More feel-good tips

4. Schedule playdates
Kids aren't the only ones who need to have fun is a motto of sorts for Olinda Reynaud of Richmond, Virginia, mom of Evan and Mallory, 8 and 5. "Once a month, I have a happy-hour date with my girlfriends, and no kids are allowed."

5. Let your mind wander
"When my two kids were young, I used the daily crossword in the paper to unwind," says Karen Zager, Ph.D., a New York City psychologist. "Focusing on finding the right words helped me let go of the day's tensions." Other moms swear by physical activities like knitting or gardening.

6. Make workouts sacred
We all know regular exercise helps the heart, bones, and mind stay strong  -- if you do it often enough. "I have a standing date five days a week with my gym," says Deborah Thaler of Miami, Florida, a lawyer and mom of Aaron, 4. "The gym's daycare allows me to get a workout and take a shower without worrying about rushing before naptime ends." She checked out a few gyms to find one with attentive, well-trained babysitters  -- a good way to ensure peace of mind.
Of course, you needn't join a gym. Trade childcare with a neighbor, or jot down your workout slots on the calendar so your husband knows when he'll be on duty. If you treat workouts as important health appointments, you're more likely to keep them.

7. Go for the green
Don't underestimate the power of a tree! "Taking a walk and playing with my dog in the woods rejuvenates me," says Carissa Sedlacek, of Belchertown, Massachusetts, mom of Owen, 2, and Sarah, 1. Nature is good for you, says Frances Kuo, Ph.D., psychology professor and nature researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "People have a greater sense of well-being the more they are in touch with nature. There's even evidence that people recover from surgery faster if they have a view of trees instead of something like a brick wall."

8. Get into the groove
Who doesn't love listening to favorite songs from high school? Turns out it can be good for you, too. "It transports your mind back by triggering the neural patterns that were originally stimulated at the happy event," says Barbara Reuer, Ph.D., a San Diego music therapist. "This can lower the stress hormones that sometimes make us sick." Trudy Miller of Tatamy, Pennsylvania, mom of Katie, 10, and Emily, 8, is a believer  -- she cranks up '80s tunes when she needs a break: "The bonus is the mini-workout I get from dancing around, and my girls think it's a blast."

9. Just (don't) do it
When you've had it with all your to-do's, try a do-nothing day  -- or afternoon. I buy some magazines and rent the kids a DVD, make popcorn, and order in Chinese food or pizza. No laundry, no phone calls, no playdates, and no errands  -- it's a mini-vacation!

10. Turn errands into exercise
"I always look for an active way to do them," says Selene Yeager of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and mom of Juniper, age 3. "I put on my backpack and ride my bike with my daughter to the store. Sometimes we drop off library books, pick up milk and bread, even grab a frozen treat; it becomes a fun adventure rather than a tedious round of errands."

11. Get enough shut-eye
"I religiously follow the eight-hours-of-sleep-per-night rule," says Jennifer Wiley of Columbus, Ohio, mom of Ben, 8, and Reina, 4. "It takes only three nights of cumulative sleep loss, and I start feeling sick and lethargic." There is plenty of evidence to show that sleep deprivation hinders a whole slew of things, including concentration, memory, cognitive function, and immunity.

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