When you're a mom, there's really no such thing as "spare time." And when you're a working mom, you want to spend every little bit of time you have away from work with your kids. But while your days might be jam-packed with family and job responsibilities, you can still find the time to exercise and keep fit, if you make it a priority.
Get Your Kids Involved
With so many moms making fitness a priority, there are now more ways than ever to combine exercise with family time. Moms of babies and young toddlers can check out Pilates, yoga and strength-training classes that incorporate your little one into each move; moms with older children can sign kids up for sports teams in which parents play and learn right along with their little athletes, rather than sitting on the sidelines. If your workdays just don't allow time for these activities, save them for the weekends and aim to take a family walk or bike ride around the neighborhood every weeknight after dinner.
Make Personal Time Exercise Time
Working moms don't have to sacrifice downtime to stay in shape, they just have to figure out how to combine the two. Rather than tune in to your favorite Thursday-night TV show on the couch, watch while walking on the treadmill. You won't miss a minute of the show, and your workout will go by faster because you're tuned in. Or meet your girlfriends for a class at the gym or a hike in the park instead of heading out for cocktails and dinner.
Get Up Earlier
Most working mothers savor every last minute of sleep they can get. But if you can manage to get up just 30 minutes earlier than usual a few times a week, you'll not only be done with exercise by the time the sun comes up, your workout will give you an energy boost to keep you going all morning. Plus, you won't be missing out on time with the kids because they're still asleep.
Make The Most of Your Time
The more calories you burn and muscles you challenge per minute, the less time you have to spend exercising, and for working moms, efficiency is a top priority. Make the most of every second by trying interval training a few times per week. This form of exercise, in which you alternate short bursts of very high intensity activity with longer periods of moderate activity, keeps your body challenged and helps you burn more calories. Interval training works for almost any form of exercise, but one example is two minutes of power walking followed by 30 seconds of all-out sprinting; repeat for 20 to 30 minutes.
Exercise At Work
Make the most of a long workday by exercising during your lunch hour and other breaks. Even if you don't have time to hit the gym and take a shower before heading back to the office, a brisk walk is a great way to burn extra calories without working up a major sweat. If your office is within a reasonable distance, try walking or biking to work a few days a week, and you'll be done with your workout before you sit down at your desk.
