How to Fit Exercise into Your Busy Day

As a busy mom, it can be difficult to make time for exercise. It’s not just about making time for it either. You also need the motivation to do it and KEEP DOING IT. If I’m being honest, I hate working out and I know I’m not the only one. That is why I like to create habits that help me get moving without forcing myself to do something I don’t enjoy. Plus, when you create habits that stick, you’re more likely to get lasting results. Diets and fitness programs may get you quick results, but they are usually not sustainable. Read on for simple ways to fit exercise into your busy day!

Find an activity that you enjoy

If you want healthy habits that will stick, you need to make them enjoyable. I personally don’t like pushing myself to pain, no matter how much I’d love to have a flat stomach! It’s very difficult to commit to something you don’t enjoy. I personally enjoy activities like walking, dancing, and yoga. So I try to make time for these things to keep my body healthy and moving. When it doesn’t feel like exercise, it’s easy to keep doing it!

Ditch the “all or nothing” mindset

Just because you can’t commit to a workout program that is more than 20 minutes a day doesn’t mean you can’t do anything at all. Even just a few minutes here and it is great! Since I basically live in leggings, I can easily drop whatever I’m doing to do a quick five or ten minute yoga sequence. Sometimes, if we’re all in a funk, I’ll turn some fun music on and have a living room dance party with my kids. It not only lifts us out of the funk, but it also helps all of us get some exercise into our day! This brings me to my next tip…

Get outside and play with your kids

Fresh air and sunshine are not just essential for your kids. You need that too! So next time you send them outside, go out with them! Play tag with them and kick a ball around. This quadruples as quality time, exercise, fresh air, and vitamin D! Just don’t forget to apply sunscreen f you’re going to be out for more than 15-20 minutes. We always feel so good after getting outside!

Do a quick cardio session right before your shower

This is a good example of habit stacking. If you haven’t heard of this term before, habit stacking is when you attach a habit you want to create to another habit you already have in place. I don’t know about you, but I will never forget to take a shower. At the end of the day, I want nothing more than to wash off all the sweat and dirt that comes with raising a herd of boys. Doing some jumping jacks and squats for a few minutes before I hop in the shower is manageable and I get to wash up right after!

Fitness doesn’t have to be a big time commitment

I’m a big believer that small changes add up to big results over time. It’s much easier to commit to something when there are no rules. When you commit to healthier habits rather than a diet or fitness program, you don’t feel like a failure when you inevitably burn out. As a mom, you have a lot on your plate, so this truly is the best way to fit exercise into your busy day!