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Health Healthy Living How To Parenting

Calm and Helpful Ways to Properly React To An Animal Bite

Many kids tend to gravitate toward animals. This may be OK if they’re petting a friend’s puppy, but it can be dangerous if an animal turns out to be less than friendly. As much as we hate to think about it, children (and even some adults) get bitten by strange animals all the time. They see an unfamiliar dog and assume it will be docile, only to find out the dog doesn’t react well to strangers. Knowing how to properly react to an animal bite is essential.

As a parent, what can you do? How can you protect your child, and what should you do if an animal harms your little one? To help you protect your babies, toddlers, and kids from getting bitten — and to prepare you for what to do if a bite occurs — here’s what you need to know about animal bites.

How to Avoid Animal Bites

It almost goes without saying that your best bet with animal bites is prevention. While you cannot control every situation, you can avoid places where dangerous animals tend to be, and you can talk to your kids about the risks involved with wild or unfamiliar creatures. In the case of especially young children, you never want to leave them alone with an animal.

For older kids, it’s important to teach them proper behavior when it comes to animals. Make sure they know why and how dogs, cats, raccoons, snakes, etc. can be dangerous, so they’re not unintentionally provoking an incident. Teach your children not to approach animals in the wild, even in a friendly way. Explain that unknown animals are not safe to pet or play with, and it’s best to move carefully rather than try to run, which could trigger an animal’s instinct to chase. To discourage strange animals from being attracted to your home, keep it clean: Don’t leave out food debris.

React To An Animal Bite

What to Do if a Bite Occurs

Should the unthinkable happen and your child gets bitten, plan now to stay calm. Stop and assess the wound: How severe is it? Do any bones seem broken? If the bite happened on the face, are stitches needed? Call your child’s doctor or, if the injury seems extensive (hard-to-control bleeding, intense pain, etc.), head to the emergency room right away. For minor injuries, focus on cleaning the area with an antiseptic solution, applying pressure to slow any bleeding, and bandaging it to ensure it heals. Keep an eye on the wound for signs of infection: increased redness, swelling, draining, or a fever. In any of these cases, call your child’s doctor.

How to React to an Animal Bite

Depending on the type of animal that bites, further action may be necessary. While dogs are the most likely animal to bite a child, lots of other animals can also turn aggressive. If the attacker was a cat, you’ll most likely want to get antibiotics, as cats tend to harbor more bacteria in their mouths.

For bat bites or some dog bites, your child may need a rabies shot. Some types of bites will also require a tetanus shot or other intervention. If the animal that’s bitten your child was wild or a stray, contact animal control; if it was someone’s pet, get as much information as you can about the owner, in case you need to seek legal help with medical bills.

Want more information about how to properly react to an animal bite? Take a look at the accompanying resource, which provides several actionable tips. From assessing the severity of the injury to understanding treatment options and aftermath, this guide will help you understand what to do.


Infographic Provided by Tracy Tiernan Attorney at Law

AUTHOR BIO: Tracy Tiernan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 1987. He went on to secure his J.D., or law degree, from The University of Tulsa in 1990. While attending law school, Tracy interned for a highly successful Personal Injury Law firm in the Tulsa area where he was involved in the litigation and trial preparation of Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Criminal cases. Tracy, who was involved in a bit of college sports, enjoys running, participating in the occasional obstacle race, and coaching his children’s soccer teams to keep his mind sharp. He resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his children.

Sources:
https://www.beaumont.org/conditions/animal-bites-stings 
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/bites.html
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/animal-bites-what-to-do-when-a-pet-or-a-wild-creature-nips-a-child
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/animals.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Afn-WNjq8PXb3Io8udy-n462_Deqwzkk/view?usp=sharing

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Health Healthy Living Parenting

Gentle Health: How To Encourage Your Child to Relax At Medical Appointments

As the primary caregiver of a child, you know how hard it sometimes is for them to relax at medical appointments. If the child has additional needs, interruptions to their routine can feel catastrophic, and they react negatively to a change. The problems often arise during essential appointments, so you must find a way to encourage your child to relax.

