‘I struggle to find the time for exercise.’
Without a doubt the most common challenge I hear from women right now is a lack of time. And as a parent of three kids under five myself, the youngest of which is seven months, you better believe I can relate. But, honestly, I can’t see it getting any easier. Can you?
Sure, the last few weeks have been busy. Work is busy. The kids have lots going on. It’s nearly half term.*
(*Insert your own reason here.)
But do you really think this will ever change?
Probably not! There will always be something.
So, unless you’re willing to put your goals on hold forever, let’s get to work with what we’ve got.
Here are a few of my most effective tips to help manage and prioritise your time when life is busy (ie. all the time).
Time Blocking
You might already do this with your calendar at work, but I’m talking about scheduling your entire day.
Think of it like this: you’re saying that you have no time, right? So let’s get it on paper and see what we can do.
The key is to account for everything in your life. I’m talking about hanging up the washing, having a shower, driving somewhere… and then work with the time you have ‘left’.
One you’ve made a list, step back. Think about how you spend your time and see if there are any things that you can juggle around to create more space for yourself. And remove anything unproductive or unnecessary for now.
Don’t overthink it
If it’s exercise you’re trying to fit in, then keep it simple. Ten minutes can be enough to get you started.
I guarantee that, once you get into the habit of it, you’ll happily make time for more.
Plan your meals for 3-4 days at a time
Yes, this supports your health goals, but it saves you time, too.
Take an hour or however long you need to write a ‘menu’ for several days. Then it’s quick and easy to do the shopping list and get organised
Next, get the menu on the fridge and stick to it! This is actually the hard part - actually following through with the plan.
Prioritise your time in order of what truly matters most
(Hint: taking care of your physical and mental health with some kind of movement should be high on the list.)
If the week always seems to ‘get away from you’, make sure that you never skip Monday or Tuesday workouts, or get them in as early in the day as you can.
Ultimately, it’s about getting out of your head and making it work. We seem to be able to do that with everything else, so why not do it with your health?
Making you your top priority means that you are better able to care for those that rely on you. And showing your kids that you are prioritising your own health is setting a good example for them to prioritise theirs.
No matter the circumstances, a healthy way of living is always doable.
Follow Sarah on Instagram @LDNmumsfitness for more tips and workouts, and check out her On Demand fitness programme at ldnmumsfitness.com
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