Whether your baby is two months or two years old, you might be struggling to find the time to workout. Even if your body is telling you that you’re reading to break a sweat, your screaming toddler or messy house might be telling you otherwise. But you want to feel fit and enjoy going to bed knowing you did something good for yourself, so how can you squeeze in an exercise that’s worth the time?
If your budget allows it, find a gym with childcare. It’s the perfect solution for your baby to enjoy some socialization and for you to get back to your routine. Plus, it provides you with a 30 or 60 minute break from mommy-duty so you can feel and act like your normal adult self.
When heading to the gym isn’t a realistic option, harness the power of naptime. This might be tough at first, because naptime is your chance to rest, clean, and catch up on all of those Netflix episodes, but you’ll thank yourself for pushing into a workout. Even if it’s only ten or fifteen minutes, it’s better than nothing! You can even wear your workout clothes from the time you wake up so you don’t have to worry about any transition time. Every woman can agree that it’s much easier to start a workout when the clothes and shoes are already on!
If all else fails, exercise with your child! You may have to separate from the “all or nothing” mentality you used in your pre-baby workouts. Exercising doesn’t have to mean getting into specific workout gear, sweating for 90 minutes, showering, and changing. It is possible to work out in spurts throughout the day in accordance with your baby’s needs. Grab a jogging stroller and head outside, or get down on the ground and do some pushups and planks while your baby plays with her toys. Do squats while you make dinner…whatever it takes!
Whatever you do, don’t lose hope. The most important thing is to retain whatever exercise time you can, and slowly but surely you can find a groove that works for you and your little one.