Before becoming a mom, I was at the gym 5 days a week. My schedule was very flexible. I could choose to go in the morning or any night after work and my workouts had no time limit. I would even spend time relaxing in the sauna before heading home. It was amazing.
But what about a workout schedule for working moms?
Being a working mom can make you feel like you need to be some kind of superhuman to do it all. So before you start on your workout schedule, decide how important working out is to you. After my first child, I knew that fitness was super important to me and I would have to work hard to make it a priority for myself—for my physical and mental health. But I also wanted to be an amazing mother and not miss out on everything.
Once you are ready, use these super easy tips to build the perfect workout schedule for you.
01. Plan the Week Accordingly
Working mom or not, planning ahead is a great way to keep yourself committed to making it to the gym. Going 5 days a week just might not be an option anymore, so set you’re expectations from the get-go. I didn’t want to miss my daughter’s bedtime every night when I started going back to the gym, so I decided there were a couple nights a week that I wouldn’t go. And because I planned this out ahead of time, I was able to hit my goals for the week and still have quality family time.
02. Work out harder, for shorter periods of time.
Doing shorter more intense workouts at the gym is a great way to get a super sweaty, total body workout in while spending less time away from the family. Try doing a full-body HIIT workout. You’ll hit multiple muscle groups, get your cardio in, and you can accomplish this in 30 minutes or less.
03. Find a class that you love and commit to going every week.
Classes are a great motivator and way to meet friends with similar goals who help push you harder. They also keep your workout routine fun and interesting. I absolutely love classes, but they can mean being at the gym for at least an hour. So committing to at least one a week allows me to stick to a routine, do something I absolutely love and set the expectations for myself and my family.
04. Stay active with the family during the weekends.
Weekends may seem like a good time to fit in a workout at the gym. But who wants to do that when you have your family together in one place and a whole day to spend together?
Choosing family activities to do together that keep you active – but are still fun – are great ways to fit in some exercise over the weekend and spend quality time with the family.
05. Work out at work.
Yes, work out at work! Sitting at a desk all day means you are not moving your body at all for 8+ hours a day. That is just not good for your body! So, make the effort to get up, walk to the water cooler, grab a coffee or even just stand and stretch at your desk.
For more ideas, this is a great article for incorporating some desk exercises in at work, and most of these are pretty discreet so you won’t look too crazy at the office. You can even be the inspiration of your office and start a squat break movement with your coworkers.
These tips have really worked for me, especially when I started getting back into working out after having both my kids. And I’ve even carried them with me through long weeks at the office to keep me motivated and keep balance with my family and responsibilities at home. I hope they help you find ways to make fitness a priority in your life, even as a busy working mom.
Sweet! Or should I say sweat!