Ah exercise, it’s something I wish I did more of because I feel great after doing it, but I find it so hard to find the time to actually do. To be honest, I have to make it more of a priority and fit it in because it’s so important for my overall health. I always think to myself, when I’m old, I want to be a fit person that has the energy to enjoy life and do the things that I love. That said, I have to remind myself that healthy habits take time to develop but they also start today.
With two little kids life can be busy. David has been a great encourager of me to exercise. He has been a runner for years and is so disciplined. He will be the first to admit that things have changed after having our second. He doesn’t train at as high of a competitive level that he did before but he makes an effort to exercise daily.
Here are a few tips that have helped me:
- Start off with simple goals: I am at fault when it comes to this. I often set the bar way too high and then find myself not reaching my goals. It’s like I’m all in and over my head. My goal currently is to be active every day. I have to say, it’s required a shift in the way I think. I often wouldn’t consider going for a walk with my kids as being active but it is. I can still fit in high intensity workouts but it is okay to try other exercises that may not be what I would have considered “exercise” in the past.
- Don’t make it too complicated: When I’ve been working out lately, I haven’t been using a lot of equipment. Most of the exercises that I do call for light weights, a skipping rope or no equipment at all. Often times I can improvise and use something else to get the same results.
- Include your kids in your workout: I absolutely love spending time with my kids. That said, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have hard days. I’d rather find a way to include my kids in my workout then find a babysitter for them…that’s just where I’m at. The other day I was working out, and I had Emme crawling around me. That’s just the stage of life that I’m in right now and am choosing to enjoy it. I also want to set an example for my kids of what it means to live a healthy life.
- Be consistent: The beautiful weather has made me want to be outside as much as possible. Because I’ve set realistic goals for myself, I find it a lot easier to follow through and find time each day to be active. I also remind myself to take it one day at a time.
- Exercise with someone else: To be honest, I’ve never really wanted to workout with David; although whenever I’ve seen a couple exercising together, I’ve secretly wanted to try it out. Our abilities are quite opposite of each other; however, he has been the best motivator. Whether it’s scheduling time for us to get out and exercise or encouraging me during a workout, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to workout with.
- Get outside: Because our kids often come with us when we’re exercising, we often go to a park. I put Emme on a blanket with some toys and we bring a soccer ball for Spencer to kick around although he often tries to join in which is great. We’ve also been hiking a bit this summer with both kids which has been a great way to get outside and to also explore and appreciate the great area that we live in.
- Remember what it feels like when you’re finished your workout: The other day after doing a HIIT workout with David, I fold him how incredible I felt after working out. My legs were burning, sweat was glistening off of my face but I felt like I was ready to take on the world. Exercise has such great physical and emotional benefits for us. I just have to remind myself of those benefits on the days when it’s hard to get out the door to do something active.
I am definitely not an expert when it comes to working out but these are some tips that I have found helpful as a mom of little kids. I’d love to hear some tips of how you find time to workout!
