How to develop a healthy balance between fitness and motherhood.

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I know as a mother we have many hats to fill when it comes to daily to do’s. From being a working mom to a stay at home mom, being a mother in general is exhausting sometimes. So how can we put more on our busy plates when it comes to developing a fitness routine?

Well there’s no way to easily put it because getting into a fitness routine takes time and consistency just like anything else, we dedicate our time to. You may ask well, Courtney, how can I possibly throw in a workout routine on top of everything else I have to do?

I know for me it was not easy to do when I first wanted to take that step to a healthier lifestyle, but I came up with a few small changes to help me start getting better at making time for myself.

I struggled with trying to decide the best workout plan for myself and not knowing where to start. After having my first born, I was so new to the workout world. I was also scared to start something I didn’t think I could finish. But I learned what worked for me. I had to dig deep and start being mindful of where I spent my time and how to spend my time more wisely.

As a mother, it can just be hard to prioritize our own time because we are heavily invested in our kids. It’s nothing to be ashamed of though. I love my babies. But I know that I needed some sort of time to replenish my energy/sanity. Especially now as a mother of two. Life can get a bit chaotic at times. I’m sure most of you moms can relate!

So I wanted to share with you ladies a few tips I suggest you to try to develop a better balance with fitness routines and motherhood.

1. Monitoring my time daily and how much I spend on activities.

I had to start being mindful of the time I was spending on tasks/activities. I know scrolling on social media can pass time so quickly and we hardly recognize it. We also can lose time if we don’t plan accordingly. So be mindful where you spend your time at. See if there are any free spots with your schedule. Sometimes we think we are busy, but we are just disorganized. So prioritizing our time can truly take away some of the stress of our day to day basis.

2. Making a reliable plan.

We must realize that we may very well set ourselves up for failure if we don’t actually plan to do something, especially a workout. Find a plan that works with you and something you actually can see yourself doing. Don’t just settle for something mediocre. Find a workout plan that you can stick to and stay motivated to finish it. Even if it takes a few times to start, keep striving to do your best. Show up every day. Even when the kids have a bad day, just do what you can. If you have to skip a day or two, don’t beat yourself over it. Just pick up where you left off.

3. Finding the right support group.

With motherhood, can come loneliness. I know I’ve struggled with doing a lot of things on my own and never having time for me some days. I know many moms who found themselves in the same boat. You must surround yourself with good folks physically or on social media that could keep yourself accountable. I personally like to connect with local moms and have a monthly play date by walking the babies in strollers. Just connecting and finding the right people will keep your spirits up and motivate you to reach those goals.

4. Setting realistic goals.

I know we all have compared ourselves to the other mom who we think has it all together, but we need to stop comparing our journeys to those around us. We set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and when we don’t reach that expectation, we tend to self-sabotage ourselves. It happens more often that I like to admit. But I’ve learned that I had to start focusing on my small victories and goals that I can actually obtain. A few examples would be, meal prepping my lunch for the week, exercising 4 days, going for a walk with the girls, or consistently waking up early. These are just small goals but weekly goals I can see myself accomplishing. We don’t always have to focus on losing a ton of weight to feel good about our progress. Every small goal can lead us to a big result. So, don’t lose sight on your big goal. Focus on doing what you can each day to help you get better with consistency and staying motivated to reach where you want.

These are just a few things I started focusing on, but they are main factors on achieving a better balance between motherhood and fitness. We must be willing to make a few small changes in our daily routine in order to better fit our priorities. If working out is one of those priorities, you will do what you need to do in order to get it done. But of course, every day won’t be perfectly laid out for us. Life is full of unknown, but with each set back, you will become more determined and willing to get back at it.

So look at how you spend your time. What are some things you could limit in order to fit in a better workout routine? How many days are you willing to commit? How much time could you set aside for a 15/ 30 minute workout? Are the kids able to join you? Maybe get it done while the baby naps? Ask for support from your significant other? Find a gym with a daycare?

Many opportunities to consider if you truly are willing to make the changes. You can do it momma. Just take it one step at a time. Be proud of what you are trying to do. And most of all, don’t give up hope.