• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

  • About
    • Affiliations & Honors
    • Contributors
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Technology
    • YouTube
    • Social Media
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Travel
    • Safety
  • Education
  • Causes
  • Gift Guides
  • CONTACT
    • Work with Me

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

August 29, 2011 By Leticia

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.

Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!

Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Related

Filed Under: Causes Tagged With: Backpack2011, Dara Torres, Fill the Backpack, healthy habits, SheCon, sleep, Sleep Innovations, Splash Creative Media

Previous Post: « Friday Faves: Fab Products from Mom’s Fashion File Secret Style Suite, BlogHer 2011
Next Post: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with eBay to Declutter and Reclaim Money »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aimee @ Smiling Mama says

    August 29, 2011 at 11:07 am

    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!

  2. rachel posell says

    August 29, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    i’m no dara torres, but i look forward to kicking your booty on friday!
    (;

  3. Thien-Kim aka Kim says

    September 6, 2011 at 10:38 am

    I’m trying to get more sleep! And less coffee. Hopefully they will go hand in hand.

Primary Sidebar

about sidebar pic_profile pic

Hi! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama! I'm an award-winning blogger, Washington, DC area mom of teens, middle school computer science teacher, and education consultant.  Read more...

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

_YouTube Parent Panel

_top50momblogger

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

Subscribe

Never Miss a Post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Consent*
Yes, I consent to being emailed
No, I do not want to be emailed
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise!

Tech Savvy Mama on YouTube

<<< View More >>>

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

INSTAGRAMMIN’

techsavvymama

DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 #StJudeHeroes #legacyteamnuun 🏝 #Haiti

It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this mil It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this milestone! 🎉 Huge congratulations to Thomas and the Class of 2024! 🎓 #classof2024 #graduation
Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you know me, you know you can always find me in Memphis running a race the first weekend in December for @stjude . I ❤️love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️this race because the race course is pretty flat, the weather is amazing, and the whole city of Memphis comes to cheer you on, you get to run through the St. Jude campus which is always inspiring, and it is just SO fun! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a 5K, 10k, half, or full marathon, I invite you to register! Sign up to join me to run/walk/run+walk any distance and not only will I cheer you on as you get race ready but I will be your Marathon Weekend buddy. 🙌🏼 I promise to help get you race ready, will take you to all the best places in Memphis before the race, and to celebrate after with post-race drinks at the Peabody Hotel. 🍹Who is going to join me? Link to register in the first comment! 🏃🏻‍♀️ #stjudeheroes #globalrunningday #memphis #stjude #stjudedmv
The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible variety of delicious food available in one place! 🎉 Our family of adventurous eaters has been anxiously awaiting the opening of this culinary collective and our first visit did not disappoint! 💕 Here’s a look at the diverse food concepts that @chefakhtar has carefully curated to be part of the Solaire Social culinary experience. 👀 Huge thanks to Solaire Social for inviting us to their influencer preview to enjoy the amazing culinary cultural concepts that we’re happy to have right in our backyard! I know the hardest part about our next visit will be choosing among all the incredible food at these 8 amazing restaurants! 🍽️ 

