One kid has decided to demonstrate his artistic ability on the dining room table while the other is climbing on the cabinet demanding a snack. (He assures you he is starving; after all it’s been a whole twenty minutes since his last one!) What should you do first? Get the snack? Clean the table? Give some discipline? Pull your hair out? Book a getaway trip to Cancun?
No doubt, being a mom is incredibly demanding and stressful. You pour your energy out all day into others and barely have time to take care of yourself mentally and physically. The ironic challenge is that the less time you have to take care of yourself, the more you need it. Finding a way to exercise and stay fit throughout the chaos is essential. It keeps your self-confidence up; a must to keep your sanity throughout motherhood! It releases endorphins, the feel-good hormone that combats stress and creates a sense of well-being.
Here are three simple ways you can ensure you as a busy mom take good physical care of yourself and stay fit.
1- Cleanersize! Yes, I created a new word there. Cleanersizing is cleaning and exercising at the same time. Jog in place and move your arms while you dust, do laundry, vacuum, etc. You may feel a little awkward at first. You may even feel so goofy you laugh at yourself. But hey, that releases endorphins too!
2-Involve the kids. Part of the challenge is in trying to juggle the cleaning, your work, and the kids. You know time with them is precious and fleeting. You also know you need to take time to exercise. Combine the two. Play a game to see who can run across the yard the fastest. (You might want to let them win, but don’t worry, you’ll still be getting your exercise.) Crank up some tunes and have a dance off. Relive your own childhood memories with jump rope hula hoop and hop scotch. Your kids will love it and will be eager to turn off the TV and enjoy family exercise!
3-Trade off with another mom. As helpful as the first two tips are, the fact still remains that you need a little time to yourself. You need to occasionally go for a jog around the park by yourself, free from the kids and out of the house. Guess what? Other moms you know need this too! Work out a system with another mom where you watch her kids while she exercises and then does the same for you. Not only is this a great way of getting some much needed exercise and alone time, it will also help form a closer friendship with other moms. Some hectic day down the line, you’ll need that. So will she.
Don’t let the stresses of motherhood distract you from taking care of yourself. Use these tips to keep in shape, get the blood flowing, and release the endorphins!
Addicting post to read! Very good job. I feel like doing a little exercise right now!