6 Reasons Moms Struggle to Workout
6 Reasons Moms Struggle to Work Out
Often we don't move forward because there are things in the way, and we are afraid to take action. The argument that "everyone has the same 24 usable hours in a day" clearly was not a mother! Here are some reasons why moms struggle to get their workouts done. Do any of these sound familiar?
1. You're always tired
There's a reason why people say, "Tired as a mother." Moms everywhere have the same complaint: lack of energy. It could be that we had kids waking us at night. It could be that we chose to watch that extra episode on Netflix. Sometimes other things take up our energy. Especially if you are a working mom, it’s hard to think of when we could get exercise in when work takes so much of our energy. Exercise may not be appealing if you are physically or emotionally tired. And to be honest, adding activity when we're tired is not beneficial.
2. The to-do list is non-stop
You're carrying a lot these days. Managing a household, working, making time for your kids, fitting in relationships, connecting with your kids, ensuring they have what they need, and thinking about their spirituality, their health, their sleep, and their emotional health. Phew. It's a lot. Oh yea. And you need to take care of your health too. The mental load is heavy! There are ways to manage the to-do list and try to balance work and home life, but often that can feel stressful. Most moms carry the bulk of these responsibilities, and it’s not easy to pass off.
3. You have no time alone
Everyone wants a piece of mom, am I right?
From the moment you wake up, someone is following behind, asking for a snack, asking to see something on your phone, asking for TV, asking for another snack. Heaven forbid you go to the bathroom. This is a significant barrier that others need help understanding. Whether you work inside the home, in an office, or are on the go, that creates a whole new set of challenges. As working moms, we often feel like we are stretched thin, trying to be everything to everyone. It can also be emotionally taxing to be overstimulated and not have the capacity to work on our health.
4. Anything extra is stressful
I know you get this. Your plate is full. And when something else is looming, it’s not attractive if it takes more effort. Often workouts get left behind because we view them as hard, annoying, and not enjoyable. It's intimidating to think about it, and when we do have the time, we're unmotivated or lack the energy. When we do find the time we could use to workout, we often use that time for something else, like getting a chore done, catching up on work, or even taking a nap. Bottom line: No one wants to add more to their plate, especially a mom.
5. You avoid the mirror
I know this is uncomfortable to talk about. But it's an actual thing. Many women will not put themselves out there and work out because they are embarrassed by their appearance. Body confidence can be a complicated issue. Perhaps someone once said something. Maybe you are comparing yourself to magazine models or another mom you met at the kids' school. It’s easy to get caught up in the thoughts of not liking the way your body looks. The less we like the way we look, the less likely we are to take care of ourselves. I understand if you are worried about what people will think when they see your body. It's ok. I get it.
6. No one else gets it
Your health and your barriers are yours. No one else understands what you are going through. No one else understands what you're struggling with. We can make assumptions about others' struggles and maybe empathize, but at the end of the day, our struggles are our own to overcome. I’ve heard moms patronize each other with statements such as, “But you don’t work full-time”, “But she only has one kid” or “But she has a husband, grandparents, and childcare.”
Yes, sometimes having fewer work hours, fewer children, or more support sound like they have it easier or more time available… but the reality is, we don’t know. So it’s not fair to assume.
Deep breath, friend. Let's get you into a better season of health.
What can you do about it
Ultimately, we know that activity is beneficial for every human and their health. Having a healthy, fit, and strong mom adds value to your family life. If getting a workout in is important to you, I'm going to assume you're like most moms:
You want time to yourself, without interruptions
You want something flexible because you might have to make a backup plan in case something pops up (kids, work, etc.)
You want something that meets you where you're at: not too hard, challenging enough, so you feel accomplished.
Check out my Free Download:
It’s full of information, strategies, and actual steps you can take now to make your workouts happen. It even has five printable tools to keep you on track.
Download the free guide now for simple solutions that make it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle with home workouts.