Patience is a must, of course, but if you can get your child to The Smile Spa or to the doctor with minimal fuss, it’s less stressful for you and them. One of the things you can do is to ensure that your child feels they are in control. Making them feel in control means helping them understand what’s going to happen and what the appointment is for. 

How To Encourage Your Child to Relax At Medical Appointments

1. Determine Their Immediate Need

You know that this will upset your child, and you should immediately give your child notice. If there is an upcoming dental appointment, you need to tell them the moment you book it. They will likely be upset, but they’ll be more upset if you don’t tell them what’s ahead of them. You want your child to trust you, and that means being honest and open. 

2. Be Honest at Every Turn

When your child asks if something will hurt and you know it will then say so. Explain that it’ll be fast and not much more than a sting (vaccines), or explain that the dentist has a magic cream to make sure that they don’t hurt when they are having their teeth done. You want to base your relationship on trust, and every child needs that.

3. Know Their Fears

Does your child fear the doctor? Is it because they’re afraid of what they might see or experience, or is it the whole idea of just being in the doctor’s office? Either way, ensure you are aware of the fears that your child has and go with them. Use blindfolds to help if they are afraid to see the dentist. Use noise-canceling headphones if they need any drilling. Meet their sensory needs while you are ensuring that they are calm.

4. Add Comfort

If your child has a comfort item to hold or wants to be held, you can add comfort. There is nothing wrong with ensuring your child is as comfortable as possible. It can keep them calm through the whole process when you do. Your child can relax knowing you are relaxed, too, so be the comfort they need.

Encourage Your Child to Relax At Medical Appointments

Medical appointments can be hard for children, so ensure that you help ease the discomfort and fear. By implementing these tips, you can encourage your child to relax at medical appointments.

Do you have any other tips? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Adulting Health Healthy Living How To Mental Health Parenting

3 Simple Self-Care Advice For Moms to Change Your Life

Have you heard the phrase that you can’t pour from an empty cup? This phrase is so accurate and so essential for moms to remember. You can’t look after anyone if you’re only hanging on by a thread yourself. That is why looking after yourself and learning about self-care advice for moms is so important.

Essentially, self-care is looking after yourself, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. When you make time for some self-care, it can give you the energy you need to recharge and do everything you need to. Self-care advice for moms means that you can relieve stress, feel more relaxed, less anxious, and generally feel better. 

Self-care should not add stress to your already busy life or feel like an obligation. Finding something that works for you is so important. Self-care isn’t about doing things that make other people happy because it should make you happy. It may feel selfish at times, especially as a busy mom when there are so many other things to consider. Self-care is something that is not selfish, though. Self-care should be something that makes you feel well-balanced and happy. But when you’re busy, how can you make time for it? Here are some things to consider.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Self-Care Advice for Moms

1. Give Yourself Permission

One of the things that will help you take better care of yourself is permitting yourself. Doing this helps avoid making excuses for why you can’t or shouldn’t do something. By allowing yourself to have some time alone or time to do something just for yourself, you are making yourself a priority. 

2. Find Small Ways to Help in Your Day

It can be hard to go for a massage in the middle of the day when you’ve got children or are out working. But, if you find some ways to look after yourself that you can do in your day, it can make a big difference. For example, finding ten minutes to read a book or do your nails (Color Street anyone?!) can be something quick and easy. You might find time to meditate or stretch for a little while, or you could buy CBD oil to use when you’re feeling particularly anxious and need to care for yourself better. Small things can make a big difference when it comes to self-care. 

3. Commit to a Self-Care Plan

When you’re busy and have too much to think about, you need to have a plan, which is anything that works well for you. It might be that you need to schedule in time for self-care, just as you might if you were planning a meeting at work. It might be something daily, or perhaps sticking to something weekly would fit better instead.

Self-Care Advice For Moms to Change Your Life

No matter what self-care looks like for you and your situation, make sure you have a plan so you can easily make it part of your everyday life. 

