Have you ever pulled a muscle or angered a joint and somehow don’t remember what you did to make it mad? Yeah, I did something to my right shoulder a few days before Christmas. Now, weeks later it’s still a bit tender. It’s a mystery what made it mad. It could have been the clear storage tote I moved off my bed. It could have been slinging a bag of stuff over my shoulder on the way out the door to my mother’s to drop off gifts. It could have been any of the times my six year old requested to be picked up. Or, just maybe, it was that whole combination of actions.

I wondered if it would have happened if I had taken some time that morning to wake my body up. So, I am going to do something to prevent (or at least lessen the chances of) the next grumpy muscle group. That something will be morning stretches. Probably while standing in the kitchen waiting for my tea kettle to boil.

There’s no big full body work out planned (yet). Nothing that would shock my system.

Just a simple set of stretches to get my muscles and joints ready for a day full of parenting, housework, and whatever else each day has in store. Considering the to do list for this next week, I am going to have to be limbered up. Gathering up bags of clutter for a donation pick up, helping my husband build a car port and work on the car, and making a children’s party happen? That all sounds like a good stretch session will be highly necessary.

Whatever you have planned for your week, and the months to come, will most likely benefit from a few moments of waking up your body and getting your joints and muscles loosened up. There are probably a million or more stretch, yoga or warm up routines on YouTube you can choose from. Or just move what feels a bit tight and grumpy to get your blood moving through those areas. This can be as sweetly simple or as deliciously elaborate as you, and your body, enjoy.

With this new habit, we are (1.) up before the kids so we can get something useful done in peace, (2.) taking our multivitamins with a glass of water, and (3.) stretching out for the day. Personally I will be stretching before taking my pills. That much liquid in my stomach will not be a good idea for reaching down to touch my toes, if you know what I mean. Do these in any order that works best for you. It’s your day, your self care routine, your decisions.

Keep taking care of yourself, beautiful, because if mama isn’t at 100% she can’t give 100%.