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It only take a quick glance at my to do list for it to become roughly a million times easier to say no to the gym than to say yes. I know I have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce, but I also don’t have a full suite of assistants to handle every other aspect of my daily life so that I can focus on looking flawless.
And I know in my head that I really need to make working out a priority because it honestly helps me be a more happy and sane mom and partner, but in that moment when I’m trying to figure out how to cram 40 hours worth of work into just 16 hours, running on the treadmill for 45 minutes is all too easy to set aside for another day.
So I’ve actually come up with a few different tricks that I employ throughout the day to essentially trick my family (and yes, that includes me) into burning some calories and strengthening our bodies. And I do this by finding things we can do that will kill two birds with one stone, or that are so fun or so efficient that they just make sense to do, even with that crazy to do list.
1. We Dress for Success
Moms who are home with their kids get made fun of a lot for rocking comfy clothing. I’m gonna give this fashion choice a big ‘ole #sorrynotsorry right now. We have to be up and down and chasing after kiddos all day, so we should be in clothes that will move with us! But you can employ a bit of strategy in your clothing selection rather than just staying in whatever you wore to bed the night before. Select something that will set you up for success when it comes to little exercise opportunities you might discover throughout the day.
I am loving this outfit by Champion GEAR exclusively at Sports Authority. These clothes are breathable, totally cute, comfortable, and they honestly but me in the mindset to get some exercise however I can. I have noticed a HUGE difference in how much exercise I’ll manage to sneak in throughout the day when I’m dressed to work out vs. when I’m not. You just aren’t going to find me doing wall sits in my daughter’ room while we play My Little Pony if I’m in jeans. Just sayin’. This outfit is also totally ready for an intense cardio or strength-building routine at the gym, but don’t assume that just because you aren’t at the gym that you can’t be working out here and there. The Champion GEAR brand is ready for whatever you can throw its way.
2. We Plank
Did you know that doing the plank pose (not to be confused with “planking“) is one of the single best total body exercises you can do. This one single move makes use of almost all of the muscles in your body. It’s kind of insane how much of a workout you get by doing this. I’ve actually read that if you only have time to do one exercise each day, you should pick the plank pose. It’s better than push ups, better than crunches, better than going for a run. Of course, in a perfect world you can do a combination of things, but if you get to the end of your day and realize you were a total sloth, get your plank on! At the beginning, you may only be able to hold it for 20 or 30 seconds. That’s fine! Work your way up to a minute over time. A minute workout? SIGN ME UP!
4. We Power Clean
This is such a win-win. There comes a point in the day (usually right before daddy comes home) when I will set the timer for 5 minutes and we will all run around the house picking up toys and putting them back where they belong. We are focused, we are frenzied, we are laughing, and we are moving! Best of all, we actually get some housework done, and that makes life a little easier for me! If you’ve never tried setting the timer before you tidy up, you’ll be surprised by just how motivating it can be. You will likely set a goal in your mind of how much you’d like to get done and then you’ll work like crazy to try to meet or even beat your goal. If you don’t reach it…so what? Your house will be cleaner than it was 5 minutes ago, I promise, and your heart rate will be elevated, too. You can even add obstacle course-type elements into your cleaning time (I have Darah hop up the stairs as she takes a load of toys back to her room).
4. We Yoga
My in-laws really introduced my girls to the fun of yoga, as they both enjoyed doing a simple guided routine each morning. I noticed that my kids started getting out yoga mats for themselves and really trying to do the poses, too. When you see your kids being drawn to some form of exercise, make every effort to join them! Starting our mornings with some yoga is incredibly powerful and effective, and quite frankly, it also buys this mamma a few more minutes of quiet before the chaos begins. I’ll take it!
5. We Dance
Dance party time usually happens when mom and dad are cleaning in the kitchen. The kids like to be with us, so we’ll put on some upbeat music that they really enjoy and they will dance like crazy in the dining room and living room right next to us. We join in while also putting away dishes. The kids are off the hook for the cleaning part, but they know that this is the time to show their very best moves and they do not disappoint. Usually this means ridiculous amounts of spinning.
I’d love to hear any creative ways you come up with for working bits of exercise throughout your busy day with kids! Please comment below and inspired the rest of us! 🙂
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