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Reclaiming Your Health as a Busy Ambitious Mom
On this episode of Redefining Motherhood, I discuss the surprising results of a recent survey I conducted with my community. While over half of the respondents felt their careers and motherhood were in a good place, the number one struggle they reported was their health and fitness. This really resonated with me, as I've been there myself.
In this blog post, I want to emphasize the importance of prioritizing health and fitness. By reflecting on our priorities and identifying pockets of time in our schedules, we can make health and fitness a non-negotiable part of our daily routine. Let’s explore how we can achieve this balance and improve our overall well-being.
Career and Motherhood Struggles
Balancing a successful career with the demands of motherhood can be incredibly challenging. Many women, myself included, often find that their health and fitness are the first things to be neglected when life gets busy. During holidays and family events, it’s easy to get caught up in making memories and forget about taking care of ourselves.
When surveying my community, it became clear that career success and motherhood struggles are common concerns, with health and fitness topping the list of neglected priorities. It’s ironic that we often strive for professional and personal success, yet fail to take care of our own well-being. This irony highlights a critical need for change in how we prioritize our lives.
To combat this, we must recognize that our health and fitness are just as important as our career and family responsibilities. By making a conscious effort to include self-care in our daily routines, we can create a healthier balance and ensure we are not sacrificing our well-being for the sake of other commitments.
Prioritizing Health and Fitness for Busy Women
The struggle to prioritize health and fitness is a common theme among busy women. The survey revealed that 90% of the women in my community place health and fitness at the bottom of their priority list. This is a concerning statistic that underscores the need for a shift in mindset.
I have personally experienced the consequences of neglecting my health due to mental health struggles, including postpartum depression and alcohol use. These challenges made it difficult to find the motivation and time to focus on fitness. However, I realized that making health and fitness a priority required a conscious decision and a commitment to finding time in my schedule.
Finding Time for Exercise in a Busy Schedule
One of the most effective ways I’ve found to prioritize my health and fitness is by waking up early to exercise. Over the past year, this commitment has helped me lose 30 pounds, 15-17 inches, and 5-6% body fat. It wasn’t easy to make this change, but the results have been worth the effort!
Waking up early provides a quiet, uninterrupted time to focus on self-care. It sets a positive tone for the day and ensures that exercise doesn’t get pushed aside by other responsibilities. By making exercise a part of your morning routine, you can start your day with energy and motivation.
Prioritizing Health and Fitness for Mothers
As a mother, I understand how challenging it can be to find time for self-care. Adjusting my son’s bedtime routine was also a significant step in creating more time for myself in the evenings. It allowed me to have a dedicated time for nighttime self-care activities such as meditation, reading, or meal prep.
Auditing your time can help identify areas for improvement. For instance, reducing screen time or setting aside specific times for meal prep can free up more time for fitness. It’s about finding those small pockets of time and making the most of them.
Embracing Self-Care and Personal Growth
Embracing self-care and personal growth is essential for effective parenting and overall well-being. Effective parenting starts with a healthy and happy parent, and prioritizing self-care is a vital part of this process.
Balancing career and motherhood requires a conscious effort to prioritize personal growth. By making time for self-care activities, you can better manage the challenges of both roles. This might involve setting boundaries, seeking support from your partner, or simply giving yourself permission to take a break.
Balancing motherhood and career while prioritizing health and fitness is a challenging but essential task. By making a conscious effort to include self-care in our daily routines, we can create a healthier balance and ensure we are not sacrificing our well-being for other commitments. It’s about making health and fitness non-negotiable and finding time in our busy schedules to focus on our well-being.
I encourage you to reflect on your priorities and schedule to make health and fitness a priority as well. Listen in to the full episode here!
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