Getting fitter as a busy parent

Our four quick tips!

How staying active can help busy parents/guardians

Among the extra responsibilities and to-dos that come with having children, we know that staying active can fall low on the priority list. 30% of mums report having less than an hour free to themselves per day. 

It can be difficult to find the time and energy to commit to exercise, and it’s common for your usual workout routine to slow down or stop. Low energy, lack of sleep, and less time to yourself feel all too familiar! 

The good news is that it’s possible to get back into working out again. There’s no need to have a total overhaul on your workout plan; you can still feel the benefits of exercise by making small changes in your day-to-day! 

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Quick tips for getting a workout in

  • Get the family involved: Workouts that include the whole family – even at home workouts – are a great option to get active and spend quality time together.
  • Manage your workout intensity: Shifting your workout plan to something which challenges you, but doesn’t make you exhausted, can help. You can always ramp the intensity back up when it feels right!
  • Invest in home gym equipment: At home exercise can be just as great as working out in the gym or a class. The equipment you use doesn’t have to fancy, a workout mat, skipping rope, or some dumbbells can work just fine. Don’t forget that when you join us, you can access virtual workouts using our Virtual Studio!
  • Get active throughout the day: Fitting exercise into your day-to-day routine can give you some great workout wins! Even if it’s only a 15-minute walk, small bursts of movement can make a big difference.

The mental health benefits of staying active

Anxiety reduction

The day-to-day life admin on parenthood can be a big source of stress, but luckily exercise can regulate cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a stress hormone which heightens when you’re feeling anxious. Fortunately, our body releases endorphins (our happy hormones) when we exercise, which can help combat feelings of anxiety. If you’re a swimmer, the sound of water can be quite calming, while the motion of the water can have a meditative effect too. 

Improving self-esteem

We know that parenthood can make it difficult to reach personal goals, but keeping fit is a space where your ambitions can be fully supported.

Once these personal milestones are reached, it can significantly lift self-esteem! The energy of others, that you may find in a group workout class for example, can take this one step further. There will always be somebody on hand to encourage you and keep up the momentum! 

Aiding sleep

Moderate exercise, like walking or dancing, can increase sleep quality for adults by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep (sleep onset). Parents and guardians know daytime sleepiness all too well, so staying active can help to alleviate this! 

Getting back into fitness

It’s never too late to get started again, our Community is here to help find what works for you! 

If you’d like to try out the gym, you can book an introductory gym session with us. Our friendly fitness team can guide you through the equipment, helping you choose what’s best for your goals.  

If classes are more your thing, our centres have a timetable of the sessions they offer which you can take a look at. We have classes for all interests, abilities, and moods! New mums can also come to our range of post-natal classes that some of our centres offer, helping them ease back into regular physical activity after pregnancy. 

With our variety of pool sessions and swimming lessons, you also have the freedom to find what feels right in the water too! 

 Get started here

 

Sources: Busy mums encouraged to prioritise their own activity levels (Sport England) | How do you actually make time to exercise as a parent of young kids? (The Independent) | How to stay fit after having kids (Men’s Health) 

 

If you found this blog helpful, you can view our full list of blogs here.