From the minute we wake up, we are bombarded with a constant reminder that we need to be fitter, we need to live healthier, and we need to be better. But how do you achieve this when you feel like you’re just surviving from day to day? When you’re simply trying to keep your head above water in the sea of requirements placed upon you.
As a parent of young children, life is understandably busy from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. Finding time to fit in even just a little bit of fitness is often a weight on my mind.
On top of parenting, I, unfortunately, suffer from anxiety, which leads to frequent mood swings and low moods. Fitness really is a necessity more than a want, but I find it difficult to muster the mental motivation.
Fitness is a great mood regulator; there is no doubt about it. It releases endorphins, so for me, it is probably one of the most important things that I need to embrace. Not only will it make me healthier and more able to physically keep up with my children, it will improve my mental wellbeing, too, which will help me mentally deal with the day-to-day pressures of being a parent.
Having young children does make it harder; the day is busier, but ultimately I know I have to make the time, not make excuses.
Reflections
So how do I make time? I’ve always found this concept hilarious; like you can just pluck an extra hour out of thin air and, voilà, you now have the time to work out!
Well, here’s the thing: fitness does not need to be difficult to be effective.
We don’t need to be suddenly burning our way through a 45-minute cardio workout. We don’t need to be working out five times a week.
Obviously, working out more will give greater results. That is a no-brainer. But if you’re anything like me, you think too far ahead; you put unnecessary pressure on yourself that in order to be healthier, fitter, and mentally stronger, you have to give it your all or nothing.
We don’t!
If we put that pressure on ourselves that we’re not achieving because we’re not hitting the gym several times a week or walking 3 hours a day, then most likely, we will fail.
We may start that way, and maybe we last a week or two, giving it our all, but we will soon realise that it is not sustainable in the long term.
So how do we make time and increase fitness in our lives effectively?
With small intentions.
Simply starting with small intentions is key. It’s key to building strong, healthy habits; it’s key to reducing the overwhelm that leads to us giving up.
Simple things like getting up and walking when you’ve been sitting for a long time.
Been sitting for half an hour? Take 5 minutes to walk up and down the stairs in your house. Stand up and walk/march on the spot.
Get your blood pumping, get those endorphins flowing.
For me, personally, I’ve got small children, and I would love to incorporate more time for fitness when they’re actually around. I want to be able to set a good example early in life for them that I didn’t have growing up.
My biggest wall that I know I put up is that I feel self-conscious. I hate being watched while doing anything, so working out in front of my children is anxiety-inducing.
The sad thing is, I know the more I actually do it, the easier it will become. So this is something I need to work on for myself and for them.
I need to set small, good intentions. I need to try to let go of the hang-up that I can’t let anybody see me do things, especially when it comes to fitness.
So when you feel like incorporating fitness into your life is unmanageable and you simply don’t have the time…
Try just 5 minutes.
Set a timer and go for it. Because when you start to feel the benefits: the increased mood, the increased energy levels, the willingness to motivate yourself, that’s when bit by bit, step by step, you will find yourself capable of doing more.
Author’s Note.
I am not a medical professional. Always work within your physical capabilities. If you’re unsure what fitness activities you can incorporate into your life, especially if you have underlying health conditions, speak to your doctor or medical professional.
I speak from experience that I have, many times, gotten carried away, gone hell for leather on a 45-minute workout only to realise a few days later that I’ve caused myself an injury, and why? Because I dove into the deep end before I learned to tread water.
Starting small and working your way up will make you stronger in a healthier, progressive way. Listen to your body, and if you’re unsure, consult a medical professional.
The Ruminating Mum 