The dog days of summer are slowly coming to an end and the backpacks and school supplies are right around the corner. In one sense, it’s a relief. The kids will be in school and there will be quiet around the house again (unless you have toddlers or babies at home like I do). But we all know it’s not that easy. With the school year comes the added stress of homework, extracurricular activities, making lunches, and waking up early.
For some of us this might also be time to get back into the swing of a workout routine that we strayed from during the summer. As a mom, it’s hard enough to keep up with exercise without all the added stress thrown in. Here are eight tips to help you stay on track and maintain your sanity throughout the craziness of back-to-school season.
1. Plan Ahead to Stick to that Exercise Routine
It’s important that you are prepared for your workouts. If not you’ll find it’s really easy to end up skipping them. The first step is to take a look at your schedule and see where you can squeeze those workouts into your day. By choosing a time to work out, you’ll be more likely to stick to your workout program. And remember an effective workout can be done in 30 minutes or less.
2. Lay your workout clothes out the night before
This saves you time and is an awesome reminder before you leave the house to make sure you work out. You can also have a gym bag in the car as a constant reminder.
3. Use Fast Effective Workouts
Be sure to get the most out of your workouts by using circuit training, compound movements, and interval training, which will all help you save time in the long run.
4. Find Something You Enjoy
If you pick a form of exercise and you absolutely hate it, chances are you won’t stick with it. On the other hand, if you find an activity you enjoy you’ll be a little more excited about working up a sweat. So if you hate running, don’t do it. There’s plenty of other ways to get in cardio such as biking, swimming, or taking a fitness class. Also, by participating in a variety of different activities it will help keep you from getting bored.
5. Wear a Pedometer or Fitness Tracker
A pedometer or fitness tracker is a great way to be more active every day. Most experts recommend getting 10,000 steps each day. By having a goal, such as reaching those 10,000 steps, it’ll motivate you to walk more.
6. Make exercise your “Me time”
Sometimes parents forget to take time out for themselves. Exercising is the perfect opportunity to focus on “you,” because it sends endorphins throughout the body while relieving stress. You wouldn’t skip out on a massage, so why not give exercise that same priority?
7. Consider Hiring a Personal Trainer or Accountability Coach
If you still have problems getting in a workout you could consider hiring a personal trainer. However the reality is that personal training is expensive and most of us cannot afford it. Instead consider an Accountability Coach. What is that you ask?? Basically a coach that supports and motivates while providing exercise and diet guidance virtually for a quarter of the price of a personal trainer. Interested, shoot me a message, let’s talk accountability! 😉
8. Include Your Kids
Watching TV and playing video games shouldn’t be the typical family activities. Instead, get up and move around. It could be practicing a sport, going for a bike ride together, or playing on the playground, whatever activity you choose, be sure to include the whole family.
Remember,
Don’t let Facebook and Instagram photos or updates of perfect moms fool you. Taking care of kids and keeping up with exercise is not easy or glamorous. There are days when the last thing I want to do is put on my running shoes or pick up a weight.
The key is to remember its not just about fitness or loosing weight, it’s about a healthy lifestyle. It’s about being an active role model for our kids, because they are going to copy us …so we should be worth imitating.
i always lay out my stuff the night before – if i don’t work out early in the morning i can’t do it at all & every little bit helps when you get up that early – i also like to sign up for classes so that theres a level of accountability – if you don’t go you still get charged so it’s an incentive for me to drag myself out of bed!
I was a early morning exerciser too until my babe came. I’ll be back at it one day. Yes class are great for accountability. That could be tip #9!
These tips are so good. I totally agree with you. Especially USE FAST EFFECTIVE WORKOUTS.
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by
Nice tips, so simple to do it and does make a big difference!
YES! We often forget that it is more about the healthy lifestyle than losing the lbs. Making healthy habits for life is far better than short term plans.
Yes we seem to get caught up with the outcome rather than focusing on the process.
