You know you want to exercise, but there are logistical challenges, uncertainty, and other priorities getting in your way.
- Ditch the gym
Let’s think this through.
You want to be at the gym for at least 45 mins to make the trip worthwhile, then you’ve got the travel time there and back, factor in getting your kit ready, and time to change, so that’s at least an hour out of your busy day, and not to mention the childcare to figure out too.
It’s tiring for the brain, let alone the body.
Your focus right now is on doing exercise at the gym, but if you can’t make it to the gym, then exercise isn’t happening for you.
Your solution? Train at home.
You need a fraction of the time and no childcare!
- Stop waiting for the golden hour
Do you find yourself waiting to do a workout…
- once the baby is down for the nap
- only when the kids are out the house
- after the kids are asleep
- in your lunch break
- once you’ve completed your other to-do’s!
But let’s do a reality check here.
The nap is increasingly unpredictable, when the kids are out you tidy up, it gets too late to train after bedtime, the lunch hour gets absorbed into a meeting, and the to-do list isn’t going anywhere.
The perfect window of opportunity very rarely arises when you have these limitations in place.
Your solution? Embrace imperfection.
Go ahead with your workout even when it isn’t the perfect time. It may mean your workout is shorter, or gets interrupted.
But you can strive to do ‘Something over nothing when you can’t do it all’.
Let the kids see mum train.
You are their greatest role model.
After time it becomes ‘the new normal’ and the kids will see you doing exercise as a habit like you washing the dishes!
My top tip, after you exercise, give your children some of your undivided attention. They will learn that this follows your workout routine.
- Have a plan
Your body can feel different after having kids, the exercises that used to be your “go-to” might trigger symptoms, pain, or feel too challenging right now.
This leaves you uncertain on what workout you ought to do.
Without a plan, you may find you waste time scrolling youtube for a random ad hoc workout.
You may eventually land on a workout to try (note a good 15 mins have now passed searching!), but then you end up skipping most of the exercises as you didn’t fancy them or didn’t know how to adapt them for your needs (no thank you jumping jacks), or you have your eyes so fixed on trying to mirror the instructor’s moves that you don’t focus in on how you are moving your own body.
When you don’t have a plan and when you are unsure on what is best for your body, you end up doing nothing.
Your solution? A progressive training programme that meets you at your start point.
A programme provides structure.
It makes your training efficient, effective and enjoyable.
When you have a plan all the guesswork is removed, and you will better optimise the limited time you do have available to workout.
Most importantly a programme takes you on a journey.
A journey to achieving personal fitness goals.
- Have an accountability partner
It’s easy to skip a workout when no-one knows it was your intention to get it done on a given day / time, or when you haven’t expressed your goals to be fitter and stronger to anyone.
Think about a task you need to complete at work.
The task where your boss is waiting for the work to land in their inbox by 5pm that day.
You have someone waiting on something from you.
Someone else holding you accountable for your work tasks.
You can mirror this in fitness.
Your solution? Find a friend or coach to hold you accountable.
Workouts are easily missed for another excuse only you tell yourself.
You are so much less likely to let someone else down (human nature).
An accountability partner is not a drill instructor either!
They are supportive, motivational, empathetic, and your biggest cheerleader. They understand your personal goals, your individual challenges, and work alongside you to fulfil the intentions you have set for yourself.
- Bring yourself up the priority list
The to-do list is never ending, and if truth be told the to-do list isn’t going anywhere. How often do you tick 1 item off only to add another 3?
As mums we wear many hats – chef, cleaner, taxi driver, teacher, employee / business owner. You are striving for success in everything you do. This is absolutely to be admired.
It is only natural that we put the needs of others high up on our agenda.
But, you cannot forget about the most important asset needed to achieve everything you set your heart and mind to – YOU!
Your solution? Schedule time for fitness.
Get more specific about when you will train, this could be ‘1pm on a Monday’, or it could be ‘During the kids tea-time’.
Now tell someone your intentions.
Have a plan you will follow at this time.
Don’t worry if you get interrupted.
And train at home for ease!
A happy healthy mum is a happy healthy family.
Prioritising your wellbeing is not selfish.
What’s stopping you from finding time to exercise?
If you can relate to any or all of the points above, you are not alone.
If you want to find more windows of opportunity to exercise as a busy mum achieving your personal goals.
You need…
An efficient and effective at-home training programme designed for you
No need for the gym,
Kids can join in,
Guesswork removed,
Check-ins to keep you on track,
And your wellbeing back up the priority pecking order.
Check out my 1-to-1 Coaching for a fully customised fitness and nutrition programme designed for your lifestyle, or The Active Mums Club for the ultimate at-home coaching experience.
