Finding/making time for exercise

[Poppysball]

I need to do more exercise other than walking to school to pick up dd.

I know it’s excuses but I find I’ve always got something else I need to do. I’m either at work, at home with the dc’s or doing all the usual jobs/errands that need doing. I have recently started having Monday’s off and swore I was going to do some exercise on that day but I always feel like first I’ve got to get the washing done, do the food shop, do admin etc etc and before I know it it’s time for school pick up and no exercise done again!

I know it’s important but how do people fit it in? When do you do it and what do you do? I feel rubbish in lots of ways at the moment and have read so many things about how exercise can help improve mood, I have to try.

Following as it's something I need to do too. There just isn't time on the days I work - I drive there (no option to get there any other way) so all I do is walk from the car park to the office and vice versa. On the days I'm not at work I've got 3 yo DD with me so we do some walks and stuff and go to toddler groups but it's not really much exercise. There is a crèche at a new leisure centre nearby but she's already in childcare three days a week and the point of working part-time is to spend time with her!

I did try going out swimming in the evening sometimes (when DH home so he's there with DD) but it was getting harder and harder to haul myself out the door in enough time.

I think it depends why you want to exercise. I find there are always ways to add in extra activity if you want to burn fat, leave for the school run early and add an extra 15 min brisk walk/run. 3 sets of 10 squats when you put the washing in etc however these things aren't very fun.

I find it helpful to have a class a couple times a week I need to book on... so there's no excuse. Could you do a class like Zumba / yoga / spinning whatever you like on a Monday and one at weekend/during the week?

I do exercise with the pram... I find a quiet part of the park where no one is around and do some planks/press-ups/sit-ups etc. Also just walking fast with the pram is great exercise! I'm always shattered!! 😂

You need to plan your whole day around your exercise plan - I'm not kidding. There are fixed-time necessary things like school run & cooking, but rest of day is planned around the jog/swim/whatever.

I go in the evenings, when DD is getting ready for bed. In fact I am at the gym right now, I usually go 7-9 3 nights a week, or occasionally Saturday morning. I have also joined another gym close to work (I commute 1h30 each way) and usually manage to fit in a lunchtime session every week. Sometimes if I know I won't be able to get a lunch break but want to train I will get an earlier train so I can be at the work gym at 7 and train before work.

What works for me is that I have decided that I have to do 3 sessions a week as a minimum, by hook or by crook, so I fit them where I can and do whatever I have to do to make it happen. Then whenever possible I add a 4th session (probably happens about 75% of the time) but this is just a "nice to have" so if I really can't fit it in it's ok.

6am class before the day begins with the DC’s.

Find a friend to go with so you can’t not go as you’re letting them down. Take turns driving, if time have a cuppa, sauna, you time!

I peg it put the house before dc and dp are awake now it's light in the mornings. I usually only run for 10-20 minutes but notice the difference if I do it a few times a week.

I also do hiit videos and yoga...

It's hard to stay motivated.

I started doing couch25k this year and I’m now running 5k three times a week. I get up an hour earlier than normal.
Dh and the dc are still asleep.
That’s the only way I’ve found I can fit it in - I’m sure I could find a way but it feels too difficult to organize.

You have to prioritise it. It's hard but worth it. I've manages 2 swims and a gym session this week. Alongside working full time, 2 kids and an evening job. But I feel so much better for it.

People who do a lunchtime class at work - when do you eat lunch? We have the lunchtime classes, but that doesn't leave any time for actually eating anything - no food or drink allowed in my area at work so if I don't eat/drink at lunchtime I don't for the entire day...

It's really hard.

Pre-kids I always went to the gym after work in the week and then ran at weekends. If I did that now I'd never see my child during the week. My only free time day to day is between 9 and 10 at night, before I go to bed - not the best time for Cardio! Ive settled on doing YouTube yoga in that window for now. It's not enough but it'll do until my daughter is older.

Once you have done the bare essentials you have to prioritise exercise and organise other things around it.

If I am up early I go for a run while DH and the kids are in bed. It's only 15 mins but it's enough for me. I also do fitness dvds after school pickup while the kids are playing, doing homework or watching TV. We can all be together, I keep an eye on them, sometimes they join in. Or we go out together - I jog and they ride their bikes. And when we go to the park I do planks or rope skipping if it's quiet.

It is difficult to find the time, I find I am snatching 10 minutes here and there but it helps and I enjoy it!

You have to prioritise the time. Put on a 15-30 minute DVD before doing all the household crap. The household crap could fill eternity with no sense of completion or achievement anyway

I like the flexibility of running and DVDs. Classes are good for making it an appointment.