My Many Poor Attempts At Balancing Life and Exercise

ad. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Oh, here she goes again with her big plans about exercise routines.’ Listen, right – shut up. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’ve struggled to stick to a consistent workout routine since I had my son. 

That’s a lie. I do know what’s wrong with me. I’m a creature of habit, and I thrive on routine and structure. I need to be consistent. I’m all or nothing with zero in between. It’s a great personality trait when I’ve got a routine firmly in place and nothing can stop me. But then, something stops me. And it all falls apart. Whoops. 

Before I had my son, I had a consistent workout routine for years. I had a personal trainer for over three of those years, which was a big help. But the main ingredient to my workout success was that I had control over my time. These days, my time is controlled very a cute and tiny dictator, aged four.

I really hate the phrase ‘lose yourself in motherhood’ because my brain likes to take things literally, and I end up thinking ‘I didn’t lose myself, I am right here?’. However, when parents discuss the loss of self after having children, I think this is what they mean—less time for hobbies, even the ones that are good for you. 

I successfully got back into a fitness routine a few months ago. Once the garage gym was built, I was exercising 3-4 times a week. I was also going on outdoor runs again. What stopped me this time? Well, I had some car trouble, and it set me back. I know that sounds like a silly reason, and it probably is. However, the point is that I get easily derailed.

The car issue meant I lost a few work hours here and there to dealing with breakdowns. I had three breakdowns in three weeks. Perhaps even more, if you count the mental ones. But let’s not relive that trauma today. 

So, the car issues ate into my work time and also meant I needed to shift around my schedule. Which wouldn’t be a problem for most people, but for me, a schedule change is a big deal. I had been working out every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday for weeks. This means I’m incapable of working out on any other days. So, when I had to pick up my car on a Tuesday, I missed that day. And because I missed Tuesday, I lost momentum, and on Thursday, although I made it to the gym, my heart just wasn’t in it. It went downhill from there. I made excuses, both valid and invalid ones. That’s my story, and I am sticking to it. 

So, that leads me to this blog post. When will I find a better balance between my daily routine and staying active? I’m not the only person in the world to face challenges when balancing life and exercise, especially with family commitments or a busy schedule. However, research shows that regular physical activity boosts energy levels, helps lower stress, and has a positive impact on overall health.

So let’s try and find some balance with exercise. 

Setting Realistic Fitness Goals

Fitness goals should match your daily life and unique needs. Busy parents can use a quick workout in the living room, while older adults may choose low-impact exercises to protect their joints. New mothers might walk with a stroller during quality time with their baby. Lunch break walks or stand-up desk stretches work well for people at the office. For individuals aiming to build size and strength, incorporating a mass gainer shake can help meet higher calorie and protein needs. It’s a convenient option for those with busy schedules who struggle to get enough nutrients through regular meals alone.

Pick exercise routines you enjoy so you stick with them longer. Choose specific times that fit into your to-do list, such as first thing in the morning or before dinner with a family member.

For me, I have to work out in the morning. I switch between the gym and outdoor runs depending on my mood. I love running outdoors because it doesn’t require much thinking. I simply need to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Other times, the idea of running bores me, and I need to do something that requires a bit more thinking, such as a weight routine with lots of different sets.

So my goals are to simply work out at least three times a week. I can run or do weights depending on how I feel.

Tracking progress effectively

Tracking your progress may help you stay committed to your exercise program and boost your motivation. My way of tracking is just by wearing my Apple Watch during workouts. However, there are many ways to achieve this, such as creating a calendar to tick off, setting up a fitness social media account, or tracking progress in areas like muscle gain or strength gain. Whichever way you track, it has to work for you, so be open to adjusting this if your chosen method flops. 

Time Management

Time management is my biggest downfall. I struggle to find flexibility with my workouts, so I need them to be rocks in the diary. Here are some tips (that I should probably follow, as well). 

1. Get up a bit earlier and get the workout out of the way before your brain has the chance to wake up and try to stop you. 
2. Schedule workout sessions as if they were crucial meetings; make a note in your calendar.
3. Choose a workout timing when you’re at your peak energy levels. Some prefer mornings, others prefer evenings.
4. Organise your rest days on par with your workout days to ensure sufficient recovery and keep an equilibrium.
5. If you don’t have time for a long session, do shorter ones. A 20-minute run at your fastest pace works wonders!  
6. Work it into family and leisure time – get your hiking boots on and go for long walks on a Sunday.
7. Get your workout clothes ready in advance to save time and avoid excuses.

Embrace The Inconsistency

If I work out consistently for six weeks, then take four off, then have to try again – that’s still better than not working out at all. It still has benefits to your overall health. Most people take breaks from exercise. That may be days, weeks, months – I think we need to scrap the concept of seeing it as starting again. It’s not the beginning of your fitness journey. A fitness journey is constantly changing and evolving. 

For example, if you look at me, I started my fitness journey in 2013. I’ve done lots of different things since then. I’ve run half-marathons, gone on long bike rides, been to gym classes, I’ve done yoga and improved my flexibility, I’ve done Olympic weight lifting, I learnt how to snowboard, hula hoop and even did a crow pose (once). 

It all counts, even though most of those things seem like only memories now. You’ve still been building up habits, techniques, skills, fitness and muscle over the years.

So, even if you are inconsistent at times, it’s fine.

You are doing great.