We all know that regular exercise is good for us. Not only does it help us to stay healthy and fit, but it’s also good for our overall wellbeing and mental health. But when you’re a parent, finding time to exercise can be challenging. With a little creativity and time management, even the busiest of us can manage to squeeze in some exercise!

Like many other parents, I’ve been trying to find a little more time recently to exercise and get a bit fitter. But I’ve struggled to find regular time that I can solely dedicate to exercise. Although I’m nowhere near an ideal regular schedule yet, I’m getting there! This week I thought I’d share some of the strategies I’ve found work best for me. If you’re hoping to fit some short bursts of exercise into your day, then here are some ideas for you to try out.

1. Start Early

Whether you go out for a run, do a virtual class on YouTube or a yoga or Pilates session in your living room or garden, a morning exercise session is a good way to start the day. It can be difficult to find free time during the day, particularly once your little ones are awake and there are chores and jobs to be done. Squeezing in some dedicated exercise time first thing in the morning can help to focus and put you in a positive mindset for the rest of the day.

I have to confess that I’m not good at this one myself! Mainly because I’m not a morning person. But, a lot of my mummy friends highly recommend this. On the rare occasions where I’ve managed to get in a workout first thing in the morning, I’ve definitely found them to be energising.

2. Find an Exercise You Enjoy Doing

Aside from finding the time to exercise, you also have to find the motivation to do it. If you try to force yourself to do exercise that you really dread, then you’re unlikely to make the necessary effort to actually do it. So, choose exercise that you enjoy and actually look forward to doing.

Personally, I really enjoy doing yoga. With sessions of varying length, I find these easy to slot into the limited time I have available throughout the day. When I can, I also try to do some HIIT sessions. Admittedly, I enjoy these less, but I find it satisfying to finish one and tend to do sessions that only last 10-15 minutes.

3. Minimise Obstacles

I don’t mean your child, although you may find that this is a very real obstacle! The more effort it is to do exercise, the more reasons you’ll have for not doing it. Try to find an exercise that requires minimal equipment or gear.

Running is a great one for this – all you need is a pair of trainers. Similarly, yoga tends to only require a yoga mat that can be easily and quickly rolled out. You can also try to look for workout videos on YouTube (of which there are thousands to choose from) that don’t need any equipment. Again, I find the HIIT workout videos good for this, as they don’t tend to require any equipment.

As for the clothes – don’t fuss over these! Particularly if you’re working out at home, no-one can see what you’re wearing. You don’t need the latest gear to workout. Find a comfy pair of trousers or shorts and an old t-short and you’re good to go!

4.  Set Aside Dedicated Time

It doesn’t need to be a full hour! Instead, start off with 10 minutes every couple of days. The key is to make these 10 minutes truly dedicated exercise time. It might be that you take 10 minutes during your child’s nap or 10 minutes after their bedtime. You can take 10 minutes out of your lunch hour, or maybe you exercise whilst your child is eating their lunch.

Find a time that works best for you (whatever time of day that might be) and set it aside specifically for exercise. Make this dedicated time and, short of an emergency, try to avoid letting it be filled with another activity. Those dishes will still be there in 10 minutes time. If you need to, mark out the time in your diary.

5. Involve Your Child

Sometimes, you don’t have a minute to yourself all day. Instead of neglecting your exercise, involve your child. You may not get an intense workout, but at least you’ll still be doing something active.

It’s also a good opportunity to model to your child the importance of exercise. If they see you doing it, they’re more likely to want to do it themselves too. It also emphasises the message that your own health and wellbeing is important too.

If nothing else, it’s a nice bonding experience! It’s not always necessary easy to try to workout with a small person around. I know! There have been many times where my toddler has “helped” me to exercise to rather amusing results. But it’s also really wonderful to watch him try to copy the movements and do them with me. It helps his gross motor skills and balance develop too.

There are also lots of child-friendly videos that you can do with your child. Cosmic Kids Yoga is a firm favourite in our house. There are also a range of mummy and baby exercise sessions available online for those with younger children, whilst those with older children can look to videos such as PE with Joe Wicks, which really flourished in popularity during lockdown. Or why not go for a run together? Whether you push them in the pram or jog beside them, it’s a nice way to spend some time together.

Do you have any other suggestions? How do you find time to exercise?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories, so why not connect with me on Twitter @TalkMummy, on Instagram @mummytalkcoffee or leave me a comment below. Please also share this post!