Making Time for Exercise as a Busy Mom

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There are some days as a busy mom that nothing sounds more enticing than a nice, quiet run.  What you usually get is a toddler-laden sprint from the car into the grocery store.  Same difference, right?  NOT.

(Some of you may also think that the last thing as a mom that you need is to do more exercise.  After all, don't you spend a great deal of your life running around after the kids already? I feel you as well.)

Of course, even though we often feel as if we are on our feet all day, the truth of it is many moms still don't get the required (or desired) amount of physical activity to main their mental and physical health. 

Luckily, I have some self-tested tips on how to make time for experience no matter how busy a mom you are. 

Make It Fun

One of the easiest ways to be more successful at fitting in exercise is to pick something that you really enjoy doing. 

I don't mean activities that you feel kind of good after, but ones that are actually a lot of fun right at the moment when you are doing them! 

Hate running?  Stop trying to make yourself into a marathon runner.  Think yoga is stupid?  Quit trying to fit in with the Lululemmings and go to the boxing class you always drool over.

Seriously.  Life’s too short to do forms of exercise you hate.

In fact, attending a dance school (like the Arthur Murray you went to before your wedding first dance eight million years ago) can be a great choice here. After all, many people get so into the moves that they forget they are doing a workout altogether. 

Some of the more fun classes as your local gym may work the same for you, and even team sports where you have a goal other than watch the clock tick down can be a smart choice. 

Exercise with the Kids

Another way to make sure you always have time to exercise is to choose to workout with the kids. 

Of course, that does mean you will have to pick something suitable for them to do alongside you. Although there are plenty of online or “real life” classes for mom and child yoga now, as well as other activities like cycling, and hiking that can be fun to do together. 

Make it Your “Me” Time

On the other side of the spectrum, you may find it most motivating to make it 'me time' when you exercise. A time when you don't have to worry about anyone else's needs apart from your own. 

In fact, by integrating your workout as a part of your 'me time,' it can really help you to stay motivated, and to enjoy your session. After all, for moms, this is a rare resource indeed. 

Work Out at Home

Lastly, if you are really struggling to get out to a gym or an exercise class, then you can always work out at home instead. In fact, you don't even need to spend a fortune on home exercise equipment to do this. 

Instead, why not use an exercise system like yoga or pilates that requires very few pieces of equipment and that can easily be done in the front room once the little ones have gone to bed. 

You can even use household items such as a bottle of water, cans, or bags of flour for a weightlifting workout if you like. Something that can be just as effective, but helps you to be done and dusted (pardon the flour pun) in a lot less time than heading out for your workout.