3 Ways to Find Time for Exercise as a Busy Parent

• Save

Raising kids of all ages can devour most of your free time, so you are probably

eager to establish an exercise routine both for physical fitness and your mental well being. If your schedule is already fully booked and overflowing, here are some tips for making time to meet your exercise needs to protect your overall health.

Find a Consistent Time

Don’t put your needs at the bottom of your to-do list. Look for a time of day when you can have thirty to sixty minutes for your workout. It might be early in the morning before the kids get up or when they are away at school or in nursery care. Maybe you can hire a babysitter for a few hours each week to provide that exercise time. You could also arrange a parallel exercise time for the kids or when they are doing homework. The goal should be to have a reliable time on certain days of the week to get your allotted exercise without interruption.

Develop a Home-Based Exercise Routine

Set up a home gym or workout area with an exercise mat or a stationary bike. Organize your fitness area in a part of the house that won’t disrupt other household activities. For example, consider using a refinished basement rather than the living room. Some people use part of their home office space as a workout area. The backyard is another popular spot for physical activities, or you can walk around your neighborhood to accumulate your daily step goal. Invite the kids to participate if they are old enough to be consistently interested.

Join a Group

Working out with a partner or a group often increases the amount and intensity of exercise parents get. You can take fitness classes online to do at home or join a gym that offers the classes that interest you. Exercising with a friend makes the time pass more quickly, and you can enjoy socialization at the same time. Being part of a fitness group encourages accountability and motivation to keep going even when you are not doing that great or feel like giving up. With many types of fitness classes, you can join various ones to find those that you like best. A group of parents could pay a babysitter to watch the kids at home during the workout.

Exercise plays a vital role in sustaining good health. Find time to get fit and stay that way at home, around the neighborhood, or at the gym. Take a friend or join a group; it’s all fun, and you will be glad you did when you see great results.

• Save