In this post I’m helping busy mama’s with finding the time to workout. With our kids demanding every second of our attention, it’s not always easy to make time for us. But that changes today! Find out how you can fit your workout into your busy routine.
Okay Fam, I know you’re crazy busy so let’s get straight to it!
Finding the time to workout as a busy mom
The number one complaint I get from busy moms is they simply struggle finding the time to workout. We juggle so many different roles and responsibilities in motherhood. Pushing our own needs to the back burner seems to become a means of surviving the chaos sometimes. Sound familiar?
Well, I’m here to offer you something more than those outdated lies! We may unknowingly fall victim to it, but no one truly wants to live their life in the back of the line. So today we’re going to dive in and address those barriers that you may feel are holding you back from being all that you can be for yourself and those around you!
Here’s my tough love spill.
The bottom line.. often these barriers trip women up because of issues with motivation and the willingness to neglect the importance of self-care. We feel that because we are superwomen so we are expected to put everyone and everything ahead of us. And for whatever reason, we accept this reasoning of neglecting ourselves. But it is actually the total opposite!
You have to be willing to fight for yourself! Finding the time to workout is one way you can do that! Working out is something that can pour energy back into your soul and in return, you have more of yourself to give! You truly are not doing anyone any favors by putting yourself last. By neglecting yourself you are doing a huge disservice to everyone that so desperately relies on you, mama.
And I know, you may be saying to yourself…
Nathalia, this is great and all, but my life doesn’t look like yours. I don’t have much time to pour into exercise.
Oh, you thought I wouldn’t think of that? Girl, you know I got your back! I’m going to give you some real-life examples from women who are juggling their everyday lives and their fitness goals. Women who are struggling to find the time to workout, with situations similar to yours.
These are women who work 10+ hours shifts and then come home to toddlers. Women who stay home with their kids while their husbands travel constantly for work. Or women who juggle multiple jobs while raising children. And even women who work, pursue higher education, and still manage to care for their homes and little ones. These are real-life moms who have put some skin in the game, and in doing so, they have managed to get real results through my program Mother Strong League.
I’ve gotten to know them on their journey to discover the importance of self-care, and now I would like to share their insight and wisdom with you… so that you can take these tips to better invest in yourself! So let’s learn from these women how you can work on finding the time to workout and hit your goals!
“Schedule your workouts in your day like any other chore.”
Meet Brenna
Brenna is a mom of a busy 1-year-old. She works full-time as a teacher in addition to her side hustle as a fitness professional. This girl clocks in an average of 10 hours each day. Her fiance works even longer hours, so for the most part, once she gets home she clocks in again as the primary caregiver for their baby.
Brenna keeps it real with her blunt advice of scheduling your workouts. Now, of course, I don’t want you to think of it as a “chore”, but let’s continue to keep it real…when you have a grueling schedule like Brenna’s, it may feel like exactly that until you start reaping the benefits. But guess what? When you have to push yourself for everyone else around you, you do it don’t you? We are talking 30 mins to an hour of a “chore” that is going to continue to pay off in your favor next week, next month, and next year. So it’s time to schedule it in and stop expecting the perfect amount of time and energy to fall out of the sky ladies!
Just like Brenna you can always find the time to workout!
“Make it a habit!”
Meet Joanne
Jo is a mom of 11-year-old twin girls. TWINS! Did you hear me? She has a very demanding job working an average 9hrs each day. Wait for it..she is also pursuing her Ph.D.
And I directly quote Joanne in saying, “Persistent productive struggle generates successful outcomes. It takes time to forge new habits, consistency is key, doing the same thing, and expecting different results is wishful thinking at best. It’s also something that will inspire change at home. It’s something we enjoy sharing as a family.”
What more can I add to that? Jo is a great example of proving to yourself that good habits can be created just as well as bad ones. Small consistent changes can lead to even bigger improvements if you are willing to show up daily!
“Do what you can with the time that you have.”
Meet Ericka
Ericka serves in an active-duty military role and works anywhere from 9-11 hours each day. She is the proud mama of a 3-year-old. Her schedule often requires that she work anywhere from 4:45 AM to 6:30 PM. Her days are long being a toddler mom with a job that requires various amounts of hours.
Ericka sympathizes with other mamas who have demanding schedules full of responsibilities. And understandably so! But she is proof that you don’t have to make yourself available for a 2-hour workout session to be successful in achieving and maintaining your fitness goals. This is something we have kept in mind when designing the workouts for the Mother Strong League: time-efficient and fat-torching sessions are what we are all about!
