How do "single" moms fit lots of exercise in?

I am a single, full time employee, full time student, and full time mom hahaha. It helps that i am studying Exercise Science and I enjoy fitness. During the week I only work out 30 mins a day; its the perfect amount of time. My daughter is 4, so during that time is when I allow her to play on her electronic for the day (only 30 mins a day). I workout with her in the room, so I can lead by example how to live a fitness lifestyle. I jump rope or do jumping jacks, or high knees for cardio. And i do a workout circuit that is nonstop so I can burn the most calories. If I have more time in the day, and energy, lol, I will do a 30 min workout in the day, and a 30 min workout at night. I have a Fitbit so I make it my goal to hit 10K steps a day (whether i workout or not), and on the weekends I like to walk a lot with my tot. Its doable, and you dont have to wake early in the morning if you dont want to. For my daughter it was all about learning when it was time for Mommy to workout. She had to learn, it wasnt always easy, but she got it. Just like we have dinner time, reading time, bed time, we also have time to exercise. Sometimes she doesn't even watch Mr Maker (her favorit show on YouTube) she gets up and jump around with me lol. Consistancy is key. YOU GOT THIS!!! #teammom

Sheonagolden wrote: »

I am a single, full time employee, full time student, and full time mom hahaha. It helps that i am studying Exercise Science and I enjoy fitness. During the week I only work out 30 mins a day; its the perfect amount of time. My daughter is 4, so during that time is when I allow her to play on her electronic for the day (only 30 mins a day). I workout with her in the room, so I can lead by example how to live a fitness lifestyle. I jump rope or do jumping jacks, or high knees for cardio. And i do a workout circuit that is nonstop so I can burn the most calories. If I have more time in the day, and energy, lol, I will do a 30 min workout in the day, and a 30 min workout at night. I have a Fitbit so I make it my goal to hit 10K steps a day (whether i workout or not), and on the weekends I like to walk a lot with my tot. Its doable, and you dont have to wake early in the morning if you dont want to. For my daughter it was all about learning when it was time for Mommy to workout. She had to learn, it wasnt always easy, but she got it. Just like we have dinner time, reading time, bed time, we also have time to exercise. Sometimes she doesn't even watch Mr Maker (her favorit show on YouTube) she gets up and jump around with me lol. Consistancy is key. YOU GOT THIS!!! #teammom

I love this! What a great perspective. MOM POWER!

i was in your situation untill very recently (husband worked nights and week ends at a low paying unskilled labor job, and I am a full time engineering student, also working) our kid is almost 3 now. it seemed impossible, I always felt guilty and it was hard to have time for myself when I had so many other things to do: chores, homework, quality time with my kid, extra work etc. when I could, I exercised 30 -60min during my daughters nap, got up ealier or stayed up later. I got her her own yoga mat and she sometimes exercises with me to the YouTube video. in general, even if it's impossible to fit in a workout, I make an effort to be active with my kid. take her to the playground every chance I get, make up active games, piggy back rides etc.
PS to those who are offended by the name of your thread, there are quotation marks around "single", so op makes it clear that there's no comparison intended. plus, some of us with inparticipating husbands have no other help from either side of the family. we practically live alone with the kid, there's no safety net, no one to come help us when we're sick taking care of a sick child, and then have responsibilities such as school and work. Oftentimes all we see from our spouse is a paycheck, so it does seem comparable to being single.

ps. if you have a husband or partner even if s/he is away a lot you are in no way a single parent. I have been there too and it is worlds different from being the sole provider and caregiver for the kids and the only person in the world to worry after them as a parent would. There is no comparison. [/quote]

I agree very much with this comment! Being a single parent isn't only about physically being alone with the kids.

WARNING: THIS IS A SUPER LONG POST I AM SO SORRY.

Not single. Not a parent. So feel free to ignore anything i have to say, but...

Here's what I suggest and what i'd do personally if i were in your shoes:

First of all, get some sort of planner. You sound like a clean and organization freak like I am, so i highly recommend something like the Erin Condren or Kiki K planner variety.

On sunday nights before your week begins a new you should plan absolutely everything out. Day by day, hour by hour if you must. 3-4 days a week of exercise should be more than enough, so you don't have to worry about it everyday!

Something like this sounds more enjoyable and efficient to me:

5:45 am wake up and do morning cleaning routine
6:00 am complete a 30 minute workout to start your day
6:30 am begin getting ready for work and getting the kid up
7:15 am leave home to take kid to day care
8-4 pm work
4-4:45 pm stop at grocery store/necessary shopping ONLY
5-6:30 pm cook, and perform any necessary nighttime cleaning routine
6:30 pm-8:30 relax and interact with your child
8:30 pm Bath time for your child
9pm - kids bed time
9:30-10 pm - GO TO SLEEP! +( meal prep time on every 3-4 days)


I will include a sample of my cleaning routine which keeps my house spotless and visitor ready at all times (of course I have no idea what you have in your house so it's impossible for me to get this a hundred percent) this can be maintained all of the time!


