Tips For Fitting In Exercise as a Working Mom
As a working mom, it can be hard to fit in exercise. You probably already know that exercise is good for you, but if you're like me and not a morning person, finding time after work can be tough. Here are some tips that have helped me stay on track with my fitness goals:
Find a time that works for your family
Don't try to fit in exercise when you're tired. Tiredness makes it hard to concentrate, which means that you could make mistakes and hurt yourself.
Don't try to fit in exercise when you're hungry. Eating something first will help fuel your body for the activity and prevent headaches from low blood sugar later on.
Don't try to fit in exercise when stressed out--that's a recipe for disaster! You need all of your brainpower for exercising safely and effectively, so take care of yourself before heading out into the world with an activity like this one on the agenda (or any other).
If possible, wait until after work if possible; otherwise, at least do things like taking walks around the neighborhood or getting up early enough so that there's plenty of time before having to leave home again for work (which may be difficult if there are young children involved).
Exercise doesn't have to be intense or take a long time
Exercise doesn't have to be intense or take a long time. A simple walk around the block can get you moving, and there are plenty of ways to strengthen your body without going to the gym. If you're looking for something more structured, try yoga or Pilates classes at home (or on YouTube). These exercises focus on stretching and strengthening muscles in the core area--the stomach, back and hips--which tend to get tight from spending so much time sitting down at work or commuting with kids in tow.
If your schedule allows it, consider making exercise part of your routine before heading into work each day. This will help get those endorphins flowing so that even if things don't go smoothly during the day (or week), they'll still feel better than they would otherwise!
Make sure you have the right gear (and know how to use it)
Be sure you have the right gear for the exercise you are doing. If you don't know how to use your gear, ask a friend or look it up online. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help!
Make sure that when you're exercising outside, there is shade available in case of sunburn or rain showers. You don't want to ruin all of your hard work by getting sick because of uncomfortable weather conditions!
Make an appointment with yourself
One of the major hurdles for working moms is finding time to exercise. You may be thinking "I have an hour commute, a full-time job and three kids!" But there is always time if you make it happen.
I know from experience that even just a few minutes of exercise can make an enormous difference in your mood and overall health, so don't let your schedule get in the way of your goals! If necessary, pick up some weights at Target or Walmart on your way home from work so that once everyone has gone to bed (or whenever), there's no excuse not to do some strength training exercises before bedtime. And don't forget about weekends--even if they're short on free hours due to all those activities with other people's kids (and spouses), try setting aside some quality time with yourself at least once per week when no one else needs anything from you and use this opportunity as motivation for making healthier choices during weekdays so they don't impact your ability later on down line...
Be honest with yourself about how much exercise you can get
The first thing you need to do is be honest with yourself about how much exercise you can get. If the answer is "not enough," then talk to your doctor about what he or she thinks would be best for you.
If that's not an option, try finding ways to fit in more physical activity during the day. For example, instead of driving somewhere and sitting in traffic for 15 minutes, walk (or run) there instead! That way, at least some of those 15 minutes were spent moving around--and if nothing else: better than sitting on your butt doing nothing at all!
Turn off the TV and keep your phone away
You may think that watching TV or scrolling through social media will distract you from working out, but it can actually make it harder to focus on exercising. When we're constantly bombarded with images of perfection in our Instagram feeds, we start to feel bad about ourselves, which makes us less likely to get moving--and more likely to binge-watch another episode of Friends instead of going for a run. Same goes for turning on Netflix with nothing else planned for the day: it leads directly into "just one more episode" territory (and then another).
So how do we stay focused? Try turning off all screens when getting ready for a workout and leaving them behind while exercising as well (unless they're necessary). If there's something specific you need from one of those devices--like directions from Google Maps or Siri guiding your way through a new workout routine--make sure those things are saved beforehand so they can be accessed quickly without requiring much thought at all!
Prepare everything you need ahead of time. Don't worry about being messy, other people will understand!
The first step to fitting in exercise as a working mom is preparation. You need to prepare everything you need ahead of time, so that when you get home from work and want to go straight into exercise mode, all of the items are ready for you.
Prepare your gym bag in advance and make sure it has everything: workout clothes (including shoes), water bottle or sports drink mix (if applicable), snacks/energy bars/protein powder if desired, hair ties/hairbrush etc., phone charger if needed etc.. Then prepare yourself mentally by choosing an easy-to-do workout routine that won't require much thinking on your part--something like yoga or Pilates will work well here since they don't require any equipment other than perhaps a mat if doing floor exercises such as planks or pushups!
Exercise is good for mental health and will help you feel better overall, but it's also okay not to be able to do it every day or every week
Exercise is good for your mental health. It can help you feel better physically and emotionally, as well as more energetic, relaxed and positive.
If you're a working mom like me who sometimes feels like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done (and then some), exercising every day may seem impossible. But don't worry! In this article we'll talk about how exercise can benefit both your mind and body even if you only have time for a short workout once or twice per week.
Exercise is a great way to stay healthy and keep your mind clear. It doesn't have to be intense or take a long time, but it does require commitment from you as well as your family members. If you can fit in some time each week then that's great! But if not, don't stress about it - there are other ways for everyone in the house to get exercise like walking around outside during lunch break at work or doing chores around the house together (like vacuuming). Just remember that whatever form of exercise works best for your household should be prioritized over anything else.
The hardest part of any sort of movement is showing up. Whether it's 5 minutes or 50, you should be proud of the time you've taken out of your busy day to improve your physical and mental health. You got this, mama!
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