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Adulting Health Healthy Living How To Parenting

2 Things to Remember When Taking Great Care Of Yourself During Pregnancy

Taking great care of yourself during pregnancy is essential, both for your sake and for your unborn child. However, it can be confusing to cut through the misinformation to find out which self-care tips matter. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as tricky as you might expect to look after yourself. There are a few key things to remember when taking care of yourself during pregnancy.

Taking Great Care Of Yourself During Pregnancy

Diet Is Everything

Diet is everything during pregnancy. Your body converts the food you eat into fuel that your body uses to grow and sustain your unborn baby. So, whatever you eat will be passed on to your child in their most essential formative stages. Eat a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet that focuses on whole foods like rice and vegetables rather than artificial ultra-processed foods.

Aim to eat a minimum of five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. If you do, you’ll provide your baby with a boost of vitamins and minerals while keeping your energy levels high. Avoid certain foods during pregnancy, as well, including high-mercury fish such as swordfish and king mackerel. Try to avoid unpasteurized milk and cheese, too. Caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided, as these substances can cause serious harm to your unborn child.

It’s a myth that you need to “eat for two” during pregnancy, as your baby does not require the same amount of calories as an adult woman. Increase your calorie intake slightly, but don’t go overboard. 

Never Ignore Your Instincts 

Never ignore your instincts, as your mind and senses work overtime to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy. If you feel that something is not right, you must find a reputable doctor such as Wayne State physicians group to undergo a range of tests and examinations to make sure your unborn baby is doing well. Don’t worry about whether you’re visiting your doctor too much, as it’s more essential to maintain peace of mind. 

If you don’t think you can face climbing the stairs or bending down to pick something up from the floor, then don’t do it. Trust your intuition and find another way around the problem, as your baby’s health is not worth the risk.

Things to Remember When Taking Great Care Of Yourself During Pregnancy

Taking great care of yourself during pregnancy is easier when you think about the tips described above. If you have any other tips, leave a comment and let us know!

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Parenting

4 Important Tips To Consider When Adopting A Child

Everyone deserves to be part of a loving family, especially children. Without a family, children miss essential developmental milestones due to a lack of stability and nurture. A total of 3440 children have been adopted in the last year. Many families consider adoption but don’t know where to begin when it comes to adopting a child.

With the best knowledge, you can make the final decision on if adoption is a good idea for your family. Plus, you will know where to begin when you’re ready to start the journey.

Things To Consider When Adopting A Child

1. Learn About the Adoption Process

It is a tremendous and exciting decision to adopt a child, but it is vital to do it the right way. Start by learning more about adoption and the adoption process. Talk to families that adopted children and ask for advice and pointers on how to go about the process. You can also join local community groups that educate people on these issues, making them a good source for answering your question concerning the adoption process.

2. Find Professionals Who Can Assist in the Adoption Process

Find an expert that is knowledgeable about the adoption process. These professionals are there to offer assistance in making the right choices and taking the proper steps. Look for meetings organized by private and government adoption agencies to gather information on adopting a child.

You can hire family law solicitors to guide you and your spouse to make the right decisions legally before you can embrace a child. You may also establish contacts with the social workers and social welfare office in your locality.

3. Do Some Soul Searching

Before beginning the adoption process, you must do some soul searching to be sure. Ask yourself if you are ready to nurture the adopted child. Have discussions with your spouse on sensitive issues surrounding the adoption, including issues concerning birth parents. If you have older children, you need to talk to them about adopting another child. You may have to discuss ways to maintain a good relationship with your adult child before bringing in a new child.

4. Carefully Consider the Needs of the Child You Want to Adopt

It is essential that you carefully consider the health history of any child you decide to adopt with your partner. You want to be fully informed when it comes to health-related issues, including knowing any allergies. Having a comprehensive report on your child will better position you to prepare for any medical challenges. Having this information will help you determine whether you need to make adjustments in your home or not.

Adopting A Child

Adoption is a humanitarian gesture that deserves high recognition, but it isn’t for everyone. Take enough time to think before making the decision, and make sure you discuss it in-depth with your family. Plus, make peace with yourself before adopting a child to be part of your family.

