A mother of two, Mona-Jane Hannemann has built an Instagram following nearly a quarter million strong for her account “rocamoons,” where she documents the fitness, nutrition, and travel of the active lifestyle her and her family lead. We asked the influencer about some tips for staying fit, healthy, and energized while staying home.
What is a piece of advice you’d give to someone that is unsure about how to begin their fitness journey?
Starting anything new or unfamiliar can be very uncomfortable, confronting, and even overwhelming, but know this is completely normal. Get used to being uncomfortable! That is where true change and progress happens.
I would say find your “why,” your purpose. This might change but there needs to be a purpose to start your journey. It will add so much more meaning to everything you do daily, the fulfillment that comes from it will be far greater, and that momentum will continue to help propel you forward and progress toward your goals.
Start simple, do something you enjoy first; you’re more likely to stick to it, then as your base fitness improves, you will feel strong enough to try new things.
What are some of your fitness and nutrition must-haves that really make a difference for you and your family?
I think it is important to invest in the lifestyle you want for yourself — that makes you invincible. For our family, these few things help us stay active and continue to enjoy adventures together:
- A sturdy jogging stroller. It helps me get out of the house and get in nature, take my baby running with me, and even carry all my things to and from the beach.
- A quality and comfortable baby carrier. This is a game changer. All those adventures you thought might have to stop when kids came just got better. Hikes, traveling, beach walks, etc.
- Frozen bananas. Having these on hand always means a yummy, refreshing, nutrition-packed, and filling smoothie is only a few minutes away.
- Hydroflask. This helps keep us hydrated throughout the day and is great for storing big, nourishing smoothies for long walks or beach days.
With so many of us now adapting to a work-from-home lifestyle, how are you organizing your time and setting new goals for yourself, especially as a mom of two?
This is a constant cycle of learning as it evolves. Personally, time management is not one of my strengths, so a main goal has been to help my mind have clarity amongst the chaos so life doesn’t get too overwhelming.
It’s important to let go of perfection. It’s impossible to stay on top of absolutely everything, so picking and choosing priorities at different times is key.
I always need to make time for exercise in the morning, and getting my son outside to expend energy makes a big difference. Then I get a chance to work while the baby naps, which helps me focus on the task at hand and lets me give more undivided attention when the baby is awake.
Staying hydrated and eating nourishing foods is a constant and important goal, too. If I can do those things, I have more energy and and a better mood on my side to help me achieve all the other tasks.
Finally, during these times, it’s important to realize that it’s OK to let the washing pile up.
How do you practice mindfulness in your daily life?
One of the things I do is pray. This always helps me reflect on the blessings in my life daily and feel gratitude.
Exercise helps me bring awareness to my body and relieve my mind of all the craziness that is going on in my mind, around me, and in the world. Getting in or near the ocean always works wonders for my mind — it’s like a refreshing cleanse every time!
I also enjoy listening to podcasts and watching documentaries. There’s always something to learn and I find it helps me to be more aware of things that never would have crossed my mind.