Alisha :)
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Balancing a job, marriage, children and your fitness
Balance is tough. We all know how difficult it can be to find balance as a single person, but then add in a husband, oh then and a child…or three. For those of you who have similar demands in your life you may look back at those single days with wistfulness, thinking it was so easy when I didn’t have all of these commitments. Here’s the secret, it wasn’t. I know from talking with many other women that no matter where they are in their life, finding it is next to impossible. So, how can we achieve that magical word “balance”?
When I talk to my friends about this I like to remind them of gymnastics. Yes, gymnastics. Think back to when you were little, remember what it felt like to walk on the beam. How did you do it? Very meticulously? With lots of focus? You had to think about every shift of equilibrium, every step, practically every move had to be thought about thoroughly before you made it. As soon as you thought you had the hang of it, your attention drifted -- BAM! You were on the mat. It’s the same with balancing your life, but even more when you add in a family. Everything must be attended to at some point.
Here are some of the ways in which I balance my own life:
Exercise before the sun rises, or before your children do. I have a treadmill in my bedroom - it’s there precisely for this reason. Each morning I wake early with my husband and hop on it (the treadmill I mean). By the time I am done with my cardio, I usually still have time to take a shower and eat before I need to wake the kids up for school. This can work even if you don’t have the treadmill. Try a workout program - whether it be P90x, Insanity, or yoga doesn’t matter. The point is, get moving. Getting that blood flowing will release the feel good hormone (oxytocin) setting you up to have a happier, more productive day.
Plan it out. Think about your day ahead of time. In my house our children are perpetually coming and going. This leaves me with loads of time on some days and very little time on others. Because of this, I am very careful to get my stuff done while they are not around. I work out while they are at school and before they wake up. This works on non-school age children too, just plan to work out while they are napping. I know from experience that it can be really difficult to not layn yourself, but take 30 minutes to exercise and the rest of the nap time to rest. You will feel better for it.
Work out date with your husband. Schedule one day a week to have a workout date together. You don’t necessarily have to have the same workout. You can warm up and chat together for 15 minutes, and then do completely opposite routines. Be sure to make it fun and sneak glances and flirt with each other between sets. You can just be there at the same time knowing you are both doing what is best for your own health and feel the bond of that common goal. It also helps to find a gym that you can take the kids to and feel comfortable knowing they will have a great time so that you can enjoy the time with yourself and your husband. When my husband and I do this, we then take the kids swimming to include them in enjoying the gym.
Balance is tough. We all know how difficult it can be to find balance as a single person, but then add in a husband, oh then and a child…or three. For those of you who have similar demands in your life you may look back at those single days with wistfulness, thinking it was so easy when I didn’t have all of these commitments. Here’s the secret, it wasn’t. I know from talking with many other women that no matter where they are in their life, finding it is next to impossible. So, how can we achieve that magical word “balance”?
When I talk to my friends about this I like to remind them of gymnastics. Yes, gymnastics. Think back to when you were little, remember what it felt like to walk on the beam. How did you do it? Very meticulously? With lots of focus? You had to think about every shift of equilibrium, every step, practically every move had to be thought about thoroughly before you made it. As soon as you thought you had the hang of it, your attention drifted -- BAM! You were on the mat. It’s the same with balancing your life, but even more when you add in a family. Everything must be attended to at some point.
Here are some of the ways in which I balance my own life:
Exercise before the sun rises, or before your children do. I have a treadmill in my bedroom - it’s there precisely for this reason. Each morning I wake early with my husband and hop on it (the treadmill I mean). By the time I am done with my cardio, I usually still have time to take a shower and eat before I need to wake the kids up for school. This can work even if you don’t have the treadmill. Try a workout program - whether it be P90x, Insanity, or yoga doesn’t matter. The point is, get moving. Getting that blood flowing will release the feel good hormone (oxytocin) setting you up to have a happier, more productive day.
Plan it out. Think about your day ahead of time. In my house our children are perpetually coming and going. This leaves me with loads of time on some days and very little time on others. Because of this, I am very careful to get my stuff done while they are not around. I work out while they are at school and before they wake up. This works on non-school age children too, just plan to work out while they are napping. I know from experience that it can be really difficult to not layn yourself, but take 30 minutes to exercise and the rest of the nap time to rest. You will feel better for it.
Work out date with your husband. Schedule one day a week to have a workout date together. You don’t necessarily have to have the same workout. You can warm up and chat together for 15 minutes, and then do completely opposite routines. Be sure to make it fun and sneak glances and flirt with each other between sets. You can just be there at the same time knowing you are both doing what is best for your own health and feel the bond of that common goal. It also helps to find a gym that you can take the kids to and feel comfortable knowing they will have a great time so that you can enjoy the time with yourself and your husband. When my husband and I do this, we then take the kids swimming to include them in enjoying the gym.
In the coming weeks I will offer more ideas for finding that balance. Until then, remember the gymnastics class balance beam analogy. Remember that although you sometimes found yourself on the mat, there is always grace enough to get back up, to do it better the next time. Just stay focused, and plan it out.