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Parenting

3 Things That Might Cause Movement Issues In a Young Child

As soon as children are born, they are learning to navigate the world through touch and movement. In the beginning, children can’t move around on their own and lack control. As they grow, they start crawling around and eventually walking. Some children will experience movement issues that make their development difficult, though, and parents must watch out for potential problems.

It’s common for parents to worry that their children are not crawling or walking soon enough. All children develop at a different rate and, even though there are some general milestones they should meet, you don’t need to panic if they develop a little slower. You should be concerned if you notice a big difference in their ability to move around and explore the world, though.

Things That Cause Movement Issues in Kids

Ataxia 

Ataxia is a brain disorder that causes movement issues in kids. It affects the cerebellum, which is the area of the brain that governs movement, and it causes children to be uncoordinated and clumsy. Ataxia may also lead to problems with balance and affect their ability to speak.

There are several different causes of ataxia, including autoimmune diseases, head traumas, infections, strokes, or even brain tumors. It can also be an inherited condition, so if one of the parents suffers from it, the child should be evaluated, too. Many potential causes of ataxia are serious, so if you notice a difference in the way your child moves, you should seek medical advice right away.

Cerebral Palsy 

Cerebral Palsy is a condition caused by brain injuries, and it is usually due to complications during birth. There are many different types of cerebral palsy and the type is determined by the area of the brain that has been injured.

Ataxic cerebral palsy is a rare condition where the symptoms of ataxia occur in people with cerebral palsy. Usually, the condition will be recognized when the baby is born because it results from a difficult birth but can be missed. It is typically characterized by tightness in the muscles, leading to jerking movements and loss of control. 

Chorea

Chorea is an involuntary movement disorder that can affect children as well as adults. It is the result of overactivity in areas of the brain that govern movement. The movements are subtly different from the movements you may observe in a child with other movement conditions. They appear to flow from one muscle to another, and they are not usually repetitive or rhythmic. In some cases, medication can treat and manage the condition, but it may not always help. 

Movement Issues

Movement Issues in Kids

The way that your child’s movement develops is so important. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, you must seek medical advice right away. Finding the cause of movement issues can help you get your child the help they need.

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Adulting Family Activities Health Healthy Living How To Learning Meal Plan Our Family Parenting

4 Easy Ways For Parents To Lose Weight and Set a Healthy Example

If you’re a parent, you likely don’t have much extra time in your day. Between work, family, and social life, your schedule is packed. Being so busy make exercising and losing weight almost impossible, but luckily, there are easy ways for parents to lose weight.

Consider signing up for classes and lessons like Body Transformations for Parents. These online classes can be easier to add to your daily or weekly life than you’d think. If that’s not possible for you, there are other things you can do to lose weight.

While dieting might be an option, finding the right one can take time. Adding some simple tips and tricks to your life will kick off that weight loss, though, and you don’t even have to go to the gym.

Ways For Parents To Lose Weight

4 Ways For Parents To Lose Weight

1. Work Out When The Kids Are Up

Many parents try to work out when their kids are asleep. That can be incredibly restrictive because not only can your children be up at the crack of dawn, but you could be exhausted at night. With constantly changing schedules, it’s hard to plan around sleep routines. Try working out when they’re up.

This approach can be easier than you’d think, especially if you let them join in on the fun. While this depends on what exercises you’re doing, basic yoga and other easy exercises are kid-friendly. You can also go on long walks with a baby in a stroller.

Finding exercises that your kids can be involved in can save you a lot of time and effort, too.

2. Don’t Eat Off Your Kids Plates

You could often see yourself eating some food off of your child’s plate. That’s especially true if they’re finished, and there are a few leftovers. Depending on the food, you could find taking a few bites irresistible. I struggle with this, especially when they have Wendy’s chicken nuggets leftover LOL.

As harmless as this might seem, the calories add up much faster than you’d think. If you’re on a diet, these small bites throw off your planning and tracking. Skip these unhealthy choices and make sure that you have healthy snacks when you’re hungry.

