Finding Time

KellyKAG
KellyKAG Posts: 418
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm having guilt about spending too much "me time."

Typical day: get up, get ready for work, get the kids ready for school, drive the kids to school, work a regular 9-5, pick the kids up, make dinner, feed kids, run on the treadmill for 45-50 minutes, give youngest a bath, read to him and put him in bed. That 45-50 minutes was time spent with my kids but its the same time of night that I have the motivation/energy to workout. I've tried doing it after they go to bed but I lose momentum and end up skipping it and I am definitely NOT a morning person who could get up crazy early and do it then (Also the treadmill is getting old and is crazy loud so doesnt really work well when others are sleeping.)

Replies

  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I wasn't a morning person until I started incorporating it into my routine. When I was working full time I would wake up at 4:45 while everyone was still sleeping, watch a little TV and wake myself up with my coffee, then get my workout over with before anyone was even up. It made me go to bed a little earlier but on the other hand I didn't waste any time spent with my kiddies...
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    Well, the way I look at it, your kids could have an unfit, grumpy mom for 24 hours a day or a fit, healthy, and happy mom for 23 hours a day.

    Hummmm....not a difficult decision to me.
  • NiciS72
    NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
    Stop feeling guilty!!!!! Assuming you sleep 8 hours of the day you are awake 16 hours. 16*60 minutes per hour is 960 minutes that you are awake. 50 minutes to yourself divided by 960 minutes IS ONLY 5.2% OF YOUR DAY!!!!! Sorry, I'm in Finance and this is how I look at things.
  • cycle_babe
    cycle_babe Posts: 10 Member
    i understand... i teach a 545a cycle class and i'm never late but i wasnt making the same commitment to myself that i didn't teach. i changed that -- im now up and there every morning at 500.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Maybe you need to remind yourself that you're doing this for them as much as yourself. Taking care of your health is a very important part of life, and just think what a good influence that should be on them.

    Don't beat yourself up...at least you can work it into your day and aren't making excuses saying there's no possible time to do it.
  • Robinkinchen
    Robinkinchen Posts: 39 Member
    If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of anyone else. Keep setting a good example for those kiddos!
  • PhilipByrne
    PhilipByrne Posts: 276 Member
    Stop feeling guilty!!!!! Assuming you sleep 8 hours of the day you are awake 16 hours. 16*60 minutes per hour is 960 minutes that you are awake. 50 minutes to yourself divided by 960 minutes IS ONLY 5.2% OF YOUR DAY!!!!! Sorry, I'm in Finance and this is how I look at things.

    This made me smile, I like how your mind works.
  • judy20in2011
    judy20in2011 Posts: 143 Member
    ALL Moms deal with guilt in some fashion! I guess to me it's the quality of time and not quantity. Does dinner consist of good check-ins and conversations w/the kids? Do you sit down together at the table and exchange in conversation versus throwing a plate down and not even sitting together? Are you able to incorporate them into the meal prep and have them around to interact during that time? . ALso, what are the weekends like; are you doing family activities or connecting w/the kids one on one? Is it possible to treadmill every other day or skip two days during the week and do it on the weekend instead when there is more time available to be with them as well? Think outside the box in terms of time and focus on connecting. Remember, your also being a great role model about health, fitness, self discipline etc.. Your kids aren't going to care that your taking care of yourself. They will care if they don't feel loved and connected to their mom.
  • KellyKAG
    KellyKAG Posts: 418
    Thanks all for your input. I really appreciate the support and ideas. Its getting very chilly in Illinois but maybe in the spring I'll be able to be motivated enough to start getting up early to run outside.
  • KellyKAG
    KellyKAG Posts: 418
    ALL Moms deal with guilt in some fashion! I guess to me it's the quality of time and not quantity. Does dinner consist of good check-ins and conversations w/the kids? Do you sit down together at the table and exchange in conversation versus throwing a plate down and not even sitting together? Are you able to incorporate them into the meal prep and have them around to interact during that time? . ALso, what are the weekends like; are you doing family activities or connecting w/the kids one on one? Is it possible to treadmill every other day or skip two days during the week and do it on the weekend instead when there is more time available to be with them as well? Think outside the box in terms of time and focus on connecting. Remember, your also being a great role model about health, fitness, self discipline etc.. Your kids aren't going to care that your taking care of yourself. They will care if they don't feel loved and connected to their mom.

    I've made a point of making sure dinner time is more about sharing their day and talking since i've started this routine and I spend every weekend with them and try to have one "special activity" each weekend. Thanks for the reminders of the other important times us moms have with our kids.
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    I see in your profile that you are married. Why not have the father take over some of the time? When my kids were little I used to go for an hour walk after dinner. since I had cooked, my husband cleaned up and watched the kids. He didn't like it at first, but he got used to it.
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