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Original poster

Help me figure out when I can exercise

33 replies

Gggdryvhu · 13/10/2026 08:02

So like loads of others I have a busy parenting and work life, with an inactive job. Im trying to carve out some time for movement and exercise in my week, 7k steps a day and 3no. 30 min home work outs.

Mon - fri my kid gets up at 7ish, partner leaves house at same time. I do nursery run, too far to walk but sometimes cycle before starting work.

During the work day I sometimes have time for a lunch walk and could focus on this becoming a better habit.

End of the day I pick our ds from nursery half the week and partner the other half. Typically allowing me to work a bit longer.

Whoever picks up makes dinner and we split bed and bath times. Ds is usually asleep by 8:30 but we're both shattered by then! Im usually in bed about 10:30.

Where would you fit in more movement and exercise? What do you do that works?

OP posts:
Alittlefrustrated · 15/10/2026 18:06

Do you mean you already do the 30 mins workouts, or you want to fit them in? Do you work from home?

pinkglove84 · 15/10/2026 18:48

Your routine is similar to mine. I usually get up at 5.15ish, out the door for my run by 5.45am or 6am depending on how far I'm going. Long run at weekends.

Also early yoga classes- I'm lucky that our local studio does two 6am classes each week, and as they're only 45 mins I'm home by 7am to take over.

countrylifeorcitylife · 15/10/2026 19:04

Get some weights to do at home in the morning- mix that in with running. 6am before the kids are awake

sausageth · 15/10/2026 19:08

I find it easier to do 10 minutes here and there with home YouTube workouts.
Yes you can get up early but the challenge is actually being able to get up. Once you're up you might as well get on with it. Once the day gets going it's easier to make excuses.

Original poster
Gggdryvhu · 16/10/2026 10:46

Thanks for your advice everyone. I know it might seem simple but I was feeling quite overwhelmed thinking about it after not prioritising it all over the last few years! Some ideas here id not thought of which is great. And also encouraging to hear "just get on with it" 😂. I work from home part of the week but its not a set pattern which makes planning harder. Nursery isnt too far in distance (35 min each way) but it is too far to get to my desk before 9. In the last week I've found a 30 minute walk at lunch and evening enjoyable and fitting in a home workout 6/6:30am okay... its just touch n go if it wakes my 2.5yo up (we live in a flat)! Unfortunately hate running and am trying to focus on strength training, so will see how the home workouts go for now 🙂

OP posts:
HappyViewer · 16/10/2026 13:00

Gggdryvhu · 16/10/2026 10:46

Thanks for your advice everyone. I know it might seem simple but I was feeling quite overwhelmed thinking about it after not prioritising it all over the last few years! Some ideas here id not thought of which is great. And also encouraging to hear "just get on with it" 😂. I work from home part of the week but its not a set pattern which makes planning harder. Nursery isnt too far in distance (35 min each way) but it is too far to get to my desk before 9. In the last week I've found a 30 minute walk at lunch and evening enjoyable and fitting in a home workout 6/6:30am okay... its just touch n go if it wakes my 2.5yo up (we live in a flat)! Unfortunately hate running and am trying to focus on strength training, so will see how the home workouts go for now 🙂

Edited

Could you do a home workout on some of the WFH days at lunch and do more walks at the weekend.
Or try yoga or something quiet at home in the evenings?

Original poster
Gggdryvhu · 16/10/2026 13:33

HappyViewer · 16/10/2026 13:00

Could you do a home workout on some of the WFH days at lunch and do more walks at the weekend.
Or try yoga or something quiet at home in the evenings?

Show quote history

Yes absolutely, weekend walks are something we already do as a family and keen to make these longer too. Good idea re yoga!

OP posts:
Notsleepinghelp · 17/10/2026 20:06

Neither of us are good at getting up in the morning to exercise. We alternate doing the post nursery dinner - bath - bedtime slot twice a week, and a weekend morning each. We’ve made it a priority so it happens for both of us. It was motivating at the beginning purely for the break from parenting, but now it’s a habit. Caveat is that we both work mostly remotely so can do chores, put dinner on etc in the day during breaks. I also use the flexibility to fit a session in if I need to at lunch time.
The other bit of advice I have is that something is better than nothing! Stop waiting for the perfect time to do it, if you’ve just got 20 minutes, just do 20 minutes!

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