3. Deconstruct Your Dinners

If you’re a picky eater, it can be challenging to find healthy food that you like. You could take a different approach. Try deconstructing the dinners that you like. That will let you remove some of the unhealthy parts and replace them with healthier alternatives.

The number of meals you can deconstruct can be surprising, so it’s worth trying with some of your favorite dishes. You can break down the ingredients of pizzas, burgers, and even tacos to make them healthier.

4. Play With Your Kids

Your kids love playing with you, and you love spending time with them. Plus, kids are always on the move. Take advantage of this and spend more time playing with your kids. You’ll get so much exercise as you chase them around that you burn tons of calories.

Ways For Parents To Lose Weight

Parents don’t always have the time or energy to go to the gym. Thankfully, that’s not the only place you can exercise to help with weight loss. Use these tips for parents to lose weight and see how much of a difference it makes for you.

Losing weight can help make you more of a role model for your children. If they see you exercising and eating healthy, they’re more likely to do the same. Help them start on a healthy path for life by showing them what a healthy lifestyle looks like.

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Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Health Healthy Living How To Parenting

3 Ways to Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies and Encourage Physical Activity

It’s normal for children to fall in love with sports at a young age. While many children find themselves stuck indoors playing video games, there are plenty out playing sports and joining teams. If you want to encourage healthy habits like sports, you’ll need to support them throughout the entire journey. So, here are a couple of tips to help support your child’s sports hobbies.

How to Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

Accept The Type of Sport That Your Child Wants to Try

Your child is going to want to try a variety of sports. Whenever they see something cool on the internet or TV they’re going to want to try it. Or, when they see their friends playing something, they’ll want to check it out. Even if it’s something like boxing, swimming, or even car racing, there are going to be sports that you might be concerned about because it could put them at risk of an injury.

Whatever your child wants to do, support them and ensure they get the help they need to safely try it. Don’t force your child into a particular sport, either. If they suddenly don’t enjoy something, don’t question them too much because they can always return to it later.

Understand That it’s a Commitment on Your Side Too

When the sports season starts for our children, it’s important that you’re there to support them at all times. You must commit as much as your child is, and this often means attending all of their games.

You may have to choose between attending a work-related event and showing up at your child’s next match. In a situation like this, you should almost always choose your child over your work.

Prepare For Your Child to Get Hurt, Because Eventually They Will

Sports are physical activities, and that means your child will eventually get hurt. Many parents will do everything they can to prevent this from happening, but sooner or later, it’ll happen. Your child might get tackled, sprain an ankle, or they might even damage a muscle.

Whatever the situation is, prepare to support your children as they recover. Plus, we need to educate our children about safety in sports. You might want to look for specialists such as a podiatrist that understands sports injuries, and you might want to learn a few first aid skills yourself so that you can quickly deal with any potential injuries during practice.

Support Your Child’s Sports Hobbies

Supporting your child’s sports hobbies can be time-consuming, but these tips can give you do it confidently.

Leave a comment and share some other ways to support your child’s sports hobbies! 🙂

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Big Kid Learning Parenting Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

8 of the Best Back to School Finds for 2021-22 School Year

As crazy as it seems, back to school is upon us already. With four kids to school shop for this year, I’ve already been buying things and making plans. Amazon is one of my go-to’s for the best back to school finds. I can find deals that aren’t in stores, and they have a wide variety of products to choose from. Plus, I don’t have to leave the house which is super helpful.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

back to school, back to school finds

Best Back to School Finds

1. Crayola Washable Project Paint, 6 Count

We always need project paint, so I stocked up on these. I try to avoid rushing out the night before a project is due when I realize we are missing key components.

2. Academic Planner

Preteens and teenagers can get organized with a planner, helping them keep track of events and assignments. If they can get organized right from the start of the school year, they’ll have a greater chance of success.

3. Backpack

A backpack is a back-to-school essential, and Amazon has them with built-in USB chargers. What could be better for a middle schooler or high schooler? Plus, this backpack is designed to safely hold a laptop, allowing for easier back-and-forth between home and school.

