As a mom, it’s important that I stay TotallyIn, and focus on immune health so I can stay at my best. Today’s post is sponsored by Zicam® Total Immune. All opinions are my own.

I could feel the tickle forming in the back of my throat. There was nothing I could do to stop it– I knew I was going to be under the weather for a day or two. I thought through the schedule. Dance practice, soccer practice, volunteering at my son’s preschool, fixing dinners, work commitments. I didn’t have time for a cold!

No mom has time to be under the weather. I felt frustrated and annoyed– I’d been overdoing it lately, and my immune system was suffering. As moms, we have a tendency to overdo it. We work hard to care for our families, and we spend a lot of time tending our children’s needs, without paying much attention to our own. My harried rush lately to get everything done and be everywhere at once must have allowed me to, at some point, stop being totally on the ball. Because of it, I could feel my immune system crying out in the form of a cold, something I’d probably caught from my son’s school or the park on one of those unseasonably warm days.

As I laid on the couch, trying to get over it, I thought back to that old airline policy… “In case of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on before assisting other passengers.” They say it because you only have a few seconds of oxygen before you get lightheaded– if you don’t put your mask on first, then you won’t be conscious to put the mask on anyone else, like your children. But as moms, that seems to fly in the face of our instincts– most of us are more willing to help our families before we take a few minutes to help ourselves. And because of that, I was flying without my oxygen mask, crippled by the fact that I chose to put a metaphorical mask on my family before taking time to put one on myself.

I also felt guilt. As a mom, I should be on the ground playing train tracks with my son. We should be taking advantage of that gloriously sunny January day to take the dog for a walk. I should be fixing dinner or doing laundry or literally anything but lying on the couch coughing.  I could hear his giggle as he played, and while I was happy that he was content to play solo, it didn’t stop me from feeling upset that I felt too blah to play, too. When I did get down and play, I was just worn out. This was not a mom who was Totally In. This was a mom who needed a nap. I had no energy, and worst of all, I just couldn’t function normally.

As moms, we feel the to-do list crying out to us. We feel the need to sign the forms, vacuum the rug, do the dishes, fold the laundry, and because of it, we’re typically at a dead run. When we do take time for ourselves, it’s usually short and sparing, after the kids go to bed, but before we nod off ourselves.

I’m here to argue for self-care. I get it, mama. You have a TON on your plate. But taking a few minutes to put your oxygen mask on before you help your kids put theirs on will make a big difference. You have to take a few minutes for yourself in order to make sure you can take care of everyone else.

One way that I take care of myself is to make sure I’m on top of my immune health. Gone are the days of lying on the couch for a cold– by keeping my immune system at it’s best, I feel better overall. First, taking time for rest is key, especially if you do catch a cold. But aside from just rest, you need to take care of your immune system and give it the best support that you can. While you can’t necessarily prevent a cold, you can give your immune system the support it needs so you can stay as active as you love to be.

It’s so important to me to show up for my health every single day, and to do that, I love to use Zicam® Total Immune products like the Zicam® Total Immune + Performance Support Orange Burst Melts and the Zicam® Total Immune + Digestive Health Berry Crystals.

The Zicam® Total Immune Melts have B Vitamins, which are essential for converting food into fuel, giving you energy from the inside out. As a busy mom, I know I need as much help with energy as I can get to make sure I can get between school, dinner, and practice without kind of losing my mind.

But what really helps me during cold season is the Zicam® Total Immune Crystals. Did you know that immune health actually starts in your gut? When you have a healthy digestive system, your immune system functions better, keeping you feeling great. The Zicam® Total Immune Crystals have probiotics, which keep your digestive health on track, and these are so great to take, too– you can either shake them straight into your mouth (like a sweet treat), or you can add it to your water and drink it!

Since I’m always on the go, I toss these into my bag, and make sure I have them on hand for whenever I need them.

This is the year that I’m ready to be TotallyIn for my health. I want to feel my best, whether I’m volunteering at my son’s school or going to ballet practice, and I want to be sure that I’m all in when it comes to family life, too. I can’t do that if my immune system isn’t where it should be. And that’s why I’m resolving to take care of myself, and put my oxygen mask on first. By taking focused time out to care for myself at times during this year, I’ll be better able to be right there, on track for my family, which is what really matters in the grand scheme of things. With the help of Zicam® Total Immune products, I’m going to keep my immune health in check. Like I said, it can’t prevent a cold, but it can keep your immune system functioning in the best state, so you’ll feel at your best all season long. In addition to keeping my immune system in check, I’ll also be putting my metaphorical mask on first by taking time to do things I love, like coloring in a relaxing coloring book, taking a bubble bath, and doing my nails once in awhile. Feeling great is about the total package, and moms, it’s okay to take that time for YOU without guilt. It’s the best way to stay ready for anything.

How are you resolving to be TotallyIn this year? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out the Zicam® Total Immune website for more information. If you’d like to check them out for yourself, look for them at your favorite drugstore.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zicam® Total Immune.