How to Make Time for Exercise When You Have Kids

There is no question that child rearing is time-consuming. A feature on The Relentlessness of Modern Parenting notes how parents today are putting more of their time, effort, and money towards raising their children. This kind of intensive parenting, once the domain of upper-middle-class parents, is transcending classes, with more parents eager to give their kids a head-start in life. It's an admirable style of child rearing, but is one that leaves parents little to no time for themselves. And often, one of the first things that gets sacrificed is exercise — to the detriment of their health.

If you're that kind of hands-on parent, remember this: Physical inactivity increases your risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases and other adverse medical conditions. Among these conditions are high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, anxiety and depression, and even certain cancers. To avoid these risks, it's imperative that you not only find time for exercise, but actually make time for it! Here are four ideas to help you do just that:

Join in on play time
Our previous article on Creative (and Realistic) Ways to Get a workout in While Spending Time with Your Kids points out how most parents tend to leave their kids to their own devices during playtime so they can do housework and fulfill other obligations. While that's fine, joining in on the fun every now and then can create a positive outcome: There are many playtime activities that can give you physical exercise, such as playing tag or giving them a piggy back ride. You'll bond with your kids doing what they love, and can even sneak in a good workout! And in case keeping up with your kids becomes challenging, tap into your child's boundless energy to help keep you going.

Try cross training
Personal trainer Heidi Powell describes cross training as the use of different training modalities and intensities in one exercise session — for instance, running for 15 minutes followed by a 5-minute yoga session. These combinations are simple and time-efficient, and they offer plenty of benefits. An article on The Physical and Mental Benefits of Yoga for Sprinters highlights how cross training is effective for developing a system that helps you achieve better all-around conditioning. It also works the different muscle groups, in turn increasing strength, power, endurance, agility, and balance. It varies your workouts, too, keeping things interesting. And since sessions don't take long, you'll be able to fit more exercises into a shorter amount of time.

Multitask
Parent and health and fitness writer Catherine Holecko suggests in a Very Well Family blog on exercise that parents should multitask to get some exercise. For instance, you can do crunches or planks while watching TV with the kids, squats while preparing their food, or even stretching while in the bath. Putting them to sleep? Sneak in a set or two of push-ups, or jog quietly in place. It may not be ideal, but it's still a means to be physically active.

Schedule exercise time
Lastly, do block off time in your schedule for structured exercises — whether in the gym or at home. These sessions needn't be long, as 20 to 45 minutes would suffice. Just make sure that you follow your schedule religiously until it becomes part of your weekly routine. Where possible, tell your kids what you're doing, and explain why it's important to exercise. In this way, you get to make time for exercise, all while teaching to your child of its importance.

NannyPod provides long term nanny matches and short term occasional date-night babysitters and infant care on demand, at an affordable price. Our service is convenient, safe and secure for families and our staff. Parents can request childcare instantly by using the NannyPod app. Get started with NannyPod today and find babysitters or nannies for your childcare needs!

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This is How You Can Get Single Motherhood Right the First Time

For the most part, parenting is a daunting venture, and for single moms taking on the task for the first time, it can be downright terrifying. But despite the lonesome nature of the job, know that you’re actually in good company. There are currently 11.3 million single parents in the US alone, and 81.5 percent of these are mothers. And well, you might not realize it yet, but you’re just as capable as these amazing women. So without further ado, here’s how you can prepare yourself for the wild and oh-so-rewarding ride ahead of you.

Get in the right mindset.

There’s no other way around it—you will be going into parenthood scared and uncertain. The good news is this is completely natural. Even better, you will get past this fear in no time. 

The key is in knowing that you are up for the challenge. It really helps to take it one step at a time—stage by stage and not looking too far in the future to cause premature panic. Bear in mind that the right mindset will not only keep you soldiering on, it will also alleviate worries that could hold you back.

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Get organized.

As a single mom, you’ll be constantly juggling childcare, work, housework, and maybe even a social life. Overwhelming? Yes! But not at all insurmountable, especially with good organization and an even better game plan. 

First thing’s first—structure is king. Having a solid routine makes things easier on you, so start by making a plan and sticking to it. On another note, the reality is you’re going to go through some really tough and downright crazy periods. Being organized will not only keep you on track, but it will also save your sanity. For example, running to the store at midnight to pick up diapers because you’ve run out is simply not an option when you’re taking care of a newborn by your lonesome. By staying on top of things and keeping supplies replenished, you will save yourself plenty of grief. 

Get support.

As a single mom, you might find yourself wanting to prove to the world that you can do this—that you can successfully raise a kid on your own. Again, this is natural. What’s not natural is putting undue pressure on yourself.

You know what they say: it takes a village to raise a child. And though your circumstances might seem otherwise, you need to accept that you are, in fact, allowed to get help when you need it. 

You’ll be surprised to know just how much support is available for single moms, from professional childcare to playgroups, online forums to the celebrated ‘mom tribe.’ And don’t overlook your family and friends. More often than not, all you really have to do is ask.

Get insurance.

Of course, a huge part of being a good parent is being prepared. Few things will shake your confidence more than surprise incidents, so being ready for possible scenarios will make you more capable to deal with them competently. 

Insurance is a great way to equip yourself against serendipitous events—specifically, car insurance if you rely heavily on private transportation to get around. Sad to say, single parents pay more for car insurance than married couples. Not only that, there are no known discounts for single parents. This is not to say, however, that single moms are without options. There are, in fact, other discounts available that you might be eligible for, such as group or mileage discounts or even a safe driver discount. Make sure to ask your agent what options are available to you. 

In addition to a decent auto policy, be sure you fully understand your health benefits and coverage by reviewing changes every year and take the time to sign up for life insurance. It’s a hard thing to consider, but if something were to happen to you, you’ll want your baby to be taken care of.

It’s been said that single motherhood is not for the fainthearted. It might even be the hardest job you would ever take. But it is—hands down—also the most empowering and rewarding, and that right there what makes it infinitely worthwhile.

NannyPod provides long term nanny matches and short term occasional date-night babysitters and infant care on demand, at an affordable price. Our service is convenient, safe and secure for families and our staff. Parents can request childcare instantly by using the NannyPod app. Get started with NannyPod today and find babysitters or nannies for your childcare needs!

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

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