Just carving out 30-45 minutes to focus on moving your body and building your physical strength will get the job done. A great way to do this is to schedule your workout in the mornings before the chaos of the day starts. And if the kids wake up, you don’t have to throw your workout out the window. Have a backup plan so that you can incorporate a fun physical activity to finish the morning strong, mama!
“Take turns with your partner.”
Meet Laura
Laura is the mama of a 5-year-old and a 9-month-old. She has been a participant in my program since her second pregnancy. Laura often works 44+ hours a week. She has committed to prioritizing her workouts even as her body has changed throughout pregnancy. Laura was able to complete the rehabilitation program in order to get back to her fitness goals at a safe pace after having her newest baby, and she continues to show up even with her schedule becoming even busier now being a mom of two little ones.
Laura mentions that she and her husband have made a commitment to be supportive of one another in all areas of life. This does not exclude their desire to take care of their physical health. She states that she and her husband take the approach of helping one another make time for each other’s workout 4-5 days a week. Teamwork makes the dream work! If you have a partner that is able to tag in and alternate days/times with you so that you are able to support one another in juggling your household and your fitness goals, this is a strategy that will strengthen you and your relationship!
“Squeeze your workout in during your lunch break.”
Meet Johanna
Johanna is a new mama to a beautiful 3-month-old baby. She’s a career-oriented woman in a sales director position. She may be new to motherhood, but she’s plenty experienced in leadership. She manages 12 employees and works an average of 10 hours a day.
Johanna’s favorite tip is to block off time on your work calendar! She explains that she does this so that she can make a conscious effort to do some type of workout in between meetings. Johanna serves us a great tip here that leaves little room for excuses! If you are cramped for time, pack a salad for lunch and go for a brisk walk on your lunch hour. When you join the Mother Strong League you also get access to home workouts that require minimal equipment and minimum time! Shut that office door and get to working out, mama!
“Wake up before everyone else!”
Meet Martica
Martica is a professional architect and she is currently expecting her first child. While this may be her first little bundle of joy, Martica is already trying to formulate a game plan so that she can get in her workout and the time to herself that she needs to conquer the day! She knows that she already need a plan for Finding the Time to Workout!
Martica explains that she is intentional to wake up at least 30 minutes before everyone in her household gets up! She states that this is her time to get her workout in and focus on her own needs. My girl hit the nail on the head with this piece of advice! While her schedule may change some after her baby is born, her intention can remain the same! Life is full of changes and committing to starting your day with focusing on yourself may look different in every season of life, but one thing is for certain, it is one of the most intentional ways to love yourself!
“Get organized and prepare in advance!”
Meet Lauren
Lauren is a stay at home mom of two very busy toddlers. She has her hands full with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. Her husband has a very demanding job that requires a lot of long hours away from the family, so Lauren is the primary caregiver for their kiddos.
Rather than feeling defeated that she has very little time to herself, Lauren chooses to strategize so that what time she does have is used to its fullest potential. She explains that after her children are in bed, she usually reviews the exercises she plans to do for the next day. This allows her to set everything up before she goes to bed. She explains that she takes this time to set out her resistance bands, weights, and workout gear. Lauren prefers to get her cardio in during the morning. She is a fan of getting up before her household as well, but she admits that things may not always go as planned with two small children. That’s where being organized and prepared has helped Lauren the most! If she needs to switch to gears while juggling her two little ones she can change over to her back up plan. She explains that if the weather permits she will take the kids and dogs on a 2.5-mile morning walk instead or if need be, she will hop on her stationary bike once her little ones have gone to sleep.
You Are Worth Investing In!
I get it, everyone’s life and routine are all so drastically different. So I completely understand what works for one person may not be perfect for everyone. But I’m sure you noticed several similarities in these ladies’ stories. Just like any other area of your life, you sometimes have to troubleshoot, pivot, and figure a backup plan. You don’t dismiss life and give up when things don’t go as smoothly as you had hoped. I know you have heard it time and time again, but it is still true…you CAN NOT pour from an empty cup! I will scream it from the rooftops until more women realize how valuable they are and with that value, should come investment. Investment in yourself, mama!
If you are struggling to find a program that fits within your crazy lifestyle… I am here for you girl! It not just about making your workout a priority, its about making YOURSELF A PRIORITY! I have stood by all these lovely ladies as they have shown up and put in the effort to love themselves even more, and I would be honored to do the same for you!
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