Balancing motherhood and personal care (especially exercise) can be difficult. That said, staying busy is important for both physical and mental health. Here are some helpful workout tips for the ever-busy mom who wants to stay fit but doesn’t want to make time.
1. Integrate exercise into your daily life
Exercise does not always have to take up a large portion of your time. Add some short bursts of physical activity to your daily routine. Like a quick walk around the soccer field while your kids are at practice. To make the most of your time on the field, try jogging or stretching. Over the course of a week, these short workouts will go a long way toward helping you achieve your fitness goals.
2. Do HIIT or high-intensity interval training.
Hip Hop helps busy moms save time. Typically, these workouts last 20 to 30 minutes and burn more calories than longer, gentle aerobics. The key is to alternate between short bursts of intense exercise and rest or lighter activity. You can find many HIIT workouts online that don’t require many tools, so you can do them at home while your kids are napping.
3. Use everyday objects in creative ways
Not enough fitness equipment? It does not matter! You can put together a good exercise program with items you already have at home. You can do triceps extensions or stepping exercises in a chair, and steps can become your new stair-stepping machine. Everyday objects such as gallon jugs can be used as weights for many different strength training exercises.
4. Make it a family activity
Involving your family in your workouts can be fun and help you stay motivated. Take the family for a walk, bike ride or even have a dance party in the living room. These activities will not only keep you moving, but will also teach your children the importance of staying active.
5. Make stretching and flexibility a priority
Yoga and other flexibility exercises are especially helpful for mothers, as they can help reduce stress and help the body function better overall. Many yoga exercises and stretches can be done quickly throughout the day, for example while your children are resting or before they go to bed.
6. Set achievable goals and enjoy the process of achieving them.
To stay motivated, it is important to set achievable training goals. Clear, achievable goals can help you stay on track, whether you’re taking a certain number of steps every day or exercising a certain number of times a week. Respect your achievements, no matter how small, to keep your motivation and spirit high.
7. Ask for help
You can get the support and inspiration you need to keep going by joining an online fitness group or a local exercise class. Mother and baby classes are available in many places. They’re a great way to meet other moms and get some exercise at the same time.
For busy moms, it can be difficult to find time to exercise. But if you’re creative and willing to change, you can make time every day to exercise and enjoy all the benefits of a healthy life. Remember: every step counts!