As a sleep-deprived postpartum mom and runner, recovery doesn’t look like it used to. There’s no long warm-ups, no perfect post-run meals, and definitely no uninterrupted sleep.
Instead, it looks like night wake-ups, early mornings, and training on tired legs.
So I had to adjust.
These are the 5 things I actually do that have made the biggest difference in how I sleep, recover and show up each day.
1. Bedtime Snack: Tart Cherries 🍒
This is one of the easiest habits I’ve added.
Tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin, which helps support better sleep. They are also amazing for muscle recovery and soreness relief.
Most nights I’ll have a handful of dried tart cherries.
→ This is my go-to tart cherries.
It feels like a small treat at the end of the day—but it actually supports my sleep.
2. Red Light Therapy
This is the one that surprised me the most because it not only makes a difference for me but also how my children wind down.
I turn our red lights on during dinner, and keep them on through evening play and bedtime routines. It’s become a simple signal that the day is winding down.
And honestly, it shifts the whole tone of our house.
I tried cheaper options first… and let’s just say my husband and neighbors said it looked like our house turned into the red light district. Now, I use something much softer and calming.
→ This is the exact red light I use every night (it’s softer + doesn’t light up the whole house)
If you’re going to try one thing from this list, I’d start here.
3. My Go-To Sleep Drink
This has become one of my favorite parts of the night.
I’ve been using Needed Sleep Drink, and it’s such a simple way to signal to my body that the day is done.
What I love:
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- Helps me wind down without feeling groggy
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- Easy to make while I’m already in the kitchen
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- Feels like intentional care (which matters in this season)
→ This is the one I use and love. (you can get $20 off here)
4. Sugar baths” or Epsom Salt Baths (Even If It’s Chaos)
Gone are the nights for quiet, candle-lit baths. Now it looks like: kids in the bath splashing, nursing, or climbing all over me. Occasionally, I can sneak one in post kids bed-time, but I realized 10min with chaos and children climbing all over me is better than no bath.
My daughter calls them “sugar baths,” which makes me laugh—but they’re just simple Epsom salts.
And I’ve learned this:
Consistency matters more than the environment.
Even 10 minutes help:
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- Relax muscles
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- Support recovery
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- Calm your body before sleep
→ These are the Epsom salts I always keep on hand.
It’s simple, affordable, and easy to stick with.
5. Legs-up-the-Wall (5-10 minute Reset)
At the end of the night, I lay on the floor with my legs up against the wall for 5–10 minutes.
After a full day of being on my feet, running, and carrying kids, my body craves this stillness and this feels like a reset for my whole body.
It helps:
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- reduce that heavy, tired leg feeling
- improve circulation
- calm my body before sleep
And the best part?
It takes almost no energy to do.
On the nights I’m the most exhausted—this is the one thing I still can manage.
My Exact Night Routine (All Linked)
If you want to keep it simple, this is what most nights look like for me:
It’s not perfect. It’s not always quiet.
But it works—and it helps me keep showing up.
Final Thought
I used to feel overwhelmed by how different recovery looked after becoming a mom.
But small shifts changed everything.
If you’re tired, training, raising kids, and trying to take care of yourself too, the smallest habits, done consistently, matter more than doing things perfectly. Most nights, I’m not doing all of these perfectly, but even stacking 2–3 of them makes a noticeable difference.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use and love in this season of life.
