The Challange of Finding Time to Work Out for Parents

Finding time to hit the gym when you have children can feel like solving a complex puzzle. Between school runs, homework, and extracurricular activities, parents often find themselves prioritising their children's needs over their own fitness goals. However, incorporating gym time into your routine not only benefits your health but also sets a positive example for your children.

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At Kantok we see our members use a variety of strategies to make it to their workouts despite the time constraints having children brings. One effective strategy is to involve your children in your fitness journey. Many of our members children also do Kantok kid's program. This means they feel very much at home at our gym and can often sit and watch their parents workout. While safety is paramount and children need to be at an age where they can watch from a safe place, we find children who understand the importance of fitness are able to comfortably watch for an hour. The kids at our gym often make friends with each other as well and can often spend time together while their parents get their workout time.

Finding the right time of day to workout is key for some of our members who are parents. For some, the morning is simply too busy with getting children ready for school or daycare. We have mums and dads who get a workout in at five am while their partner is at home getting ready for work. We have other parents who have the same arrangement at the other end of the day. For some parents who are raising children on their own, bringing their kids along is the best option and for lots of parents this works out well.

Working out when your children are young may mean that you need to get creative with your timing and when you do your workouts. This may mean reducing the number of times you physically get to the gym each week and using the At Home workout on our member app. For some members combing this approach with personal training of semi-private training sessions works best.

Parents tend to be selfless people who might feel guilty prioritising themselves at times. If this feeling comes up for you, remember that letting your children witness your dedication to fitness can inspire them to adopt healthy habits themselves. Seeing their parents exercise regularly teaches children the importance of physical activity and self-care. It normalises the idea that taking time for fitness is a priority in a balanced lifestyle.

For girls, in particular, observing their mothers engaging in activities like weight training at CrossFit can be incredibly empowering. Emphasising strength and capability over appearance sends a powerful message about self-worth and body positivity. It teaches them that being strong and healthy is more important than conforming to societal ideals of beauty.

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CrossFit, with its focus on functional movements and strength training, provides an ideal platform for demonstrating these principles. By participating in CrossFit classes, mothers not only improve their physical fitness but also challenge stereotypes about what women can achieve athletically. This is especially crucial in shaping young girls' perceptions of gender roles and capabilities.

While balancing gym time with parenting responsibilities requires planning and flexibility, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. By making fitness a family affair and demonstrating the positive impact of exercise, parents can instil lifelong values of health and wellness in their children. So, next time you're contemplating skipping the gym, remember the benefits that going to that workout will have on both you and your children it's a journey worth investing in.

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