Starting a new fitness routine as a busy mama

Welcome to the third post in my “Focus on Fitness” series. I wrote about how to stay motivated to workout with a busy schedule and shared my tips on the best core exercises to do after pregnancy. Be sure to check those out if you need a little extra motivation! 

Thank you to Sweat and Milk, an awesome activewear brand that supports mothers in their fitness journey, for sponsoring this post. Scroll to the bottom to see our outfit details. As always, all thoughts & opinions are my own.

Starting a new fitness routine

Whether you are a new mom or have been in the game a while, one of the most frequent things I hear from other moms is that they genuinely would love to workout, start a fitness routine or desire to lose weight but have a hard time finding the time. Between taking kids to after school activities, managing a household, and trying to get dinner on the table at a decent time, it can feel overwhelming trying to add ONE. MORE. THING.

How to start a new fitness routine (that you’ll actually stick with)

On the flip side, we KNOW how important it is to take care of ourselves and how detrimental it can be if we DON’T prioritize our health and fitness. There are so many benefits to starting a regular fitness routine. Not only will you look and feel better, but you will decrease stress, boost your mental clarity, increase energy, sleep better and the list goes on and on.

I totally get it. It’s really hard to start a new fitness routine when there are already so many things on your plate. Here are a few tips that I found helpful that have helped me start (and stick to) a new fitness routine.

You have to start somewhere!

Your health is an investment, not an expense. Although, it can become an expense if you do not take time to invest in it! We only get one body while on this earth, let’s thank God for it and take care of it to the best of our ability! The first step? Just start! No matter where you are on your fitness journey, its important to find something that will work for your lifestyle.

Step out of your comfort zone

As a fitness professional one of the remarks I have heard from people getting started in any workout program is “I am not in good enough shape or fit enough to do that workout.” This statement implies you have to reach a certain point in fitness before being able to work out! In reality, we have to push ourselves to work out in order to reach the fitness level we want to be! For example, we go to the orthodontist so that we will get help in getting straighter teeth so we can have the smile we want… its not the other way around! Saying you have to be in shape to work out is like saying that it is required to have straight teeth before going to the orthodontist!

Put it in your daily schedule! It’s not going to happen if it’s not planned. Plan out your week in advance and don’t leave it up to chance. This planner is my favorite, with inspiring prompts and motivation to stick with your goals. I highly recommend this planner!

Evaluate Your Schedule

Regular exercisers don’t find time, they ‘take’ time. Most of us have those unchecked times in our day where we are scrolling through social media or Pinterest. Those 10 spare minutes we use to check and respond to emails. Pay attention to how you’re spending your time and figure out which activities you could ‘take’ time from & if possible, lump them all together and use them for a workout. If not, spread your activity throughout the day.

RELATED: How To Stay Motivated to Workout with a Busy Schedule

Music Class for Them…Gym Class for You

Between dance classes, soccer practice or music lessons, sometimes our kids can be just as busy as we are. Our kids are getting to stay active, decompress after school and have fun with their fiends– thats a great time to do the same. Maybe while your kids are at soccer, you can take a stroller and push your other kids around the track or have a mom meet up with you to walk the track. Just think about the times you have and make the most of it!

Find a gym that offers child care

Um, HELLO! This is a no- brainer. Check with your local studios, YMCA or gyms to see the amenities and what they offer in terms of childcare. For new moms, child care is a god-send as this is what holds most moms back from working out.

Find a group fitness class or meet a friend

Never underestimate the power of a community. Being in a fitness community will help inspire, motivate and challenge you. I love group fitness because there is a set time, the music is great and the people become like family. I want to encourage you to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Remember the best outcomes come from when we push ourselves to a new level by getting past feeling “comfortable.”  Nothing changes if nothing changes.

RELATED: 7 Best Core Exercises To Do After Pregnancy

Go early in the morning

You have to find what works for you. A lot of people enjoy starting their day off with a workout before their day even begins. It can help start you on the right foot, help elevate your mood and allow you to feel like you can tackle anything that comes your way. My husband has found this is really the only time that works for him and that he can be consistent with it. For me, this won’t work since I’m already up a couple of times a night with babies. You have to find what works for your lifestyle.

During nap time (at home)

Ready, set, go! As soon as nap time hits, this may be a great time to bust out a quick workout! This is a great time to pull up your favorite fitness youtube videos, dvd’s or subscription! Take advantage of those quiet moments in your day. Then REST!

Walks

The point is to just get MOVING! It doesn’t have to be hard, you can even just take a walk around your neighborhood. I recently heard a new mama say that to overcome her anxiety and postpartum depression, she and her husband planned one small thing she could do by herself daily. She chose to go on a walk all by herself. No kids, no one talking. Just a quiet stroll. That walk has been healing and helps her to decompress, have time by herself and take a break for a moment.

After kids are in bed

Sometimes you may just have to find a youtube workout series or find a great workout DVD program to do while the kiddos are in bed. This isn’t ideal since you may be exhausted at the end of the day, but if this works for you and you can stick to it, go for it!

Don’t underestimate MOVING with your kids

We need to ditch the ‘either-or’ attitude. Children instinctively love to move. Resistance bands are great for playing ‘hop over’ and Bosu balls make fun mini trampolines. As your children grow older, workouts can be bonding time. I’ve always made it a point to introduce my daughter to fitness. This is a great way to set an example for our kids to stay active and healthy. Whether it’s taking a hike, doing a mommy & me workout, playing tennis, having a dance party in your kitchen, etc… all of these things combine to help keep you moving, and that’s the goal after all!

Take time to play

Sometimes the best exercise can be from chasing our kids around the park or playing the third (or hundredth) round of duck duck goose. Here we are playing leap frog over some hand weights. No matter the activity, it’s important to take time to just enjoy your kids. Your kids crave the undivided attention and they’ll remember the memories you create through play.

Make it worth it

At the end of the day, spending time with family is always a top priority. My thought when I’m about to start my fitness routine is if I’m going to choose to go to the gym or go on a run rather than spend time with my kids, I better make sure I’m pushing myself the entire time and making it worth the time!

RELATED: How to Stay Motivated to Workout As Busy Mom + Cutest Mommy & Me Activewear

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Let’s face it, life happens in the form of sick days, tantrums and gigantic messes that won’t clean themselves. There are days that you might have to shorten your workout or might have to miss a workout all together.  If you do miss a day, don’t stress. Don’t compare yourself to other moms. Just do the best you can!

Starting a new fitness routine and sticking to it when you have a busy schedule is hard. Typically, exercise is often the first thing to get scratched from the calendar. But, with a little forethought and planning, it’s doable. Make your health and well-being a priority. When mama is healthy and happy, the rest of the family is sure to follow suit.

Why not look cute while your at it? An easy and motivating tip when starting a fitness routine is to set out your workout clothes right by your bed (or I’ve even heard of people sleeping in them) so you can change into them for a quick morning workout.

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I want to know, what are your best tips to help you find time to workout and stick to it?! I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below!