Glendalyn Fodra Reveals 5 Ways for Busy Parents to Sneak in a Workout

Parenthood is a full-time job with no time off. It can be hard to find time in your schedule to work out when you need to run errands or pick up the kids from their various activities. While it may be easier to accept a lifestyle of inactivity, Glendalyn Fodra, a devoted physical therapist with 25 years of experience suggests that you should try to get some exercise in. In fact, regular exercise will boost your energy levels and allow you to take on parenting with vigor. 

Glendalyn Fodra knows the effort required to balance both a career and family and her experience as well as her success showcases the importance of health and exercise. Below, Mrs. Fordra reveals five ways for parents to get some exercise into their busy schedules:

1. Play

What better way to get the entire family to exercise than through play? Not only will you get some movement in your day, but your child will also love playing with you. Incorporate some fun in your daily tasks. For example, play some music while cooking dinner and have a dance party in your kitchen. Play some tag outside to get the heart pumping. 

2. Break Down Routines

Instead of trying to find an hour-long block to exercise, break down the session into smaller blocks. Whenever you have a spare moment, perform exercises. For example, you can set up a fitness mat in the living room while your child is playing with blocks on the rug. You can practice push-ups in the bathroom while supervising bath time. You are still available to your child and can squeeze in some fitness. 

3. Keep Walking

Find opportunities to walk around when you have a free moment. If your child is in baseball practice, walk around the park instead of waiting in your car. When you are running errands, park further away from the store entrance to get some extra steps in. You can also make it a family routine to go on a walk around the neighborhood. If your child is younger, there are special strollers made for long walks and jogs. If your child does not feel like walking, they can join you by hopping on a bicycle or roller skates. 

4. Kick Your Chores Up a Notch

Challenge yourself through household chores. For example, set a timer to see how quickly you can clean a room. Make it a goal to beat your time during each cleaning. Do some squats while loading the laundry into the washer and dryer. You can also perform bicep curls while bringing in bags of groceries. Look through your daily routine to see how you can turn a chore into a workout. 

5. Practice Time Management

Sometimes a little time management is all you need to find the time to work out. As your child grows older, there will be activities that they do not need as much supervision. Take advantage of nap time to work out, even for just a few minutes. Your child can help out with more chores as they get older, reducing your workload and giving yourself more free time. Check your schedule to see how you can scale back to perform self-care by staying healthy. 

In Conclusion

Finding time to exercise can be difficult when you have children. However, you can make small adjustments to your daily schedule to sneak in some exercise. This will help you stay fit and be an active part of your child's life.

About Glendalyn Fodra:
Glendalyn Fodra is a physical therapist, loving mother, and caring wife who enjoys helping others and spending quality time with friends and family. She is known for her leadership and strong work ethics, but she devotes all of her free time to caring for her family and socializing with other Filipino families in Tennessee.