5 fitness tips for busy parents

10 July 2019

Finding time for your fitness can be challenging as a parent, with busy work lives and home commitments. Fitness can still be a priority in your life and will benefit both you and your child. These 5 tips will maximise your time and help you keep up with your fitness as a busy parent.

Figure out your time

Look for times and breaks throughout your day where you can squeeze in a small burst of exercise. Whether you’re waiting to pick the kids up from school or have a break at work, use this free time to get in a quick cardio session with a 10-minute jog.

Carry resistance bands so that you can get in some strength training when you find a spare 15 minutes. Multitasking is another great way to use your time. Exercising during the advert breaks of your favourite TV shows makes sure that you stay active rather than sit on the couch.

HIIT workouts

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are a blessing to busy parents. One of the biggest advantages of HIIT workouts is that they give you maximal health benefits in minimal time.

Research has found that HIIT burns 25-30% more calories in a third of the time of other exercises. Boot camp is a popular fitness trend that involves a lot of HIIT workouts in a short amount of time, making it great for any busy parent to fit around their schedule.

Prestige Boot Camp is one company offering a broad choice of boot camp options.

Make chores fun

Staying active can involve more than just traditional exercises such as running or going to the gym. Household chores such as vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom give a workout of their own. Making household chores fun and into an active game also gets your kids involved.

Staying active by doing housework is a convenient physical workout that lets you stay fit as a parent and get jobs done.

Meal prepping

Diet is just as important as exercise when it comes to staying fit. Meal prepping involves prepping some or all of your meals in advance so that you can grab them and go later on in the week.

When you are a parent, meal prepping prevents you feeling tempted to cook unhealthy convenience foods after a busy day. Preparing meals in advance allows you to plan a healthy diet and give your body the nutrients it needs. It’s also a great way to save time as a busy parent.

Mix up family activities

Spending time with your kids is important for your parenting life, so why not turn this quality time into a fun family activity? Studies have found that the more physically active a mother is, the more active her children are.

Arranging family activities such as swimming or cycling is a fun way to get your children involved in fitness and developing healthy habits. Attach a baby seat to your bike so that you can take younger children with you on cycling trips. This ensures that you get the workout you need, sets a good example to your children and strengthens your family bond.