Parents, more than anyone else, know exactly how difficult it can be to carve out time to exercise. Just the idea of finding time to get to a gym or go for a run or walk can seem like an impossibility, which is why many parents of young children all too often forgo fitness.
But the truth is that when you sacrifice time for exercise, you are compromising your own well-being, which ultimately is not good for your children. By guarding your own health -- through exercise, a healthy diet, adequate rest, and stress management -- you are making sure that you are at your best and ready to handle the demands of parenting. In addition, when you make fitness a part of your routine, you are setting an example for your children to follow for the rest of their lives.
Best Ways Parents Can Find Time to Exercise
- Sneak in exercise where you can. Park your car a good distance from the entrance when you drive to a store or an appointment so that you can get in a brisk walk to and from your destination. Take the stairs rather than an elevator whenever possible.
- Find the right workout for busy parents. Try some good exercise routines for parents such as walking or working out on the playground while your kids play.
- Work your child into your workout routine. Grade-school age children can often join you for a fun outdoor game or other physical activity such as bike riding or kicking a soccer ball in the park.
- Exercise when they are working out. If your child has soccer practice, do a few laps around an adjoining track. If she has a swim lesson or is taking a martial arts class, see if you can do a few laps in the pool while she’s having a lesson or ask about doing family classes.
- Find a gym with a daycare. Many fitness clubs offer childcare, often for free or at a discounted price.
- Trade off childcare. Other parents you know are in the same boat when it comes to finding time to exercise. Trade off babysitting so that you can take turns taking care of the kids and going to the gym or for a run or a walk.
- Think small amounts of time. Can’t find an hour or more to work out? You can get lots of benefits from as little as 15 to 20 minutes of exercise. Try doing some circuit training -- jump rope, use hand weights to do some biceps and triceps curls, and do push ups.
- Edit out the time-wasters. Do you find yourself in situations where you are spending too much time doing something that doesn’t give you much benefit in return for the amount of effort you put into it? Tops on that list might be sitting and watching TV. Not only does this sedentary activity eat into time that you could be spending working out, studies have also shown that it encourages snacking. Plus, sitting for too many hours has been associated with health problems and a greater risk of death. Yikes!
You can also carve out more free time for yourself by consolidating errands and doing other things to streamline your weekends. - Catch up with friends during a walk, rather than over coffee. If you and your friends love getting together for coffee or drinks, switch up your routines and consider doing something active instead. Set up a regular date to walk, run, or even try something new such as rock climbing or rollerblading.
- Make fitness a goal for the entire family. If you make physical fitness a priority for the whole family, you’ll be more likely to find ways to fit that into your schedule. For ideas on how to make a family fitness plan, read "Getting Started With a Family Fitness Plan" by About's Guide to Family Fitness, Catherine Holecko. Some of the many benefits of working out with your kids include spending time together and deepening your relationship and providing a healthy fitness example for your children to follow.
