The working mom has a schedule packed with home and work responsibilities, so it's no wonder that exercise is often the first thing to be sacrificed on the altar of having it all. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, and as a working mom, that exercise helps to relieve stress, manage weight and give you a few precious moments to yourself. Make exercise a priority by creating a workout routine that takes your busy schedule into consideration to make exercise more convenient.
Step 1
Schedule exercise the same way you'd schedule an important meeting at work or an event with your family. Too often exercise is seen as a luxury, rather than a daily responsibility. Remind yourself that exercise should be completed on a daily basis, so write it in your planner and make an effort to uphold your daily commitment to exercise at the same time each day, so your schedule is more predictable.
Step 2
Break exercise into more manageable sessions. The CDC recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, but if your schedule doesn't allow for 30 minutes of continuous exercise, it's fine to exercise for 10 minutes three times per day. For example, schedule 10 minutes of weightlifting in the morning, a 10-minute walk at lunch and 10 minutes of yoga before bed.
Step 3
Involve your children in your workout schedule. As a working mom, it's easy to feel guilty when you take time for yourself out of the time you spend with your kids. Rather than exercising on your own, take your kids with you to the park while you run the track or go for a family bike ride together. This adds the benefit of ensuring that your family stays active as well.
Step 4
Schedule exercise first thing in the morning if you struggle with fitting it into your schedule. It's easy to skip evening exercise when a busy schedule starts to nudge exercise out of the day. If you get exercise out of the way as the first part of your day, there's no excuse for missing your workout because of added responsibilities and engagements later on.
Step 5
Exercise at home if going to the gym isn't a possibility. Single parents and busy moms might find that actually leaving the home to exercise isn't workable, but getting in a good workout at home is still possible. Rent exercise DVDs, lift weights and do aerobics in your living room to add exercise to your routine without disrupting your family's time or your regular schedule.