4. Kindle Kid’s Edition

The kindle has a black and white glare-free screen, intended for reading and not playing games. The Kid’s Edition comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, allowing them to choose books from a wide variety of books. It even includes the complete Harry Potter series! Your child can bring their reading material with them anywhere, and the battery life can last for weeks.

We love this kindle because it allows us to save time on busy weeknights. The kids can get their reading time in while we drive to and from sports practices and other events.

5. Ear Buds

We always need earbuds at home, and they’re on all of the kids’ back to school lists from school, too. These ones work well for the price and you won’t feel bad replacing them (which will happen).

6. Pens and Pencils

Pens and pencils are a back to school must-have. Our middle schooler loves the G2 pens, and the elementary school is requesting Ticonderoga pencils for the littles.

7. Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 60 Count

This mega pack of Elmer’s glue sticks will last the entire school year. You will have plenty to send to school with your child and still keep enough at home. We use glue sticks all the time, so I love when I find a good deal.

8. Involve & Evolve Insulated Water Bottle With Three Lids

Keeping your child hydrated during the school day is easy when you know they have a water bottle. These ones are cute, and each water bottle comes with three lids. You can choose from a stainless steel cap, a push-pull sports cap, or a straw lid. It also comes with two straws.

Back to School Finds

Don’t wait until the last minute and then scramble to find everything at your local stores. Get started now with these back to school finds from Amazon. Have you started school shopping yet? Leave a comment and let me know!

I created a few back to school printables to help you get everything you need. There are different ones for each age range, so check out my post: 8 Ways to Get Ready For Back to School (Free Printables)

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Adulting Life Parenting

Working Mom Wellness: Top Tips To Help You Stay Healthy and Fit

Juggling the daily grind, raising a family, staying connected with your partner, and maintaining a social life is difficult. When you are attempting to operate a business on top of that, it is even more challenging. You always manage to pull it off, but at what cost? Before you burn out, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. Working mom wellness is important for the entire family, and finding ways to stay healthy and fit is essential.

Here, we look at some tips to help working moms stay healthy and fit while juggling everyday demands.

Tips To Help You Stay Healthy and Fit

1. Take a Time Out When You Need To 

No matter how busy you are, you must set aside a few minutes each day to disconnect from the outer world. This could be something you do at your desk or when you get home from a hard day. However, you must ensure that you will not be interrupted, which involves turning off your cell phone and ignoring the email pings for a while. 

Allow all of the tension to leave you, focus on your breathing, close your eyes, and let your thoughts pass past you without focusing on them. Meditation can help you in a variety of ways. It can help you relax and focus by reducing tension. 

2. Have Regular Health Checkups

Being busy is no reason to neglect your health. You should see a doctor and a dentist on a regular basis to ensure that you are in fighting shape. Do not leave it if you are stressed or if you suspect anything else is wrong. The best thing you can do is have things looked into as soon as you suspect a problem. This goes for making appointments at https://www.prairiehawkdental.com/, booking your smear test, mammogram, having sight tests, and any other necessary checkups, depending on your health status and age.

3. Think About Your Diet and Exercise Routine

Avoid grabbing food when on the fly. It is difficult to keep track of what you are eating in this manner. You have no idea how much sugar and fat are in it, which might have a detrimental impact on your mood. It also means you aren’t eating regularly, which means your body isn’t in sync, as your blood sugar levels spike and fall at inconvenient times, which is bad for your health over time.

Exercise is also essential for hardworking moms, as well as for everyone else. However, it would be beneficial if you had a way to release all of the cortisol and adrenaline that you have accumulated as a result of your efforts in building up your business. For some women, that is going for a long run, for others, it is pounding away at the gym for an hour. Many women prefer something a little less strenuous, and would rather spend some time doing yoga. There is no right or wrong way – find something that works for you. 

Working Moms: Stay Healthy and Fit

Staying healthy does not just benefit your health, but it benefits your business too. The healthier you are, the more productive and successful you will be. If you have any other tips to stay healthy and fit, let us know in the comments!