Are You a Charlotte?
Full-time working mum with 2 school-age children
Charlotte sees exercise as her way to recharge batteries so she’s a better mum to her children. She says creating a habit of exercise, like having a shower or brushing teeth, is the way to go.
‘If exercise isn’t that important to you right now, then the effort to make it happen will feel like hard work so you won’t keep doing it. On the other hand, if you make exercise a non-negotiable part of your day, then solutions will come to you to make it happen.’
‘My kids have been trained that exercise times are my sanctuary, so they know to respect that. Exercise helps me to de-stress, and I am a better parent when I am de-stressed.’
Charlotte’s Top Tips for Fitting It In
Scheduling it into my diary and blocking out the time so no one can hijack it. If it’s in my schedule, then I’m also more motivated and have less excuses to avoid it.
My other go-to is making exercise a daily habit, like having a shower or brushing my teeth. I need it to balance my work and family. I am so used to exercising, that I can’t live without it.
What are some of the things you’ve done to fit in exercise with the demands of your family?
I see my exercise time as my own time. As much as I value family time, I am also very focused on keeping myself healthy both mentally and physically.
I enjoy this time to catch up on podcast or Netflix while I am exercising.
My kids also have been trained that exercise times are my sanctuaries, so they know to respect that.
It’s 1.5hours in my day, I have to be selfish, as I am a better parent when I am de-stressed.
What tools helped you get the time you want for exercise?
Just plain old calendar to block out the time.
It’s important that I exercise daily, so I don’t need to get the time. I just do. It’s a must.
It comes down to your prioritisation, and how you communicate this to work and family that exercise is important, so respect that time in my diary.
What’s your view on work-life balance? Do you need work-life balance to find time for exercise, or would you make the time for exercise to get work-life balance?
For me, I need exercise to keep me balanced, not from work, but to move and with the objective of protecting my body for the long term.
We all know the benefits of exercise, but do we act on that importance? So, I use exercise as a way for me to relax, balance out my life to move, and keeps me sane. I see this as part of my daily ‘being’.
