As moms it can often seem impossible to carve out time for ourselves; there's just so much that needs to be done and only 24 hours in a day. We often ask ourselves how is it possible to stay active or even motivated in the midst of what feels like pure chaos?
For many of us, it's just not possible to find an hour or two in the day to make it to the gym, no matter how hard we try. Our self-care often gets placed on the back-burner while we tend to everyone else's needs. But, the old adage rings true, we simply cannot pour from an empty cup.
So the question is, how do we stay active when we have little to no time to spare? The solution is that we need to find ways to incorporate activity and movement into our everyday lives. We've all heard it a million times: try walking instead of driving; try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Although these options take a bit of extra time, they'll leave you feeling great! We try to stick to a simple rule: if it's under ten blocks or ten flights of stairs, we WALK!
Another one of our favourite ways to stay active is by planning fun activities with our kids; family bike rides, hikes, swimming and trampolining are a few of our favourites. Teaching kids to stay active from a young age is key, and remember, we lead by example.
For days when you feel like you just haven't gotten enough movement, you can try this quick full body workout that's sure to get your heart rate up and your booty looking right! It can be done anywhere and no equipment is needed. We can often be spotted doing this circuit at the park while our kids are playing:
- 10 burpees
- 20 high knees
- 20 squats
- 20 jumping jacks
- 10 push ups
- 20 crunches
* repeat 3-5 times
In life, it’s the little things that count, even 15-20 minutes of movement will make a difference. Creating small changes in our daily habits can build momentum over time and lead to bigger lifestyle changes. Slow and steady wins the race.
As mamas we don’t always have time to hang with our fit friends, so make sure to follow people on social media who motivate and inspire you to MOVE. There are so many amazing fitness accounts out there, and many of them post great (free) workouts.
Most importantly take care of yourself! Drink lots of water, fill your fridge with easily accessible healthy snacks and make time for self-care; whatever that may look like for you.
We’d love to hear from you about how you incorporate fitness into your busy schedules. Leave us a comment below.
Keep Moving,
Kat
About The Author
Kathleen Clement is the owner of @krayzeefitness. With a background in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and personal training, Kat now focuses on empowering people through movement and healthy living. Supermom and a powerhouse of positive energy, she can often be found in the wee hours of the morning leading creative bootcamps at various locations around the city. Interested in connecting? Kat can be reached at katclement92@gmail.com