unsolicited advertising), scrolling through your newsfeed on Facebook to see what your friends and family are up to or chatting with friends on the phone about the latest neighborhood news, which stores are having sales or the latest news about your kids?

I’m not negating the importance or value of any of those things, but just imagine how different your life – and your health – would be if you used even a portion of that precious time doing something that impacted your well-being. Cooking a healthy dinner, working out at the gym, going for a brisk walk after dinner or taking a Yoga class – making time for yourself means putting some tasks and, yes, even friends and family on the back burner occasionally so you can focus on you, your well-being and your health.

TIP #3 Squeeze Exercise into Your Week

There’s never a great time to exercise. Mornings are busy with the kids, afternoons are hectic with work or errands and evenings are packed with dinner, kid’s activities and preparing for the next day. Regardless of when you workout, squeeze in a few minutes several times a week. Don’t worry about how long you work out, how hard you work out or what you wear, just get moving.

Even 20 minutes of exercise three to four times a week will do a world of good not only for your physical health but your emotional and mental health. Even if you only have a few minutes to dedicate to a workout, don’t skip it. Instead, just ramp up the intensity of the workout and you’ll still reap big benefits.

And, if you happen to be experiencing the host of side effects that accompany menopause (like I am – yeah, it totally sucks), exercise is a fabulous way to combat those annoying symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, exhaustion, sleeplessness, and irritability. According to Healthline.com, regular exercise is also an excellent way to stave off weight gain and loss of muscle mass – two frequent symptoms of menopause. For ideas, here’s a few great activities you can do to help with symptoms of menopause.

TIP #4 Break Free From Your Routine

Have you ever noticed that the older we get, the more we cling to our routine? Nothing new, nothing fresh, nothing special. If you do one thing today to improve your overall health and well-being, branch out and do something new – something that will benefit your body and your health.

Whether it’s trying a few new healthy recipes, taking a hike with your kids or playing tennis with friends, break free from yesterday’s inaction and try something totally new, fun and energizing.

TIP #5 Seek Alternatives to the Unhealthy Foods You Crave

At 2 pm every afternoon, I get a serious craving for a Coke. I know it’s not good for me. I know there are plenty of healthy alternatives, (like water), that I should be drinking, but still, I struggle with letting go of my “vice.”

We all have them. Weaknesses. Food we crave. Food we love more than life itself and can’t resist even though we know it’s bad for us. But imagine how much healthier we would be if we made a commitment to seek alternatives to our biggest weaknesses.

Rather than trying to change your entire diet in one fell swoop, just tackle one little obsession at a time. The trick is to test out healthier alternatives.  If your weakness happens to be salty snacks or sweets, make it your mission to test out various foods or recipes that can serve as alternatives. Have fun with it! There are so many easy, healthy, yet completely delicious recipes that can rid you of your unhealthiest vices and cravings, and help turn your health around. For instance, here are 13 healthy swaps if you’re craving something salty, and here’s 20 healthy alternatives when you have a serious sweet tooth! (To break free from my Coke obsession, I’m trying a variety of low sugar home-made iced teas!)

Everyone’s approach to health and wellness is unique… what works for one person, may not work for another. What motivates your best friend might not motivate you at all.

You need to find what works for you and block out what the rest of the world is doing. Just remember, to focus on YOU. Getting healthy is an investment in you, your life and your future.

Look… you want to be around to see your kids get married, right? You want to be here and have the energy to get on the floor and play with your grandkids, right? Even the smallest changes in your lifestyle and food choices can make a big difference in your overall health.

Think about it, someone FAR busier (and more tired) than you is working out this very minute! So, crank up the music and get moving! No excuses, just solutions. One day at a time, my friend… one day at a time!

“Don’t try to be perfect, just try to be better than you were yesterday.”