Becoming a parent comes with an overwhelming amount of rewards: from morning snuggles to honor roll report cards, motherhood is full of moments to celebrate.

And then there are the days where you ask why there are dirty clothes in your dishwasher and who could have possibly forgotten to bring extra diapers…and where exactly is your coffee?

While it may not seem the likely candidate, incorporating movement into your day can make you a better, ok maybe calmer, parent. The perfect fitness program doesn’t exist; you have to find the one that works best for you. It doesn’t have to be extreme and it doesn’t have to be scary. It can be simple movements like walking or fun activities like a group fitness class with your BFF.

Not convinced movement can help your mom life? Here are 5 ways fitness increases your parenting power.

1. Monkey See, Monkey Do

Your little ones are always watching you & you want them to have healthy habits, right? Well, it’s one thing to tell your kids to move more but it’s even better if you show them what that means. Seeing you exercise sends a powerful message to your little ones. Health and wellness should addressed daily. Show them the way & incorporate them into your fitness program. By seeing you move more, they will want to join in as well, helping them establish an active lifestyle for themselves.

2. Monkey Hear, Monkey Say (and think…)

Do you speak to yourself in kind words? It’s impossible to parent joyfully if you are down on yourself. Fitness and movement can boost your endorphin levels, leaving you feeling happier about life and yourself. Movement has been known to make a mom feel more attractive, stronger, more resilient, and powerful. Hearing you speak well about yourself and share self-love with yourself, will only encourage your children to do the same.

3. Temper Control

We all lose it from time to time. We all have yelled at our kids in frustration or tiredness and then felt horrifically guilty afterward. Mama, you are not alone. Being a mom is unpredictable and overwhelming at times. Tough moments, chaos, and loss of control are to be expected when raising children. Making time to release your energy in a positive manner and shift your focus from them to you can calm you down and help you get a different perspective.

4. Vitamin D Boosts

Did you know that sunshine & natural landscapes have been proven to accelerate the mental and emotional recovery from stress? In fact, sunshine has been shown to increase your immunity and who doesn’t need to feel less sick with kiddo germs…

Try unplugging to hike in the mountains or walk on the beach with your kids. Exercising in nature can create positive changes in the brain that will serve you well after a hard morning with the kids.

5. Fight Mommy Brain

Exercise helps enhance your memory and increases cognitive repair. Movement encourages the production of the chemicals that affect the growth and health of new blood vessels in the brain. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don’t! So fight mommy brain with a sweaty good time.