#SolaireSocial #SilverSpring #silverspringmd #montgomerycountymd #dmvfoodie #fifteensecondsofsummer
Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until next time! 💕 more than #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #assateague #loveva #islandlife
The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is a The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is at @amarin_coffee_usa ! Their fresh baked buttery croissants (that are almost as big as your head!) are always such a treat when we’re here! 🥐❤️🥐 #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #civa #esva #coffeelovers
Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsum Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsummer ! 🌅 #chincoteague #loveva #esva #sunsetlovers
Is it officially summer for your family? It is for Is it officially summer for your family? It is for ours! ☀️Thomas finished his last day of high school and Emily is home from college for a bit so it’s summer in our house. 🙌🏼 We kicked off our summer at a @nationals game that included a win with 3 home runs! ⚾️ This year I’m joining @lashawnwiltz in 15 seconds of summer, sharing 15 seconds from my days so at the end, I can look back and remember the great things we did as a family before Thomas heads to college in the fall. 😢 Join in the fun by recording and sharing 15 seconds of your summer days and use the hashtag #fifteensecondsofsummer. It officially starts June 1 but join in whenever your summer begins! 🕶️🍉⛱️ #washingtondc #washingtonnationals #nats #baseball #summer
Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day because we’re so glad Goldie and Murphy are part of our family! 🐶 We gave Goldie her forever home when she was 6 months old. She had been given up by her original family because she was just too much for them. She was an enthusiastic pup who loved to jump straight up in the air when she got excited and she used to hop the fence in the mornings to go visit her best dog friend, Katy, over our back fence. She still jumps from standing when she sees a deer, meets a favorite dog friend, or gets a visit from @lisatasch but now at age 5, she’s more calm and forever faithful. 🦮We met Murphy and his 9 brothers and sisters just days after he was born although we didn’t know he would be the puppy we’d claim as ours. Murphy has that puppy energy but in his quiet moments is a total love bug. He hogs the free space in our king bed (he even has his own pillow!) and loves nothing more than to press his body into me or lie directly on me. 🐾 Goldie and Murphy came to us through @labrescuelrcp and we couldn’t be happier that they’re part of our family! ❤️ #rescuedogday #labrescue #labrador #adoptdontshop
After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hos After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I’m leaving Memphis so very grateful to be able to support St. Jude’s mission of working to end childhood cancer. ❤️ Spending time connecting, brainstorming, and absorbing the wisdom of fellow Hero Ambassadors from around the country was inspiring because the work we do fundraising through our endurance events helps St. Jude do the incredible work they do to ensure families never receive a bill for their child’s treatment, housing, travel, or food and continue important research that will continue to reduce rates of pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. I am so looking forward to running in Memphis again this December! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a race that does so much good in the world, join me! I’d love to have you come to Memphis and run with me! Or you can always donate through the fundraising link in my bio. ❤️ #stjude #stjudeheroes #memphis #stjudedmv
Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear # Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear #lastfridaynight #latergram
When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came wit When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came with many things we didn’t love like rotted porch boards, 1 bathroom, and peeling paint (inside and out!) but it also came with things we did love like old, mature trees, crazy shaped boxwood bushes, and these spectacular peonies! 🌸 Every year when they bloom I’m so glad that these beauties conveyed with the purchase of our house and I’m glad we rebuilt our porch so we can step out our front door to admire them in their glory! 🩷#peonies #peonyseason #garden #blooms #spring
As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the me As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the mental health challenges our youth face and am really pleased to share that over the weekend I became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing! 🎉 I’ve always worked to build relationships with the young people in my life- whether my kids’ friends or students- and this certification has made me more mindful of the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges so I can have important and supportive conversations when symptoms first start to appear. 🗣️A big component of the training also included developing a self-care plan which is critical when supporting others. 💕 I’m so grateful to have taken this certification for free through the University of Maryland whose blended learning format (2 hours of self paced online work + 5 hour instructor led class over Zoom) was fantastic! 💻 The teacher in me really applauds the course design and I’m glad to join the 3 million+ in the U.S. certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. 🏥 If this is something you’re interested in doing, University of Maryland has free courses on Saturdays or Sundays from 10-4pm between June-October. Swipe ⬅️ for more information, including a QR code with more information and a survey to take as part of the sign up process. And if you have any questions- leave a comment or DM me. I’m happy to help you get certified too! ❤️ #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthfirstaid #youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth
Follow on Instagram

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

SAVVY FINDS

Footer

Tech Savvy Businesswoman

Check me out across my social media channels for examples of how I can help amplify your company's brand, product, or cause!

_YouTube Parent Panel

techsavvymamasquarelogo_techsavvymama square logo

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Looking for Something?

Search by category…

or by date

DISCLOSURE POLICY

Copyright © 2025 Tech Savvy Mama · Designed by Hustle & Sway · Log in