Parenthood is full of happiness and adventure, but it is also fraught with difficulties. Finding time to exercise is a challenge for many parents. Many parents believe that balancing parenthood and fitness is impossible, but with the correct tools and support, it can be much easier than you think.
#1 Find the best time for you
Mornings may have been your preferred time to exercise before becoming a parent. Getting your kids up, dressed, nourished, and off to school can take up a significant portion of your morning. Try a midday workout if you are a stay-at-home parent or work from home. If you are a working parent, schedule your workout or fitness class during your lunch break if you can – just don’t forget your towel and yoga kit!
#2 Change things up
When you reach a plateau in your circuit training, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Consider moving away from the treadmill and enrolling in a new class. Aerobics classes such as Zumba are excellent workouts, and the group setting fosters comradeship. If organized fitness is not your thing, concentrate on living an active lifestyle. Taking the kids for a walk in the park, family bike rides, or a boogie in the kitchen with them are all fun activities you can do with your family that get you moving.
#3 Use what you have at home
If you do not have the time or financial resources to go out and hit the gym, why not use what you have lying around the house to create your own gym? Sure, you can invest in expensive bikes and treadmills, and weightlifting equipment, but you can also use tins of beans for weights, skipping ropes in the yard for cardio, and even your baby – there are lots of workout videos showing you some fun activities using your baby that is great for them too.
#4 Be realistic
You might not be able to exercise quite as frequently as you did prior to becoming a parent, not in the early days anyway. You might not WANT to exercise as much; you might want to spend all of your time with your baby, you might not have anyone around to watch them or you might just not feel up to it after yet another sleepless night. That’s ok. Your priorities may have changed a little since becoming a parent, and as long as you are doing enough to keep yourself healthy and feel good about yourself, that is all that is important.
#5 Keep at it
It takes time and effort to balance parenthood and fitness. Staying committed to your fitness routine and surrounding yourself with other like-minded parents is a great way to keep it up. It is more than okay to prioritize your health and take some time for yourself. If you are committed to caring for your body, it will care for you and make you a better parent.
It is difficult to balance parenthood and fitness at times, but with a bit of creativity and planning, it is more than possible. Hopefully, these tips will help.
