Stop Thinking and Start Doing: 5 Questions That Will Motivate Busy Mums to Workout Now
With a full-time job and having to take care of the kiddos, making time for exercise probably sounds close to impossible. We get it, when you do get some free time, which is rarely, all you want to do is get some much needed rest – not go for a run.
Before convincing yourself that exercise requires an incredible amount energy that you don’t have, think again. On the contrary, exercising boosts your energy levels, makes you feel more pumped and gives you the patience to take care of your kids and perform other daily tasks with ease. It’s like caffeine, except it doesn’t lead to a midday crash – it gives you a steady surge of dopamine that any mother could use.
1. What’s your Plan?
So how do some working mothers make time for exercise, while taking care of multiple children? The answer is that they have a plan.
Having a plan means you’d most likely follow it. A plan lets you know exactly what you want, the amount of time you can dedicate to working out every day and the exercises you can perform within that limit. An effective plan will have a set time-frame and the exercises you plan on doing. It is also attached to a goal that will help you get out of bed early every morning.
2. What’s the vision that motivates you?
Ask yourself: Why is working out essential to you? Is it to lose the baby weight? To stay fit? To fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes? To build up more energy so that you can keep up with your children?
Grab a journal and write these questions down. Think of motivational mantras that will help you begin exercising on days you don’t feel like it.
3. How does working out make you feel?
Do you love the feeling of finishing a workout even though you’re sweating from your brows? Do you enjoy the feeling of being more energized? Do you feel empowered?
Next time you need a little bit of motivation to get you moving, think of how you strong, invigorated and sexy you feel once you finish exercising for the day. Allow that vision to spark powerful emotions… emotions that push you and help you power through the toughest of workouts, even on days when you don’t feel like putting on your workout clothes.
4. What do you want from exercise?
Maybe the ideal weight you want or having more energy aren’t motivating enough to get you up 30 minutes earlier. Think about what you want from exercise as you lace up your sneakers. Maybe you want to run as fast as your children or you want to keep up with their pace and play with them more frequently, without feeling exhausted before playtime even begins? Maybe you want to be able to carry more grocery bags in one go or be able to carry your child for longer periods? Again, think of your vision and keep thinking about it. Be super specific and let it excite you.
5. What can you do to start working out today?
It may seem impossible but understand that there’s always time for exercise. The more you deny this, the easier it is to push fitness to a side.
Even though you enjoyed long sweaty workout sessions before being a mum, your limited time may require you to change your fitness routine up a notch to make it more sustainable.
Like we mentioned before, plan your workouts for every week. If possible, grab a big calendar and write down the exercises you intend to perform each day. Or put it down in the notes section of your phone. The length of your workouts can vary according to your routine. Even exercising 30 minutes a day is better than not exercising at all.
If you’d been putting off signing up with a trainer or if you avoid going to the gym because it’s a 10 minute drive, the following tricks can help you start moving right away:
- Go on Youtube and search for “30 minutes Pilates.” Click on one of the videos and start moving, you don’t need any equipment.
- Go for a run after putting your kids to sleep or while they have their evening nap
- Take your kids to a playground and perform some quick upper body workouts, such as triceps dips. Equipment needed: just that park bench. Other awesome no equipment workouts include jump squats, regular squats, lunges and pushups.
Once you’ve identified what exercises you can perform on a daily basis, you can easily determine the best time to exercise as well. For example, if you enjoy gentle yoga, maybe waking up early morning can help you do this every day.
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