I always lay my clothes out the night before. If I don’t I won’t work out. And I love the tip about including your kids into your program. I don’t have kids, but I do try to use the accountability part with my boyfriend, instead of including kids I include him.
Good for you! Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve become a gym rat, and i found the reason it is is because I consider it me-time as a time to destress and forget about everything around me! these are great tips for sure!
Great tips and so simple to do! thanks for sharing!!
So many great tips! I will definitely be incorporating a lot of them to help me get back on the right track for my fitness routine.
Awesome keep me posted!
I’vee been working out for the last year and a half. And I should say that I really love it. I agree that it truly is ME time.
Good for you! 😉
Unstoppable info. Thanks for this post!
I agree with you about making the “me time” for having an exercise. At least you won’t have any excuses at all. 🙂 But hopefully, it will work for me. Thanks for the tips.
No problem. Let me know how it goes!
Nice tips, so simple to follow and I will definitely share with someone that really needs this.
A fitness tracker does the trick for me. Will try out other tips too
Which fitness tracker do you use?
Glad you found some inspiration. Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond!
Great tips to follow, I am already so much motivated to start my work out for this week and these tips are surely gonna boost me for more active participation
Sounds great! Keep me posted
Glad you found some inspiration. . Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your taking the time to read and respond! Happy Halloween!!
This is something I can follow along with. Going to school can something be hard to stay fit and remind that way.
I’m trying to get in the gym early – it’s so hard
It really is. I find getting up 30min early until your use to it then adding another 15-30 until you are comfortable with your desired wake up time
Yes to all of this, especially wearing a fitness tracker. It really does help you stay motivated and see where you need improvement!
So many great tips and so much motivating. Love to read the blog. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I really like your idea to get a fitness tracker… I think it will definitely keep me on the right track of getting more exercise on a daily basis….
Hi for me it’s always the motivation that is the biggest factor for workout. I must say that reading this post has motivated me. thank you.
You’re welcome thanks for stopping by
This is amazing. Simple and easy steps for everyone to follow.
These are great tips! I personally like to go to the gym right after work so when I get home I can focus on my job.
Nice. It is very important that we are aware of the things we do. Our kids are watching us. They are going to emulate our good examples and it will build them to become a good person in the future.
Thanks for the tips. I’m looking into getting back into shape after my baby is born. I am definitely going to use these!
Congrats how exciting! Don’t rush getting back into shape too much use those first months to recover and bond with your babe. The fitness will come in time.
Great tips and very motivating. I will share with my cousin, he finds it hard to stay focus and keep it up.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing
Including your kiddos and exercising as a family is wonderful! I walk 30 min with my little boy daily and we also swim 4-6 times a week.
Wow that great!! Swimming is so good for you.
I’d love to work out in the morning, but I’m just not a morning person. Thanks so much for the tips, I really needed to read all this once again even though I already knew it.
Sometimes we all could use a reminder
Haha I love the final tip about not getting carried away with seemingly perfect IG moms! I also find quick exercise routines effective, easier to maintain on a regular basis 🙂 Keep the tips coming!
It’s so true about not getting caught up comparing yourself to those Instagram moms. My girlfriend recently put me on blast for this regarding my latest blog post, because my images were too Pinteresty. I had to post what my real fruit rollup look like. check it out on my Facebook page. ?http://ow.ly/TOoS30eB4vF
Great tips! I wear my Fitbit every day, helps me track my steps, sleep (quality sleep is important) and calories. That plus sticking to a mostly high protein diet does the trick for me 🙂
Protein keeps you fuller longer so that’s a great tip
You always share such awesome fitness tips but so glad you made the point about thinking about health over the number on the scales – super important!
Thanks for the positive feed back. Scales are for fishes!
That’s very helpful cause you know college ia especially hella crazy !!
Yes I remember it can be
Nice tip, I have just also included fitness tracker in my routine and this has helped me a whole lot to keep track of my progress.