One thing all mums can agree on is that motherhood is tiring with a capital T. 

If you spent more time with your eyes open than closed last night and have woken up feeling like you’re ready for a good night’s sleep, we’ve got bad news… You’re likely still several hours (if not days) away from proper sleep.

In the meantime though, we’ve compiled a list of easy ways to fake it until you make it.

 

The cheat’s guide to faking that fresh feeling

Invigorate your insides

Here’s what you need to replenish your tired body (other than more sleep!)

All things water: The coldest kind. If possible, dive in it. If not, shower in it. Still too hard? Splash it on your face and drink as much as you can handle.

Strong coffee: Now that you’re hydrated you can afford to put some strong diuretics into your system. If you like coffee, make yourself a nice strong one, and if you’re too tired for that, order one delivered to your door from cafes like Whimsy and Co, Vitalo, Rock Paper Coffee, or Bianchinis. Don’t like coffee but love the smell? Coffee-scented candles are almost as good as smelling-salts for waking you up, and they provide a tremendous scent to sniff all morning or you can cover yourself with the scent using a coffee scrub in the shower.

A big breakfast: Next you’ll need a breakfast full of goodness (otherwise your tired self will be reaching for baked goods by 9am) You’ll find some great breakfast recipe suggestions here, but if they’re too much to manage then an easy high-fibre option like Weetbix is a good way to go. Or if your night has been next-level rough, we live in a wonderful age where you can get McDonalds hashbrowns delivered (in addition to fabulous healthy breakfasts from the same places that will bring you coffee above and even more places like Port Hacking Cafe, Fixies Cafe or Nourish Cafe and Eatery.)

Drinkable vitamins: Effervescent tablet drinks can give you a boost of vitamins you may otherwise be finding it hard to get and come with a refreshing fizz.

Mint must-haves: Spearmint and peppermint are super invigorating and leave the taste lingering. Brush, floss and mouthwash with all things mint-flavoured. Keep the refreshment going with mint gum, mints, mentos, even Minties that you can take out and about. Mint scented body wash, soaps and soaks will also provide a similar stimulating effect.

Easy energy-boosting snacks: If you have any down-time in your morning at all, use it to prepare some snacks that will provide satiety, and boost your fibre, iron or protein intake. These include nuts, cheese, vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, celery), dried apricots and plain popcorn.

 

Look outwardly awake

Once your insides are taken care of you can focus on how your outsides look and feel: 

Essential eye tips: Quickly check that those eye-drops you have on hand are in-date or rush to your local chemist or supermarket to get some more. Often forgotten about, lubricating eye-drops can be like liquid gold for tired eyes and make them appear white and more awake. While they’re taking effect stick some cucumber slices on top of your eyes or put some metal teaspoons in the freezer for a few minutes and use the back of those to relieve the puffiness of your under-eye bags.

 

Helpful Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid products (particularly those that come in glass bottles like this) feel cooling and instantly make the face feel a little taut and awake. Plus they’re super-hydrating and provide long-term benefits for your skin.

Wake-up make-up hacks: If you are going out and can’t be bothered applying some makeup, the best tricks for making your face look alive are to: curl your eyelashes and apply mascara only on your top lashes, pick yellow-toned concealer for under your eyes, use white eye-liner on your bottom lash rim, apply a little pink blush or highlighter and a tinted lip balm.

 

Make your day run smoothly

Whatever you have planned on the day that you wake up exhausted, there are ways to make it work for you.

Get the vibes going: Music is especially good at tricking us into a better mental state. If you’ve got nowhere to be then put on some soft tunes and stay in your pyjamas until you feel up to taking on the day. If you don’t have time to sit around and lament your lack of sleep because you have work, daycare drop-off and a list a mile long of things to do, you’ll want to kickstart the day with a playlist that will pump you up.  And if you decide to listen to a funny podcast to pep you up, like those mentioned here, make sure you set the speed to slower than normal so your brain can keep up without feeling worn out.

A schedule that suits you: Again, if you have the luxury of a free day then organise your activities to suit your energy levels. There are plenty of quiet activities you can do with your kids and also activities that allow them to burn a heap of energy while you’re not moving much at all. We highly recommend playing “Family Day Spa” and making sure you’re the customer or you can try any number of games where you get to lie down.

Plan ahead: While you’re feeling run-down, schedule an appointment for some me-time that you can look forward to at one of the Sutherland Shire’s lovely local spas like  Endota Spa, Seabeauty Medispa or Beauty and Balance. No babysitter? No problem. Give Beauty and the Bubz a call and you can have your treatment performed while your child is entertained by qualified on-site carers.

 

We hope these tips help get you through to your next good night’s sleep. Got any others? Let us know below.