This post is all about my best tips to help busy moms to make time for exercise.
“I’m so busy, the day just gets away from me. I don’t have time to exercise!”
I don’t know any moms who aren’t busy and have had trouble squeezing time to exercise.
You’ve got a mile-long to-do list. It includes appointments and school activities. You have to cook wholesome meals and keep the laundry from piling up.
I know how the story goes…you had the best of intentions to squeeze in a 30-minute workout today.
You get ready and then the baby needs to be fed, and a diaper disaster pops up (or out!) Then the toddler got quiet. Your mommy senses kicked in a minute late as you find him happily unrolling the entire roll of toilet paper. Why is this so fun?!?
You finally get things back in order. Then you realize you’ve only got 15 minutes until it’s time to get ready to go for school pickup. You are already out of sorts and exhausted. You decide to try for tomorrow since you ran out of time.
I’ve been there. Sometimes it feels like time keeps slipping away. Most days, it’s difficult to follow through on your plans to put your health first. This is where getting creative and thinking outside the box comes in.
It takes practice to start noticing little pockets of time you can use for exercise. The goal is to be a happy, energetic mom. Isn’t a little practice worth it? It benefits ourselves and our entire family.
Here are my top 5 mom tips for squeezing in exercise throughout your busy day!
Tip 1: 5 Minutes of Exercise is Better than 0 Minutes
We are all busy. All moms can get creative. You can find 5 one-minute spurts throughout your day.
Warming up supper in the microwave or on the stove?…Do some squats/squat jumps, or jumping jacks in between stirring.
Helping your child with spelling words? Do some squats and lunges while listening to them spell.
They say multi-tasking isn’t productive unless you pair a mindless activity with something you need to focus on. Your brain already needs to focus on the spelling words. As long as you are rotating legs, I don’t think counting reps is necessary. As long as you have good form and are feeling a little burn, something is better than nothing!
Over time, you will get better and better at finding short periods of time to add in movement.
Tip 2: Use your kids as weights
Disclaimer!!!..I don’t mean swing your kids like a kettle ball or do quick overhead movements!! Safety first of course!
I don’t know any kids who would turn down a good old fashioned piggyback ride. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Walk briskly around the house with a child on your back. Include some squats here and there.
Depending on the age, this is great exercise! It is also a great way to incorporate some one-on-one play time that kids crave with parents.
Tip 3: 2 words—Speed. Clean.
I love setting 5 or 10-minute timers. I push myself to see how much I can get done before the timer rings.
You would be surprised how quickly your heart rate increases. Try going as fast as you can when putting away laundry, toys, or mopping the floor.
BONUS- Your household chores will get done faster! BONUS BONUS-It’s much more motivating for kids to clean quickly. They know they only have to do it for 5-10 minutes.
Tip 4: Take your Kids for a Walk or Go to the Park and Play with Them
Fresh air is good for the soul. On those days when siblings start fighting, change the scenery. It makes a huge difference when everyone is just having an off day.
Its easy for parents to just sit on the sidelines when taking the kids on an outing. It makes it even more fun for them when you join in. And it gets your body moving. Win win!
Not exactly a full-on workout, but it counts as moving your body.
Tip 5: Just Do It
15 minutes and a little planning is all you need to get a decent workout in.
Wake up 15 minutes earlier and do a few bodyweight exercises. Leave the dishes and laundry and set a timer to get your workout in. Other chores can wait.
You will feel more energized by taking care of your body for 15 minutes. You will get done just as much, if not more!
There you have it. 5 great tips for moms to find time to exercise throughout your busy day!
Here’s to busy moms getting creative with exercise. Let’s make the time to take care of ourselves. This way, we have the energy to take care of our loved ones. And be a great role model for making exercise important in our lives!
