As busy mums with too much to do and way too much to fit into our already hectic days, exercise can easily become yet another thing on the to do list that we never quite get to.
But rather than adding something else onto your already busy plate, some form of daily exercise may be just waht you need to do everything else better!
Read on to find out how to incorporate fitness into your daily routine as a busy mum.
Research has proven that exercise helps you sleep better, and it is well known that it improves mental health and alleviates stress, so we all owe it to ourselves to find the time for fitness.
But just how can we find the tme and space in our already crazy schedule for exercise?
The best way to find time to exercise is by incorporating physical activity into our daily routines.
Whether it's a run or workout during your lunch break, yoga at home with the kids, grabbing the stroller and joining a park-based exercise group or just incorporating some extra steps while you're running errands, there is time in your schedule for fitness.
6 Ways to Incorporate Fitness into Your Daily Routine as a Busy Mom
1. Get Up Earlier
If you can bear to be an early riser, take some time to workout early in the morning before the kids are up.
This is perfect for anyone who wants to take up running.
Running is an easy exercise to get into and there are tons of online programs and apps to help you get started and build up your stamina.
Just make sure you have well-fitting running shoes. It's a good idea to visit a good fitness store to have your gait checked as many of us have overpronation.
You may need overpronation insoles to correct your gait which will make running more comfortable for you so you can improve distance and stamina.
You could even book a personal trainer a couple of times a week to combine your run with some high intensity exercise at the park, or join an early morning runner's group.
2. Involve Your Kids
Getting our kids involved in exercise from a young age is essential, so why not work out together as a family?
By normalising exercise you will give them a lifelong benefit that will really make a difference.
Whether you take a bike ride together a couple of times a week, love to go on long hikes or choose to exercise at home, getting the kids involved is the perfect way to improve your fitness.
You can even turn your weekly nature walk into a longer hike and get your miles in that way!
At home most children will love simple challenges like jumping jacks or who can hold a plank pose the longest.
You might only manage 10 minutes at a time, but spread throughout your day those small windows of movement or strength training add up.
Read more: Best Exercises to Do with Kids
3. Go on a Family Walk or Hike
I already mentioned it above, but the benefits of a good walk are often overlooked.
Walking, particularly in nature, will boost both your physical and mental health.
There are so many beautiful places to walk, whether you live by the sea, in the countryside or in a city.
Find your nearest forest, park or woodland and start exploring the amazing trails right on your doorstep.
Adding in a scavenger hunt or nature study will entertain most kids, or make it an adventure and let them plan the route and take the lead.
However you sell it to them, family time outdoors is going to be a win-win for all of you.
3. Make the Most of Your Lunch Break
If you work outside the home fitting some exercise into your lunch break is ideal.
Just 30 to 60 minutes is enough to get your body moving and raise your heart rate.
Take a walk, do a short park run with colleagues or hit the gym.
At the gym try HIIT training or take an exercise class, many gyms offer shorter high intensity classes over the lunchtime hours.
Make the most of your child-free time to get your exercise in!
4. Add Yoga to Your Routine
Say fitness and most of us have an idea of some sweaty, heart-racing exercise session but workouts don’t always have to be high-intensity to be beneficial.
For most of us, a combination of stranegth training (grab some weights at home while you watch a TV show), cardio (running or walking, see above) and stretching gives the best results.
Improving your flexibility is a key factor in fitness and longevity, so takign up yoga or Pilates is going to pay huge dividends for your body.
Both yoga and Pilates are a great way to simultaneously move and stretch your body, clear your mind and release stress and tension.
Whether you join a class at the gym, a local daytime or evening class or follow an online or YouTube class at home, there is definoitely time in your life for yoga or Pilates.
5. Book an Exercise Class at the Gym
If you prefer a more strauctured approach, you prefer to work out with others or you just need an instructor to push and motivate you, joinign a fitness class at the gym is ideal.
Exercise classes are a great way for busy parents to fit in a good workout because they don’t require much preparation or planning.
Just put the date and time in your diary, get your partner or a friend or relative to watch your kids for an hour and head out the door.
Booking regular classes, particularly with friends, is a great way to introduce some accountability to your fitness goals so check out what your local gym or leisure centre has to offer.
6. Take the Stairs
Improving your fitness can be literally as simple as boosting your daily steps.
By incorporating simple changes into your life to increase the amount of exercise you do each day you can begin to improve fitness whoch will motivate you to add more exercise into your routine.
When given the option between the stairs and the elevator, opt for the former.
If you can either take the bus or the underground / subway for a few blocks or walk, get off early and make the time to get in some more steps.
Walking around the office instead of sending an email to someone a few cubicles away can help energize you too.
Every little helps!
Whether you loathe the thought of exercise or you just don't know where to find the time for your favourite workouts, it is possible to make time for fitness as a busy mum.
Instead of leaving your workouts up to chance, schedule time when you can exercise, whether it's early in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening, or most likely a combination of all three, make the time and schedule it as an appointment with yourself.
Participate with a group, hire a trainer, make some new gym buddies or work out with your kids, make exercise fun and a regular part of your daily self care.
And when you are less stressed, more relaxed and well-rested, you'll find it easier to get through all the daily tasks of work, homemaking and motherhood.
You will even find that extra bit of energy to play with your children more too!
Even a 20 minute daily walk can improve your sleep quality and energy levels so there really is no excuse!
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