Let’s face it: busy moms have a lot on their plates. Between cooking delicious and nutritious meals for the kids, driving them to soccer practice, and figuring out how to make ends meet financially, moms need some time to themselves. That’s why it’s so important that moms get the exercise time that they need and deserve! Here are some important tips to follow if you’re someone who needs a little more time to exercise as a busy mom.
Make a schedule
The best way to know when you’ll be able to exercise is by making a schedule for your day. Waking up in the morning and imagining all the things you’ll have to do can feel overwhelming and like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. However, if you write it all down and actually see how much time you’d expect to spend on each activity, you’ll see that there might be an hour here or there that you could use for a quick jog, some weight lifting, or a restorative yoga session. Of course, with kids running around, things never go quite exactly to plan, so make sure that you’re flexible about your schedule!
Figure out some easy, quick exercises you can commit to
Just because you’re trying to stay in shape doesn’t mean you have to commit to a full two-hour gym routine. As a working mom, you’ll probably have to find shorter periods in the day to work out. Don’t worry! There are plenty of great options out there. Jogging can be as quick as half an hour. Instead of getting a gym membership across town, just buy some weights or a treadmill for your garage or home office and pop in for a workout there whenever you have the time. The key is to be flexible, and to realize that you can’t always commit a portion of your day to fitness when you have a couple of wee tykes running about.
Just keep your workout clothes on
We all want to look glamorous 24/7, but sometimes as a mom, you have to make little sacrifices here or there. If you’re running errands all day, picking up groceries, driving the kids to their friends’ houses, and meeting your neighbor for a quick coffee and gossip, there’s no reason you can’t do all that in the comfort and convenience of your workout clothes. Even if you are opposed to wearing leggings as pants, just slide on a pair of compression shorts for women under some flowy trendy shorts, and voila! Cute outfit that’s ready for a quick transition into a workout.
Let yourself chill a bit
As a mom, your kids come first. End of story. But sometimes, it’s okay to focus on yourself. You need care too, and giving yourself that self-care can be just as important as all the love and support you give to your little ones. It’s okay to let auntie or grandpa spend some time with the kids while you work out from time to time. After all, if you’re feeling your best after a solid workout, you’ll be in an even better place mentally to take care of your kids and have loads of fun with them! There’s nothing bad about needing a break, and hey, if your kids get to spend time at their friends’ houses or with their grandparents for a bit, I’m sure they’ll be happy too!
Work out with your kids
Hey, kids need active time as much as adults do! Why not get your kids started out on the right foot in life health-wise by teaching them the value of exercise early on? Your kids will love the fun active time, plus the quality time spent with you. Sure, it might not be easy for a 6-year-old to jog a mile, but you don’t have to start at your level. Show your little fella how to lift weights with the smaller dumbbells! Maybe run a couple of laps around the backyard just to show them the way. There’s nothing kids love more than copying mom and dad, so set a great example for your children by teaching them the value of a solid workout routine!
Sure, working out while managing a mom’s schedule can be tough, but if you are diligent about following a schedule and finding time and tricks for making it work, you can make it happen. Remember: moms can do anything.
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