Finding the Time

So one of the big problems that I have heard with people and working out is "I just can't find the time." Especially for those of us who have little children. I know for a while I was one of those people. It seemed every time I thought I'd be able to work out, something would happen to throw me off for the day. My daughter would wake up early from a nap, lunch would be late and heavy, I had a huge exam coming up in a difficult class, and the list goes on.

So what happened to change that? Well let me back track just a hair.

In October, my husband left to go overseas for a year. That's when my workout journey really began. I'm basically a single-mom while he is gone. While I live with my parents for the security and the occasional assistance, I really do most of it by myself. So you would think that being alone with a toddler would make it harder to find time to work out. But one of the things that Spousal support information tells you is that if your spouse is deployed, you need to stay busy and have a routine!

First off, decide that no matter what, your exercise is going to be in that routine at least 5 days a week. If you make it a "must" on your To-Do list, you are more likely to find time to do it. Heck, put it before cleaning dishes. Those dishes will get done, trust me. You are far more likely to skip out on your routine if you don't put it on the top of your priorities.

Next, find a time when you are the least likely to be bothered. Since I have a one year old, I am entirely dependent on her nap times and bed time to get my exercise in. Every day I make sure she goes down for her nap by 1 or 1:30pm, and then my workout can start at 2pm. My lunch has time to digest so I'm not choking up food while working out (I hope you appreciate that visual) and someone is by that point sound asleep. I can do dishes while my daughter is awake. Heck, I can do laundry, fix dinner, even take a shower while she is awake. But exercising while she is awake is a near impossibility unless I have someone else to watch her (which doesn't happen that often). If for some reason I can't get my workout in during nap time, like for instance on Thursdays when I am in my Anatomy lab for 3 hours, then I put it off and pop in my DVD after bedtime, which is 8:30 to 9pm. The television is usually free at that time anyway. I have other things to do in my day that need my full attention, like working on my Beachbody business and studying for my classes, but I can fit in an hour of exercise. I honestly believe that it helps me think, too.

Finally, don't beat yourself up if something happens and you can't make a workout. While it is important to stay consistent and keep up with your exercises, missing one day because you were waiting in the doctor office with a sick kid is not going to make or break your fitness journey. You don't have to try to make it up the next day, you may just burn yourself out or injure yourself. Just let it go and move on!

And hey, maybe even get an accountability buddy. You can have someone work out with your or even just have someone to talk to to keep you on track. Be honest with that person. Having someone to keep you on track may just give you the pressure you need to press play today!