Fitness and the Working Mom

Is what seems the impossible really possible?

We are inundated with fitness tips – the quick fix, the fast track, the best diet pill – and metabolism boosters, and the hot subject lines keep on rolling. But how effective are they, and for those moms who work full or part time, how do you fit it in while keeping any sanity about yourself?

Difficult? Yes! Impossible? No! Challenging? Yes! Impractical? No!

We can banter about what excuses override the benefits till the cows come home. But in the end, it all boils down to how important being physically healthy is to you personally. This doesn’t mean being an example to other mothers or your children but rather to yourself. You’re your mental health and your longevity of life as well as the quality of life you are living.

Prioritizing physical exercise (even 15 minutes three times a week) can seem absolutely impossible to those working mothers who also act as a roller coaster behind their children all day. It doesn’t mean the fitness isn’t important to them; it shows us they put a higher value on their children than their own well-being. The fitness tips they read are not necessarily wrong; they are just not right for them. One of the challenges that exists among the mothers who have a completely scheduled calendar is that they forget to put in time for themselves BEFORE scheduling their children’s hectic schedules. It isn’t even that these moms don’t want to change their routine. Even if the changes are highly beneficial to them, they just don’t see the value in themselves great enough to make physical exercise a priority.

Running after children all day can sometimes frighten moms with near-anxiety attacks at even the thought of exercising and heading to the gym. What we working moms need to keep in the forefront of our minds is that keeping ourselves fit and energized is equally important to getting little Jonny to soccer practice each week.

So what is the key to a perfectly balanced life? Some will tell you that all you need is willpower, stamina and commitment to your body for keeping it fit and beautiful. Sound familiar? It is easier said than done. There are working moms who think performing these two duties (working and running after children) are enough to stay fit, and for a small percentage they will be right. But for the remainder of us, being mobile isn’t going to be the only solution.

Here’s a great suggestion I actually saw in action while visiting my girlfriend. Her son was playing soccer, and the game lasted approximately an hour. She didn’t want to miss watching her son play or being his cheerleader. As a single mom, showing her support to her son and being involved in his life and interests is a very high priority. So on the way to the game I suggested we walk around the soccer field during the game; she asked her son what he thought, and he was 100% supportive of the idea. He got his mom at his game, and she got in some serious walking time. The key here is not to be walking leisurely but to actually set a good pace: five minutes to start for warm up, followed by 20 to 30 minutes at a heart-racing clip (Whatever your current level of fitness is – honor it!), and 5 minutes of a slower cool down. Of course, the 20 to 30 minutes did include a few stops along the way to watch the goals being scored and celebrate, but after the game she felt great on all levels.

Finding the balance is about thinking outside the box and pushing the envelope of opportunity. For me personally, I am a morning person who gets up at 5 a.m. to head to the gym three times a week with a girlfriend, which allows me not only to stay healthy but to feel as though I start my day with me in mind and doing something good for myself.

It is so pleasing and honoring to be a mother, but with this great designation comes great responsibility. As a working mom you can sometimes carry greater expectations of yourself, allowing you to easily fall and therefore finding it difficult to get back up with the pressures. Remember to take one day at a time, and if one week goes by and you didn’t get to do a little physical exercise for yourself, then … breathe, let it go and start fresh from this new moment, reminding yourself of your worth and value.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen