Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

Dara Torres’ 3 Pillars of Life Inspire Me to Reclaim Healthy Habits

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I’m a firm believer in healthy habits like a well rounded diet, screen time limits, regular exercise through lots of outdoor activity, and a set bedtime for my kids but I feel like the biggest hypocrite due to my own lack of exercise and my 2 am bedtimes.
In the past year as I’ve transitioned from my role as a classroom teacher into a work-at-home mom with a growing consulting business, I’ve found that my sleep habits have suffered.  On one hand, working at home has allowed me to tailor my schedule around the needs of our children but at the same time, it also means that I work when they’re at school and also late into the night after they’re asleep which leaves me too tired to get up and run like I used to.
This fall as my kids enter elementary school I’m vowing to return to healthier habits.  I’m determined to go to bed earlier so I can start attending boot camp.  My first class is Friday at 6:15 am! 
Regaining healthy habits like a better night’s sleep and regular exercise are things I’ve been meaning to do for a long time but must admit to being inspired by Olympic swimmer and mom, Dara Torres, who I met while in Miami for SheCon in April. 
 
Me with Dara Torres!
Having followed Dara’s career as a 5 time Olympic champion, meeting her in real life was amazing.  She was genuine and nicer than I ever could have imagined.  She took the time to talk with us, answering questions we had about topics ranging from her training schedule, balancing being a mom and an athlete, and sharing her 3 pillars of life— diet, exercise, and sleep.
Dara emphasized the importance of getting a better night’s sleep. As an athlete who is constantly traveling, she often sleeps in a bed that is too small or on a mattress that doesn’t feel right. She suggested finding a spacious and comfortable bed and admitted to always traveling with her pillow.  Her favorite?  A Sleep Innovations Rejuvenation Pillow.  I took one of these home and have been sleeping with it ever since!  The contoured shape of the pillow improves the positioning of your neck and air flow to provide a deeper sleep that truly seems to be working for me!  I also sleep on a Sleep Innovations gel-infused memory foam mattress topper that contours to my body for a great night’s sleep.
 
Dara shared 4 additional tips for a better sleep which included:
  • Be active during the day. As an athlete, Dara’s job keeps her more active than most, but even on her recovery days she goes for a long walk or takes her daughter to the park to get outside and moving.
  • Go to bed healthy, not hungry. Dara avoids eating large meals late at night but never goes to bed hungry. She prefers a healthy snack before bedtime to cure her hunger and believes that little dessert never hurt anyone!
  • Stick to a sleep schedule. With Dara’s training schedule and a young daughter in school, her family has a set schedule for most days of the week. Even on their days off, she ensures that they wake up around the same time to enjoy the day and keep to a consistent bedtime to make it easier to fall asleep at night.
  • Find time to relax.  As an athlete and busy mom, Dara’s days are full from start to finish. She makes it a priority to find time to relax and unwind whether reading a book or catching up on a favorite TV show. By doing this, she allows her body to have some down time to let her body recover before getting ready for bed. 
What is one healthy habit you are trying to reclaim?  Leave a comment below for an extra entry into my Fill the Backpack giveaway that includes a Sleep Innovations REMedy Bed Twin Bed Upgrade kit valued at over $90!
 
I was invited to an event as a guest of Sleep Innovations to meet Dara Torres at SheCon and was given a Sleep Innovations Rejuvenation Pillow, their gel-infused memory foam mattress topper that I love, and won a copy of Dara Torres’ Gold Medal Fitness.  Sleep Innovations is also a sponsor of Splash Creative Media’s Fill the Backpack campaign but all opinions are my own.

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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  1. Aimee @ Smiling Mama says

    Good for you! I am trying to eat more healthy. Now that I’m back to working full time outside the home, I pack my lunch and snacks for the day. It keeps me from the grazing I did when I was at home all day!