We’ve all felt that headache creeping up and reached for a pain reliever. But here are six ways to stop a headache before it starts — and before you have to pop that pill.

It’s perfectly normal for me to start rubbing my temples by 2 in the afternoon. The culprit? A gnarly headache. And it’s no wonder: Such is the life of a mother, be it stay-at-home or working or, in my case, both. It must be in the job description. We do tend to care for ourselves last — and after things begin to fall apart. That’s probably why 75 percent of migraine sufferers are women. Yeah, really.

Before I stop to pop a pill for my ill, I try to think over my morning and early afternoon. Most likely, I’m missing a few of these key anti-headache steps so lovingly pointed out in the December/January issue of Working Mother magazine:

1. Have a snack: Heck, go out on a limb and eat breakfast! Get reckless and grab some lunch! And definitely pack an apple in your bag for a snack. Otherwise, your blood sugar will crash, leaving you with a beastly headache, not to mention (ahem) a terrible attitude.

2. Drink up, Buttercup: Perhaps the biggest instigator of a headache is lack of hydration. This means good old-fashioned water, not sugary or sodium-filled beverages. If you’re drinking caffeine, you’ll need to balance it out with water. Drinking water tends to take the edge off my headaches almost instantly.

3. Stay on schedule: We’ve all fallen prey to the predatory stress headache. We should expect it to rear its ugly … er, head, especially whilst we’re rushing around hurriedly trying to accomplish too many things at once. Try sticking to a schedule (planning one first is ideal) to avoid last-minute stresses.

4. Just say NO: Sticking to a schedule will most likely result in using the word “no” an uncomfortable number of times. However, which is worse worse: inviting someone else to pick up some of the slack, or stressing ourselves and our kiddos out daily?

5. Go to the mattresses: OK, yes it’s a line from “The Godfather,” but it’s also a line from my chiropractor. He tells me a mattress is due for replacement every  8 to 10 years. You may need some extra support to help prevent that headache.

6. See your doctor: Experts say that if you’re experiencing headaches more than twice a week on a regular basis, you may want to give a doctor a call. There may be an underlying physiological ailment, but it could also be that you’re doing too much and not taking care of yourself.

It’s time we mamas (and papas, too!) stop turning ourselves into martyrs and start taking better care of our bodies. The alternative isn’t exactly conducive to family life. If we’re not up and functioning properly, we become the headache to everyone else.