I use something called the 1 minute rule. This means that if any one thing needs to be done and it takes LESS than a minute, JUST DO IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE! DONT PUT IT OFF!

I also always set a timer in my alloted intervals because it keeps me motivated to complete the task in the allotted time. If it goes over time, i just stop right then and there and MOVE ON! I never get stuck on one task for a long time because it's just not worth it.

Mondays:

• AM:

Set timer to 3 minutes:
Make Bed.

Set timer to 5 minutes:
Tidy Up- Walk Around(do a quick inspection and walkaround, anything that isn't in it's dedicated place gets put where it belongs. This does not include cleaning/washing/wiping anything or ANYTHING extra!)

Set timer to 4 Minutes:
Unload Dishwasher.

Set timer to 3 minutes:
Squirt toilet cleaner in each toilet

Total AM time: 15 minutes

• PM:

Set timer to 5 minutes:
Scrub all toilet bowls and wipe down toilet seat/lid with antibacterial wipes.

Set timer to 10 minutes:
Wipe down bathroom countertops, Spot clean mirrors with a microfiber towel and water (no need to fully clean), And spray down tub/shower stall with a generic no-scrub bathroom cleaner. Rinse out.

Before bed:
Set timer to 8 minutes:
Load dishwasher and start it.


Total PM time cleaning: 23 minutes

Total time cleaning On Mondays: 43 minutes


Tuesdays:

• AM:

Make Bed. (3 minutes)Tidy Up- Walk Around. (5 minutes) Unload Dishwasher. (4 minutes) Dump all clean laundry on made bed (this way no sleeping before it's put up!). (2 minutes) (14 minutes total)

• PM:

Fold laundry and put away clothes (20 minutes). Load dishwasher and start it. (8 minutes) (28 minutes total)

Total cleaning time Tuesdays: 42 minutes


Wednesdays:

• AM:

Make Bed. (3 minutes)Tidy Up- Walk Around. (5 minutes) Unload Dishwasher. (4 minutes) Pour some baking soda down the drain in your kitchen sink and a cup of vinegar into your dishwasher.

• PM:

Wipe down counters/surfaces in your kitchen. (8 minutes) Pour a kettle of boiling vinegar down your drain and turn the disposal ON (note: this also keeps your kettle limescale free) (3 minutes). Scrub your kitchen sink down with a magic eraser and some vinegar. Then spray with rubbing alcohol and buff with a microfiber. (this works for stainless sinks and leaves them super shiny) (5 minutes)

Total cleaning time Wednesdays: 25 minutes

Thursdays:

• AM:

Make Bed. (3 minutes)Tidy Up- Walk Around. (5 minutes) Throw any clothes in the washing machine and set on delay timer. (8 minutes)

• PM:

Fold laundry and put away clothes (20 minutes). Load dishwasher and start it. (8 minutes)

Total cleaning time Thursdays: 44 minutes

Fridays:

• AM:

Make Bed. (3 minutes)Tidy Up- Walk Around. (5 minutes) Unload Dishwasher. (4 minutes)

• PM:

Vaccuum and Mop all floors room by room, section by section. (35 minutes or 8 minutes per room)

Total cleaning time Fridays: 47 minutes

Saturdays:

• AM:

Make Bed. (3 minutes)Tidy Up- Walk Around. (5 minutes) Unload Dishwasher. (4 minutes)

• PM:

OFF FROM CLEANING!

Total cleaning time Saturdays:12 minutes

Sundays: Grocery Shopping, Any areas that need intensive and thorough cleaning (should be minimum because every area is kept generally clean).

Food prep. This includes washing all fruits and veggies before going in the fridge, chopping any fruits/veg that will be used in food prep. Prepping anything in your weekly meal plan that can be done in advance.

Any writing out your Weekly planner for the next week. I like to take this time to pre-log MFP with my meals as well that way i know what i'm eating.


I think waking up and getting the workout out of the way when you have time to focus SOLELY one yourself before anyone else is up and about is good because you can put the maximum effort in before you're exhausted at the end of the day. I think doing these small cleaning things here and there in a routine and pattern makes it easy because you are never just spending A TON of time hours upon hours cleaning with a house that always feels dirty. Of course you can delegate out some of these items to your spouse or your child like picking up after themselves, making their bed, etc. It's good to get your child (2 years+) in the habit of doing this themselves DAILY.

I know this is long and probably intimidating, but i love having a schedule like this because I never have to worry about having guests over. I come home to a clean house and live in an environment where i feel relaxed and comforted not stressed and anxious. I know what i'm eating, and because i've prepped/chopped stuff I can just really pour and sautee/heat on most meals. I always eat leftovers from dinner for lunch the next day and have fruits/veggies/snacks both cleaned and ready-to-go at any time i'm feeling snacky so i never have to stray.

I hope this helps! It took me a while to type this out. heehee