Forget high end gym memberships, personal training sessions, fancy home equipment, if you struggle to workout consistently, perhaps you've overlooked the biggest consistency obstacle: you're chasing perfection.
We often get caught up in the sexiness of that brand new rowing machine we can buy for our basements or those new classes all the moms at school pick-up are talking about, but the biggest area we can lean into improving is what we do when life (ahem, kids) get in the way. Do we practice flexibility and do our best or do we put it off and wait until another day because we can't execute perfectly?
Leveling up is in my DNA, I love to sign onto new coaching programs, training plans and systems. But, I too, used to struggle (and HARD) when I couldn't stick to the plan perfectly due to things popping up like having to rush home to relieve my caregiver if she had an emergency. The change of plans had me reeling and not knowing what to do next, I'd think "If I can't do it RIGHT, I guess I just shouldn't do it at all?".
Look, if our dishwasher broke down would we leave a sink full of dishes and never wash a plate or cup until it was fixed or would we wash the dishes by hand and move on? If we had a busy day planned at work but received a phone call that our kid needed to be picked up from the nurse's office would we leave our child at school sick so we could go on with the day as planned or would we figure out a way to dial into our meetings from home?
When we became mothers we learned, and within a few days at that, that even the best planning can't insulate us from the unexpected with kids. I can remember being home during maternity leave with my first child, just so excited to show him off and have adult conversation that I made a plan to attend a moms club breakfast a few blocks down from our condo in the city.
I planned all damn morning. I coordinated the perfect timing for when my son would eat last so he was happy, settled and quietly sleeping when I arrived. Of course, he had other plans. Within 5 minutes of arriving he was screaming to eat, had pooped out of his diaper and through his clothes and literally wanted to be anywhere but where we were (ugh, flustered mom puts down her mimosa).
As Moms, we have opportunities to lean into these moments and and stretch our patience, practice flexibility (I'm still working on this!) and realize imperfection is not only ok, but necessary, or we can remain stuck in quicksand, not taking action. For the record, I stuck around at that Moms breakfast and made some great connections.
So, how do we become a little less rigid when it comes to our workout schedule?
1. We realize that taking action trumps perfection, ALWAYS.
By all means, buy that expensive equipment or class series but if life happens and you can't get out of the house; a 5 minute Power-Up in your kitchen is better than nothing or a full workout that's interrupted 10x by children is better than one that is pushed to the back burner (#everylittlebitcounts).
2. We realize that an imperfection spurs creativity (and autonomy).
When we can figure out how to do a solid workout in a hotel room, a playroom or at the playground, we become empowered by the possibilities. We realize that we don't need our trainer holding our hand to get our workout done.
We look at a parking lot and see sprints, we figure we can deadlift one of our kids if we need to, we see pull-up attempts at the monkey bars or turn a simple park bench into a plyometric machine. We stop requiring perfection in order to take action.
Ready to get your workout in anywhere, Mom? Arm yourself with The Strong Mom Playground Workout Pack, 6 workouts designed to help busy moms get consistent and strong using playground equipment.
We often get caught up in the sexiness of that brand new rowing machine we can buy for our basements or those new classes all the moms at school pick-up are talking about, but the biggest area we can lean into improving is what we do when life (ahem, kids) get in the way. Do we practice flexibility and do our best or do we put it off and wait until another day because we can't execute perfectly?
Leveling up is in my DNA, I love to sign onto new coaching programs, training plans and systems. But, I too, used to struggle (and HARD) when I couldn't stick to the plan perfectly due to things popping up like having to rush home to relieve my caregiver if she had an emergency. The change of plans had me reeling and not knowing what to do next, I'd think "If I can't do it RIGHT, I guess I just shouldn't do it at all?".
Look, if our dishwasher broke down would we leave a sink full of dishes and never wash a plate or cup until it was fixed or would we wash the dishes by hand and move on? If we had a busy day planned at work but received a phone call that our kid needed to be picked up from the nurse's office would we leave our child at school sick so we could go on with the day as planned or would we figure out a way to dial into our meetings from home?
When we became mothers we learned, and within a few days at that, that even the best planning can't insulate us from the unexpected with kids. I can remember being home during maternity leave with my first child, just so excited to show him off and have adult conversation that I made a plan to attend a moms club breakfast a few blocks down from our condo in the city.
I planned all damn morning. I coordinated the perfect timing for when my son would eat last so he was happy, settled and quietly sleeping when I arrived. Of course, he had other plans. Within 5 minutes of arriving he was screaming to eat, had pooped out of his diaper and through his clothes and literally wanted to be anywhere but where we were (ugh, flustered mom puts down her mimosa).
As Moms, we have opportunities to lean into these moments and and stretch our patience, practice flexibility (I'm still working on this!) and realize imperfection is not only ok, but necessary, or we can remain stuck in quicksand, not taking action. For the record, I stuck around at that Moms breakfast and made some great connections.
So, how do we become a little less rigid when it comes to our workout schedule?
1. We realize that taking action trumps perfection, ALWAYS.
By all means, buy that expensive equipment or class series but if life happens and you can't get out of the house; a 5 minute Power-Up in your kitchen is better than nothing or a full workout that's interrupted 10x by children is better than one that is pushed to the back burner (#everylittlebitcounts).
2. We realize that an imperfection spurs creativity (and autonomy).
When we can figure out how to do a solid workout in a hotel room, a playroom or at the playground, we become empowered by the possibilities. We realize that we don't need our trainer holding our hand to get our workout done.
We look at a parking lot and see sprints, we figure we can deadlift one of our kids if we need to, we see pull-up attempts at the monkey bars or turn a simple park bench into a plyometric machine. We stop requiring perfection in order to take action.
Ready to get your workout in anywhere, Mom? Arm yourself with The Strong Mom Playground Workout Pack, 6 workouts designed to help busy moms get consistent and strong using playground equipment.
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