Working Parents: Finding Time for Exercise
As a working parent, it can be difficult to find time to exercise. Between long working hours, caring for your family and maintaining a home, it can seem like there’s just no time left in the day. But making time for fitness is essential for both physical and mental health. Here are some tips on how to balance work, family and fitness so you can make time for exercise while advancing in your career and being a great parent.
Schedule Exercise Into Your Day
If you want something done, schedule it into your day. Yes, add it to your calendar! Set aside 30-60 minutes each day for exercise—whether it’s at the gym, going for a jog or doing an online workout at home (personally, I enjoy Zwifting for a quick workout.) Knowing when you will be exercising makes it easier to plan around that time slot rather than trying to squeeze in exercise whenever possible (which is also effective but a bit more hit-or-miss.) If you know when you have time to exercise, you can plan ahead and make sure that other important tasks are completed first.
Make it Social
Exercising with others can help make it more enjoyable and provide added motivation. Invite your friends or co-workers to join you for a walk around the block during lunchtime or sign up for an after-work fitness class with a colleague. Exercising with others can also help make sure you stick with it; when you know someone else is counting on you, it’s more likely that you’ll show up!
Prioritize Yourself
It may sound counterintuitive, but taking care of yourself first will actually help you be more productive and be a better caretaker of your family in the long run. When we don’t get enough sleep or don’t prioritize our own physical health, we become less productive and less patient with our families—and those aren’t qualities anyone wants in a parent or spouse! Taking time for yourself now will result in more energy at work and more patience later on down the line when parenting.
Balancing work, family life and fitness may seem impossible at times—but with some planning and prioritization, it doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. Make sure you take some “me-time” each day - even if just for 30 minutes - so that you can stay healthy both physically and mentally while advancing in your career and taking care of your family's needs! With these tips in mind, there's no reason why you can't find time to exercise while being a successful working parent!