Many times as moms, we work from sun up to sun down, and then all through the night.  But we aren’t like the Energizer Bunny, we can’t keep going and going and going.  What can we do?

Here are a few ideas to try this week:

• Try playing “Let’s Make a Deal” with your husband.  If you crave a morning where you get to wake up on your own terms, tell your husband you’ll trade him one morning of sleeping in, and later that afternoon you’ll give him a few hours of peace and quiet. If you’re not married, ask a neighbor or a friend to trade you a few hours of child-watching so you can get some rest.

• If you have a child who still naps, take the first 15-20 minutes of nap time to do something for YOU. Leave the laundry and the mess from lunch. Sit down with a book, put your feet up, take that nap, do something that restores you a little bit for the afternoon.

• No matter your child’s age, it’s okay take a nap in the afternoon without feeling guilty about it! Your workday does not end at 5pm and that little energy boost could make a big difference in your attitude as you approach your “second shift”.

• If you have teenagers, and the ONLY time they want to talk is late at night, do whatever you have to do to stay awake for the conversation.  Chew gum, drink coffee or a Coke, get up from the couch and walk around the room, do what you have to do to stay awake. When those teens finally decide to open up, it’s important to be available.

If you work full time away from home, make room in your weekend schedule for one or two of these ideas and be sure you are taking care of you. If you’re a stay at home or work from home mom right now, reflect on how well you are honoring your energy levels and see if you can’t make a positive change this week. (And if any of you do “Make a Deal”, let me know about it!)