Fitting in Workouts as a Busy Parent
By: Liz
There's no doubt that parenting can be exhausting! Because of that, it is not surprising that so many parents feel that they don't have the energy, or time, to work out. Here's the thing --- your body THRIVES on movement; you will build up more energy by moving your body! It can be hard to wrap your head around that when you're feeling so tired at the end of the day and all you want to do is crash. All too often, parents fall into a cycle of reliance on caffeine and artificial stimulants to keep up with chasing kids around all day. There is some good news though!
Longer workouts are not always better! You don't need to spend an hour at the gym, or run 10k to obtain the widespread benefits of exercise. It can actually be more beneficial to focus on effective, shorter workouts, which is great news for busy parents!
Your focus should be on tough, distraction-free, effective workouts -- that's it! Get yourself into a routine and soon enough, it will be second nature! Warm up with a short (ten minute or so) cardio hit, followed by a short but effective weight circuit, or HIIT routine, and you will be well on your way to the energizing effects of regular exercise!
Here are some tips to help you get the ball rolling!
- Leave your workout clothes in a visible spot. You'll be more likely to actually put them on!
- Add your workouts to your calendar. Schedule it as you would any other important appointment.
- Reach out to your partner for support, and find a friend to help keep you accountable.
- Find exercise you really love! Try out different workouts until you find something that gets you excited.