Parents with young kids and full time jobs - how do you

[december2020]

find time to exercise?

DS is 13 months and isn't old enough to really sit and chill for 20-30mins so I could do a home workout while looking after him.

I struggle to do a workout once DS in bed as it's usually past 8pm and I'm much more motivated in the mornings.

With working full time (WFH at the moment) but between work, dog walks, nursery runs, a quick lunch, and a pile of deadlines, I'm struggling to find how to plan where to fit a workout.

DH works but can't WFH and works long hours, on days he's off he does daddy day care. But he works shifts so some weekends he's off and sometimes he's working so I can't commit to a weekend class/group.
We have no close family or friends nearby to help to look after him.

So please - how do you do it? Where do you fit it in? Help me!

I work four days a week. On those days, I try to fit in something quick if I can but I don't worry too much. On the other three days, I exercise during nap time. I only ever really exercise at home so do a HIIT workout or something strength based with weights.

Honestly? Either DH does the bedtime routine 3 or so times a week, or when hes away (hes in the military) I make myself use our garage gym after our nearly 2 year old is in bed. Its the last thing I want to do tbh, so I do a HIIT workout so its short but hard work.

My child is 3. The only exercise I get is walking the dog at 6am before everyone wakes up.

I have the Les Mills on demand app and do it on my tv when he I either watching tv or after he is in bed. Lots of variety and different class lengths and I manage to do something on there (even a short workout) about 3-4 times per week . Also I cycle to work and back which helps, and my child and I have ‘kitchen discos’ and go to the park a lot.

Can’t you use your lunch break if wfh?

We both work FT in senior professional roles and have three kids but manage to keep fit enough. Lots of taking turns, having less time together but better quality and making the most of the free time that we've got. I've done 6-7hrs per week average of exercise this year, 3hrs spread over weekend and rest in week. Lots of good quality stuff adds up to staying really quite fit. Running while kids are at parties or activities (thanks COVID stopping parent spectating). It is possible but you have to have the motivation (e.g. I'm low maintenance appearance wise so never have to factor in blow dry and make up etc)

Dh tends to do his exercise 'hobby' in the evenings once a week and maybe Sunday mornings,

I bought a running pram which helps a lot and I try and fit a swim in lunch break once or twice a week.

We have a dog go on long walks and a ruck sack seat thing dd can go in.

Kit helps - second hand on eBay or gumtree as it can be quite expensive for short periods given how fast they grow but worth it if you can afford it.

Could you not run with the dog? Then do some strength work when kids are asleep.

I generally get up at 6 to get an hour workout and a shower in before DS wakes at 7.30. I struggle to exercise in the evenings so it's the only way I make sure to fit it in

Get up an hour earlier, do a home workout and then shower. On days that you don’t work exercise during naps

In the school holidays (I’m a primary teacher). During term time we drop DD (and DD2 when I finish this maternity leave) off with grandparents at 7.15, straight to school/work for 7.30. Then whoever is finished first collects ideally around 4.30/5, then it’s dinner, bath and bed. DP cooks so I load dishwasher and do laundry, then I work roughly 7-10pm on my laptop while he sorts his quotes and invoices. Weekends are family time - I guess we could exercise then, and we do lots of walks etc, but I’d hate to lose out on time with the children. Sadly, the only way I can thus manage weight is by fasting.

I think if you have a more flexible job then I’m sure it would be possible. One of my sisters does evening classes at her gym three nights a week - if you don’t work evenings, that might work for you. Her husband takes their dog for a brisk walk every morning.

Turn the dog walk into something brisk and hilly. Likewise for any pram walks. Workout done. ✔️
Random squats and lunges while wfh are good too. Use short YouTube workouts if needed.

I don't work full time, only part-time (3 days a week) and my only exercise is walking and cycling to get around (including with the kids - we have a cargo bike). I really should (and want to) do more, I just really struggle to find the energy and motivation to exercise in the evening after the kids are in bed.

I think the too busy/working late thing is a bit of a cop out too. Most people are way more productive doing the minimum recommended amount of exercise per week. If I have to work in evenings (which regularly happens all year around and not just in a term time week) then I exercise before working, half hour run or whatever after kids are in bed and then start work again.

I don't. I have a 1 year old and I work full time. I barely have time to read a book on my phone, let alone exercise.

I’m an early riser so I go running at 5.30/6 and alternate days with my husband.

It has to be the first thing I do otherwise it wouldn’t end up happening.

Two serious runners in this house, both work FT, two young children.
I get up early and run before the rest of the house is awake. Then on a weekend morning me and DH take turns (so, say, I'll have Saturday 6-9am and he'll have Sunday) so we still have full days ahead for family stuff.

Sometimes DH exercises in the evenings after the kids are asleep; but that doesn't work for me as I'm more of a morning person and would rather get up at 5am than exercise late on. I sometimes find some time in my lunch breaks too - even if I only get 30mins, that's enough for a 5k blast and quick shower.

It was much easier when I was still on mat leave and didn't have the school run and commute to factor in, but we manage..

All these people getting up so early! What if your baby doesn't sleep through? Don't you need the sleep?

I run occasionally at lunch time in the winter because it's too dark in the evenings.

I do park run on Saturday mornings now ds is older and can be left on his own for an hour. It's all finished by 10am. And we do a karate class together, good for stretching and general flexibility.

What if your baby doesn't sleep through? Don't you need the sleep?

When I'm a healthy weight, and very fit, I feel more energised compared to when I used to be overweight and lethargic. So yes, in my case more sleep would've been nice when the kids were tiny and didn't sleep through, but the benefits of exercise more than made up for an extra hour in bed, IYSWIM.

Ultimately people have time but when children are small and they can't do perhaps what they have done before then it's not easily obvious that it is doable. Even when our DC didn't sleep through we still managed to both fit something in rather than give up completely. It is a question of priorities really. (Also amazed at the number of people I come across who don't "have time" to exercise but manage to binge watch Netflix in the evenings )

Some leisure centres and gyms have crèche facilities...I was a sahm when my Dc were little, but I'd often put them in the crèche for an hour and do a class.

I have a 3 year old and 6 month old, one or both will be up at 5am so my early morning exercise is not happening. Sometimes I can do a 15 minute video while they're both occupied but generally it's not been working well. Baby currently only naps on me or in a moving pram (6 weeks of bugs and teething) so naps arent a current option aside from the walking opportunity. I have just started with a PT once a week for an hour and DH will have the kids. As they get older and more independent there will be more time for exercise. I think it really depends on the ages and personalities of your kids, how much support you have, how well everyone sleeps and how much you can ignore the house work/cooking.

Walking with the pram. I used to walk into the local centre, we’d have coffee and a snack in a cafe, walk back.

Find a payg exercise class. Buggyfit, lots of classes about now where you can take young children. I found a reasonably priced gym for under £30 a month, classes are drop in and lots of them- so if I get to one a week it’s the same price as a payg class.

I usually do it by taking the dog out through the week after work or an a weekend, I'll have a long dog walk. Now the evenings get darker earlier, I will do a quick workout before bed.

When mine where little, I'd go for a walk with the pram. I'm a single parent to two, working 50hrs a week if that helps.