If you know me at all, you know how much I believe in exercise as a daily habit. My job is literally to teach people to integrate physical activity and good nutrition into an every day part of their lives. And I love it. But here’s my confession: At the time I’m writing this, I haven’t worked out in 365 days.
GASP. I know. Try to contain your disbelief and horror! No, I haven’t lost my fervor for fitness. And no, I haven’t decided I need a career change. The truth is that I’ve had to grapple with something many of you are familiar with – it’s called balancing life.
My wife recently went back to work, so I’ve needed to step up a little more than normal in being there for our two young kids. It’s awesome to spend time with them, but it sure doesn’t make an already full schedule any less full. In fact, it’s an outright struggle to successfully balance family time, jobs, fitness and nutrition.
So now that you know I’m human, allow me to give you my best tips for managing everything (and everyone) you’re responsible for…
#1. Make the Most of your Mornings
Whenever I read advice from big time athletes or CEOs, it almost always seems that waking up early is part of their recipe for success. But don’t worry – you don’t have to be a “morning person” to incorporate this tip. Simply start small. I have always been a morning person and I have woken up before 4 am nearly every morning in the last 20 years. I love it! I get time to myself to get prepared for the day. That was BK (Before Kids). I realized that after reading Miracle Morning and doing the routine I could fit exercise back into my day. I enjoy the mornings still but since starting to implement the “S.A.V.E.R.S” (Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise. Reading, Scribing) that made a HUGE difference in my day. Exercise was a key element to my routine for so long, frankly I found it hard to get started again. The Miracle Morning is so easy to implement it takes only 6 min to get started. Make the most of your mornings so you can make the most of your day!
#2. Naked Warrior
If you look at your schedule for the day and truly cannot find a free slot of time to make it to the gym or go through a formal workout routine, make small moments count. Brushing your teeth…do 20 squats. Helping your kid get dressed? Do a couple push-ups while you wait for him to put on his shoes. It might seem ridiculous, but your little ones will probably think it’s super funny – and it will teach them to be healthy and active. I have followed this “Naked Warrior” program doing 100 squats and pushups throughout the day. It WORKS it will make you
#3. Aim for Healthy and Easy
The quality of meals is often one of the first things to suffer when time is short and stress is high. But if you just put a little intention behind it, this doesn’t have to be the case. Figure out a rotation of four or five healthy meals that are quick to make and try to always have the supplies for them on hand. You can whip up protein shakes in a pinch (with spinach, berries and almond butter for extra nutrients), or bake a sweet potato to eat with the leftover chicken from the night before. Your meals don’t have to be fancy; they just have to be functional and nutritious. So try to take the thinking out of it and reach for the whole foods you have on hand when you’re strapped for time.
#4. Incorporate your Family
If you’re without childcare for a few days or hosting family members who are visiting, it can be challenging to get your workouts in. Try not to let your brood or a full house stand in your way! Take your kids with you on a hike (even the baby – some baby carriers are designed for this specifically) if it’s cool enough outside, or bring your visiting family with you to a rock climbing gym. If these options don’t work for you, keep it simple. Search YouTube for some workout ideas, get the music pumping and invite anyone in your home to join you for some fat blasting I hope this helps you out a little. Now it’s your turn! What are your favorite tips for juggling work, children and health?
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