How To Sneak Fitness Into Your Mommy Schedule
It can often seem like mothers have time for everyone but themselves. A mom may manage cooking, cleaning, finances, school pick up and a plethora of other draining tasks but exercise usually falls by the wayside. A mommy schedule can be endlessly busy, but here are a few ways you can sneak some fitness and exercise into it to maintain your health in the best way possible.
Involve The Kids
Children take up a lot of time especially if they are infants or toddlers. A clever way to sneak in some quality physical exertion is to involve the kids when you are going out for a walk or run. Depending on their age, you can take them to the park so they can run around and play on the swings while you get some jogging or walking done. Simple tasks like walking the dog a few blocks can also give you the push you need.
If you are doing at-home workouts following a video online, your children can learn alongside you. It is important for most mothers to keep their kids within eye range, so planning fun games and activities for them while you exercise can be a lifesaver. Walking to your errands whenever possible and taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a sure fire way to burn some calories and get some shapely calves. Of course this option may not work for some mothers due to where they live but for most people there is some leeway to get errands done on foot. Put your child in a baby backpack or in a pram, and be on your way.
Get Some Help
Mothers need a support system from their spouse, family, and friends in order to carry out the difficult job of caring for and raising children of any age. Make your partner take turns looking after the kids while you attend a yoga or Zumba class, or get the children’s grandparents or aunts and uncles to clock in if you have an activity you do not want to miss. Getting paid professional help or family help can make incorporating exercise into your daily life easier. Apart from sourcing help, you can invest in at-home equipment like elliptical machines and treadmills to get a workout done while your children are napping or playing. Day-care is an option if you have the budget for it and your children are old enough.
The Early Hours
For parents as far as self-care is concerned, getting up even an hour earlier than their kids in the morning can enable them to get some tasks done without interruptions. That can include a quick workout or run on the treadmill or even an online class. There are many opportunities to get personal fitness training online at an hour of your choosing and it can be a worthwhile alternative to hitting the gym which can often be tiring and inconvenient especially for a caregiver.
Go Where The Heart Is
Not all forms of exercise will appeal to any individual. Some people love to be in nature and hike, some love swimming, others adore horse riding or running and it is important to choose an activity you are genuinely interested in. Deliberately doing high intensity workouts that are overly taxing or boring will not benefit you in the long run as a major reason people stop exercise or are inconsistent with it is because it is too difficult. Muscle pains and exhaustion can result from exercise that is too taxing and that may have the opposite effect and encourage overeating or over-sleeping. Choose an exercise that interests you and delights you so you are inspired to take it up on a regular basis.
Get An Exercise Buddy
Hiring a personal trainer is a brilliant idea as workouts with professionals are designed to cater to your needs and goals but a great motivator is having a mom friend who wants to invest in her health same as you. Schedule walks, swims or other strenuous activities with your friend a few times a week and having an exercise buddy will keep you on track and accountable. Adhering to strict schedules can become increasingly difficult when you become a mother so remember consistency and flexibility are the names of the game.
Conclusion
Mommy schedules are often packed to the brim and they can trap otherwise active and productive people into a loop of lack of exercise and unhealthy eating. The key is to add in exercise wherever you can and not to worry about the amount of time you can allot to it.
