A lot of people think that finding time to exercise for mothers is hard. In fact, a lot of people suggest that mothers find a way to exercise with their kids because it is the only way to really get in some daily exercise. But you can’t always do the workout you want when your kids are around. Use the following strategies to help yourself find the time you need to include regular exercise into your life.

Make Exercise A Priority

The best thing you can do to find the time to exercise is to make it a priority. Your attitude towards exercise will determine whether or not you will find the time to exercise, and most moms who workout find this to be priority number one.

When you view exercise as an extracurricular activity that may or may not be done, you will never make the time to exercise. It will always be one of those things you do ‘when you have the time’, which will be barely ever.

“If your mind is strong, then your body will follow.” – Active

Set Yourself Up For Success

If you pick a time to exercise that you know will not interfere with your daily duties, like the early morning, then it is important to set yourself up for success. The easier you make it, the more likely you are to do it.

For instance, if you plan to start waking up at 5:30 am to go out for a run, then having everything you need to wear and use ready for quick access. That will save you time and make it easier to get out the door. As a bonus, you will find that even the action of setting everything up before you go to bed will motivate you to get out of bed and exercise.

Enlist The Help Of Others

Don’t be scared to ask someone for help. If you are not a morning person, and would like to exercise in the afternoon, then ask a friend or family member if they would be willing to watch the kids for an hour while you work out.

If you have no family or friends available to help, then reach out to other mothers in your community. Maybe you could work out a mutually beneficial agreement where you watch their kids while they do something of importance to them and they watch your kids while you do something of importance to you.

Pick Convenience Over Pleasure

Many people will suggest that you do an exercise you love. For instance, if you love to swim, then you may want to go to a pool and do laps for your exercise because it will be easier to feel motivated. However, when you are a busy mom, this may not work out that well for you if your pool is far away and you spend more time getting there and getting ready than you do actually swimming.

Sometimes as a busy mom you have to pick an exercise that is more convenient that pleasurable. For instance, if you have a gym across the street, then that would save you time. Or, if you don’t have anything close to you, then putting on your runners and heading outdoors may be your best option. Or, if you work, then going out at lunch may be your best option. Or, if you can’t get out of the house, exercising in the home may be the best option.

Even if it’s not your first choice, having a positive mindset around it can help make it pleasurable. Focus on the pros and forget about the cons.