zella leggings. nike sneakers. sweatshirt. similar tank. sports bra.(my favorite-under $20) sunglasses.
Working out is really important to me, not just because I want to be in good shape and stay healthy, but also for my mental health. I am a much, much happier person when I get a workout in every day. (Thank you endorphins.) The hard thing is, I’m really busy, and finding time to workout can sometimes be tricky. Which got me thinking. I bet I’m not the only busy mom out there who feels like they’re fighting a daily battle to get their workout in.
So today, I thought I would share a few tips and tricks that have worked to help me make it happen, as well as the workouts that I love most and do every week.
6 workout tips for busy moms. (Or anyone else trying to make it happen. ;-)
1. Don’t over complicate it. You know what the internet it great for? Information. You know what it’s not so great for? Information over-load! I have found this so much with working out. There are so many great theories about working out, and so many different awesome workouts. But. it’s exhausting trying to keep up, and overwhelming when you’re getting started. Here’s my #1 tip for you. DON’T OVER COMPLICATE IT. If you are already a rockstar at working out, sure, go ahead and up your game. Come up with a whole scientific workout plan. If you are just trying to get your workout in and get on with your day, keep it simple. I go for a run every morning, no matter what. I like to do weights and BBG, and pilates too, but if I’m in a pinch I know I can get a good sweat in with just a pair of sneakers and the open road.
2. Figure out what works for you. Come up with a workout plan that works for you, for your life and your situation. I have 4 kids, I live out in the country, and I don’t have a lot of spare time. Going to the gym is just not practical for me. It would take a whole extra hour (minimum) just to get me to and from the gym and I don’t have a whole extra hour. So I workout at home (which I actually enjoy more) and my workouts involve running daily (somewhere between 2-3.5 miles) and lifting weights or doing either BBG or LoveHiitGuide. This is what works for me and my life, and that’s why I’m able to make it happen. If you can make it to the gym, great! If you’re like me and it doesn’t work for you, consider investing in a weights set, the money you’re saving not paying for a gym membership will more than make up for it in the long run.
3. Be prepared. This is the whole fail to plan, plan to fail thing. Plan what you will do for your workout the night before. Stock up on some great workout clothes that you love. Make sure you have enough workout clothes (and that they are clean) to get you through the week. Set them out the night before, and I mean everything, shoes, socks, sports bra, flip-belt, etc. So all you have to do is get up and go. Which leads me to…
4. Do it first. Make your workout the very first thing you do every morning. If I don’t workout first thing in the morning (before I start doing mom stuff, or work stuff or house stuff) it’s about a million times hard to make it happen. I literally feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle to workout if I don’t do it right after I get out of bed. If it’s the first thing you do after you get out of bed, it keeps it simple and keeps you from talking yourself out of it. So do yourself a favor and do it first.
5. Make it fun. The best way to stick with a workout is to make it fun, so do whatever you need to make it feel fun. Create a great playlist, listen to podcasts or books, find workouts that are fun to do (not an oxymoron, I promise.) I like to run while I listen to a fun playlist or an entertaining podcast. It’s like a little mom vacation every morning. My husband and I enjoy lifting weights together, as well. It’s fun and it feels like a mini date in the basement. And ps. lifting weights is really good for women, and you should do it. It changes your body and makes you stronger for just living life and is so good as you get older.
6. Hold yourself accountable, but be kind. Make a commitment to yourself that working out will be a priority, and then keep the commitment. Because you are worth taking good care of yourself! Your health is important. But if you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up. Just move on and be more prepared tomorrow. And when you’re in a time pinch and all else fails, do 30 burpees really quick. I promise you will feel it, it gets your heart rate up, and it only takes a few minutes. Moving some is better than not moving at all.
Progress not perfection.
So there you have it! A few tips for making your workouts happen. How do you make your workouts happen?
These are great tips and I definitely think they can work for anyone. Doing it first thing in the morning definitely makes a difference. I need to get back to that habit!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
it’s the difference between success and failure for me! ;-)
Thanks Rach! It’s always a struggle, especially if you’ve been through a health issue! Glad you found these helpful!
I’m not a mom but I still find this post very helpful! Love your workout outfit btw <3
https://www.myblackcloset.com
I’m so glad! Thank you!
thanks Kay! So glad you found it helpful!
I love working out right away in the morning…. before I realize what I am doing :) What do you do for cardio or working out during the winter or unfavorable weather? Between the cold and short days, winter in MN is soooo hard to stay active.
Hi Amanda! I have a treadmill that I run on in the winter, but I like running outside so much better so I do it as long as I can in the spring and fall. I also have some great cardio workout videos like Insanity for the days when I need a little variety with my cardio.
I love the idea of making it fun! My running time is my favorite time to listen to audiobooks and I look forward to my runs all day!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
yes! I love listening to audio books too! What’s your favorite author to listen to??
I just started a couch to 5k program. I’ve never run before. I work outside the home and find mornings way too hectic. When I’ve tried working out in the mornings before it always failed bc I’m not a morning person and stay up late often catching up on work and just spending time with the husband. What is working for me is to run at night. As soon as I get home from work I put my workout clothes on, shoes and all. I then make dinner, bathe the girls, and put them to bed. If my husband is home I then head out for a 30 min run. If not then I continue the night routine, put away the food, and start on dishes. I’ve gone running at 10:00pm before because that’s when he got home and I only went because I was in workout clothes. Once I get a bit come settled with the couch to 5k program I want to look into daily burn so I can do workouts at home that I may enjoy since soon enough it’s going to be FREEZING in NYC and I will not be wanting to run along the Hudson! :)
Oh my gosh yes! It’s so cold along the Hudson in the winter! I love that you make it work no matter what time your husband gets home. So great!
I really struggled with this for a little . Recently, I changed jobs and my new company has the best workplace culture. We run at lunch which I know is not ideal for everyone but the built in motivation is great and it’s a time I would have wasted otherwise. We also do weekly Fitbit challenges and it’s just so darn motivating. Having a workplace that supports an active life style makes all the difference. One thing that I used to do that really helped me get moving first thing in the morning was to sleep in my workout gear. I realize that it’s not the most comfortable to sleep in a sports bra but it just helps to eliminate the excuse.
so cool! I think it’s so great when that culture is there! And I love the idea of sleeping in your workout clothes. Seriously no excuse when you do that! Love it!
I’m with you, I work out first 5 days a week and wake up at 4:30am to fit it in before work. If I don’t do that it will never happen! And I also lay out clothes the night before, getting up that early it’s a must! You run often enough that I bet you can do a 5K race no problem. Could be something fun for you and the kids?
https://shoppingbrake.com/
I get up at 5 am and have to get the first kid to school by 6 am, so working out before morning kid-stuff actually adds stress. Once I finally get the last one to school, I come back home, decompress, eat breakfast, plan my meals and then go workout. I usually plan my workouts for the entire week in advance Sunday night. For me having options is key. I use classpass, so where ever I’ll be able to find a workout at any time / day that fits into my schedule. I also have my regular go-to classes to fall back on when nothing out of the ordinary pops up. Having fun and not falling into a rut helps.