1. Make Workouts Part of Your Daily Calendar
The time isn’t just going to magically appear, you have to actually make the time. Shocker, I know!
I’m old school, but I still like to use pen and paper and schedule my days. If I see a 45 minute window without any plans, I fit my workout and shower in there. I know it seems like there is literally no time, but there is! The Fit Life Planner helps me find the best time to work out and reminds me to stick with it.
2. Track Your Progress
There is nothing more satisfying that seeing what you are doing is working. It’s also super helpful to know when something you are doing is not working! That is why tracking exactly what you’re doing and what results that is leading to is super helpful. Tracking with the Fit Life Planner will tell you where you excel and where you can improve.
3. Sweat at Home
Commuting to a gym or exercise class can take up a lot of time that you may not have. Instead of wasting that time, work out at home. All you need is a few dumbbells or exercise bands and you are good to go! Sometimes the best gym is the one that is closest to you and there’s certainly no place like home!
4. Work Out While the Kids Sleep
The easiest time to fit your exercise in is while the kids are sleeping… and they do sleep even if it doesn’t feel like it. When do your kids nap? What time are they all in bed? The minute they are settled in, exercise! Again, the Fit Life Planner helps me visualize this and plan for it.
I have both of my kids in bed for the night by 8PM. So at 8PM I change into my workout clothes, and by 8:15 I am working out. At 8:45pm I am done and I shower. By 9PM it’s all out of the way and I can still enjoy my night! If you’re a morning person, wake up before your kids and exercise then.
5. Get Moving WITH Your Kids
Kids have so much fun when you incorporate them into your workouts and it can be an amazing bonding experience! You can workout while wearing your baby in a carrier or you can use your baby as a weight! If running is more your thing, put the kids in a jogging stroller and take off!
6. HIIT It For At Least 30 Minutes a Day
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an exercise technique in which you give all-out, one hundred percent effort through quick, intense bursts of movement. This is followed by short recovery periods.
This type of training gets and keeps your heart rate up and burns more fat in less time. It also helps you build endurance if you have even loftier workout goals like extending your workouts for longer periods or training for a race like a 3K or 5K and building your way up.
You can find free HIIT videos all over YouTube for free!
7. Find a Gym with Childcare
If working out at home or with the kids isn’t possible, or you simply don’t have the space or setup (it’s definitely not for everyone), find a gym that offers childcare as a part of your membership. Most childcare services in gyms also provide equally fun and engaging activities for your kids too!
8. Cook Simple & Quick Meals
Don’t stress yourself out in the kitchen making elaborate meals that won’t look like the Pinterest photo and the kids probably won’t eat anyway. Instead, save yourself the time and headache and make simple, but healthy meals. You can make a super simple burrito bowl by cooking ground meat and chopping up some lettuce and tomatoes, then add cheese and avocado!
9. Ask for Help
There is no shame in asking your kids father or grandparents to help you for a few hours a week so you can have some time to workout and take care of yourself! They love you and they want you to be healthy and happy- you just have to let them know you need the help! Another childcare alternative is to let your partner, spouse, or co-guardian know training is part of the schedule and just like having childcare covered for work or other commitments the same thing needs to happen for fitness. Don’t have a support network? Create one. I’m a big fan of joining with friends for workouts and joining in on group playdates while another pal or babysitter watches the kids.
10. Netflix and Treadmill!
You can multi-task workouts with chill time. Instead of laying on the sofa while watching TV, exercise while watching your show. Instead of losing countless time on Facebook, exercise. Instead of taking a long bath, exercise and take a quick shower (or reward yourself with a nice soak!). Diving into a Handmaid’s, Orange is the New Black, or The Crown marathon? Just think of how many calories you burn while joining in with a literal marathon of sorts and sweating through that binge on the treadmill or another machine/workout of your choice. Make exercise a priority in order to stay fit.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
