Simple Ways Busy Moms Can Sneak in Daily Exercise

Anyone can find sticking to an exercise regime difficult but when you throw children into the mix it can seem almost impossible to find any spare time to exercise. Let’s face it, if you can’t even have a bath in peace, how on earth are you supposed to find an hour to commit to a fitness program?

It doesn’t matter whether you were a fitness fanatic before you had kids or you’re looking to get rid of some of that baby weight, exercise is an important part of your life. That’s why it’s important that you find the time to do your fitness classes or go for a run around the park. And the great news is, there are a number of ways you can incorporate your busy life as a Mom into your exercise regime, it just takes a little extra planning and creativity.

Here are some simple tips as to how you can juggle your work, life and kids with your exercise regime:

Make a Commitment

If you think, “I’ll go for a jog tomorrow when I get chance”, it’s highly likely that you’ll never end up going for said jog. Without committing a certain amount of time out of your day to your fitness plan, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in your other jobs so you push this aside. Instead, make an appointment with yourself to do that yoga class or go for that run and put it on your calendar. Yes, it might seem a little extreme but if you’ve booked yourself for this, you’re less likely to find an excuse not to go. And it means your partner knows that they’ve got to pick the kids up from school that day because you’re at a fitness class, and vice versa.

Get Your Routine in First

If you know you’ll not have time during the day for your fitness class, why not get it over and done with first thing in the morning before anything else can crop up? If you can get up early, before the kids wake up, you’ve got the perfect chance to do some exercising before your job as a Mom starts. Whether you’re following a bikini body guide or you’re just walking around the block, no-one’s going to find another job for you at 5.00am in the morning. Plus, when you start your day in this way, it’ll help you to feel energized for the rest of the day.

Get the Kids Involved

OK, so this might sound like a nightmare at first, but bear with us. You’ll know how hard it is to get “you” time when you’ve got kids, so perhaps the way you’ll get fit is if you involve your kids in the routine somehow. If your children are young, you could involve them by taking them to the park to play on the swings whilst you run around the play area, do some lunges and perform an exercise routine whilst you’re watching them. The monkey bars are also great for doing pull-ups!

Equally, if your children are older, why not get them fit too? You could go for a jog with them or go swimming together, uniting family time with exercise. And seeing you dedicated to exercise will help to motivate them, and it’s a great time to bond with them too. Don’t let knee pain be an excuse for not walking or hiking. There are tons of great products out there to help with hiking with knee pain.

Sneak in Training When You Can

As a parent you’ll have already learned the art of sneaking things in as and when you get the chance, whether that’s doing the laundry, having a cup of coffee or taking a shower. And the same can be true of your exercise regime. When you find 15 minutes spare, do some lunges or lift some weights. Then, when your child’s favorite TV show is on, get on the treadmill for 20 minutes. This way, you’re not missing out on any time with your child but you’re still finding time to do those all-important exercises.

Exercising doesn’t have to be a “selfish” time for you that means your kids miss out or your partner’s left at home with the baby. It just means you have to be a little bit more creative than you used to be when you try to find time to slot in your routine. Getting the kids involved is great too because if they learn from an early age that exercise is good for them, they’ll be more likely to stick to it and enjoy it in the future.

Melissa Palmer is a fitness mama! She writes about how to stay fit and happy whilst pregnant, as a new Mom when fitness is the last thing on your mind, and fitting exercise in around daily life.