How I Make Movement a Consistent (and Flexible) Part of Motherhood
As a full-time mom, my days are full—sometimes beautifully so, and other times hectic full. Between chasing little ones, keeping up with the house, and managing all the moving pieces of our family life, it can be easy to let my own wellness slip to the bottom (or off) of the list. But, I’ve learned that staying active isn’t just about looking fit or checking off a box—it’s about feeling good in my body, staying patient, and showing up as the mom and woman I want to be.
Fitness doesn’t have to look like a gym membership or hours of free time that doesn’t exist. It looks like flexibility, small windows of movement, and routines that shift with each season of motherhood. In this post, I’m sharing what staying active looks like in real life for me—why it matters, how I make it work, and the simple ways I keep showing up even when life is full.
Why I Make Fitness a Priority
My current view on our nightly walks!
The main reason I keep up with fitness is simple: to stay healthy—mentally and physically. In the short term, moving my body gives me more energy, helps clear my head, and makes me a happier and more patient mom. Long term, I want to be strong and well enough to enjoy life not just with my kids, but hopefully someday with grandkids too. I want to feel good now, but I’m also thinking about the future.
Physical activity is also one of the few “me times” I can count on. It doesn’t require deep focus or planning, just showing up and moving. And it’s a healthy rhythm I want my kids to see as normal. I hope they grow up enjoying being active—whether that’s playing sports, going on family walks, or other outlets they discover.
Beyond the mental health boost, my body genuinely feels better when I’m staying active. I’ve dealt with joint pain and general aches and stiffness, and when I’m consistent with workouts, those symptoms ease up or even disappear. I feel stronger, more energized, and better equipped to keep up with my two very busy boys. On days when I’ve skipped workouts for a while, I can feel the difference—especially when I’m trying to keep pace with them!
My Favorite Ways to Move
I’ve dabbled in nearly every kind of workout. Before kids, I loved indoor cycling and long-distance running. While I still enjoy both, my joints can’t quite keep up with that intensity anymore. I’ve tried group fitness classes, gym memberships, and at-home workouts—and honestly, at-home workouts have been a game changer during motherhood.
Right now, I do all my structured workouts at home using a simple set of weights we’ve had for years. I love using Apple Fitness+ for guided workouts. We pay for it through the Apple Family plan, which includes Apple TV and Apple Music too—making it an affordable and convenient all-in-one solution for us. My husband also uses the fitness features, so it’s a great value for our whole household.
One thing I appreciate is the ability to customize my schedule based on what I need. Apple Fitness+ lets you plug in your preferred workout days, time, and types of exercise, then builds a plan for you. Here’s what my current schedule looks like:
Monday: 20-minute lower body strength + 10-minute core
Wednesday: 20-minute upper body strength + 10-minute core
Friday: 20-minute total body strength + 10-minute core
This is the base structure I follow, but it can change or shift some. I’ve been experimenting with cycle syncing lately—adjusting my workouts based on the different phases of my menstrual cycle. During lighter phases, I opt for yoga or Pilates and lighten the weights. Some weeks I’ll add in a short run or more stretching, depending on how I’m feeling. Sundays are typically a rest day since our mornings are busy with church and family activities.
One of my favorite family habits is our nightly walk after dinner. It’s usually about 30 minutes and such a sweet part of our routine—time to move, unwind, and connect as a family. My husband and I get some good time to talk about our days, our eldest gets to ride his bike or scooter, and our youngest has his evening bottle. We rarely miss an evening due to illness, weather, or travel, and have noticed a huge difference in everyone’s mood. This consistent walking has also heavily contributed to me staying fit, especially during the postpartum phase.
How I Make It Work
After my first was born, I joined a local gym that offered childcare. I thought it would be perfect—but it didn’t go as planned. My son had a hard time at drop-off and would often cry until they came to get me. I barely made it 15–20 minutes into a workout before being called back. And when he did last longer, he’d often end up sick a few days later. Eventually, I stopped paying for his membership and only went during the rare times he was with his dad, at Mother’s Day Out, or with grandparents. It just wasn’t worth it in that season.
These days, flexibility is key. I’d love to say I always work out before the kids wake up, but the truth is—I really value my sleep and quiet evenings with my husband. So, while I sometimes get a workout in before sunrise, most often I fit it in during nap time, independent play, or whenever there’s a window during the day. With that being said, I do find morning or early afternoon works best for our routine. That way I can still get it done before we get carried away with our day and before I shower and get ready. My husband does better with being active during the evenings, between at-home workouts or soccer games after the kids are in bed.
And honestly? That works. Sometimes the boys join in (or climb on me while I try to plank), and they get to see that movement is just part of life. It’s not about a perfect routine—it’s about consistency and showing up in a way that fits into our ever-changing days. It is also not about overly long or intense exercise. My main exercise is 20 minutes long, then I can add on. In no way am I spending an hour or more exercising, it is unrealistic and can be harsh on most people’s bodies.
There are weeks when things get shuffled because someone’s sick, we’re traveling, or something fun pops up. During these times, I scale back to what feels manageable: a long walk, some light stretching, or a short core workout. I’ve learned to give myself grace during those busy or transitional seasons—like pregnancy, postpartum, or travel-heavy weeks. Some seasons I lean more into running and sign up for races. Others, I’m focused on strength or mobility. Mixing things up keeps it fresh and helps challenge (in a good way!) my body in new ways. Another way to stay motivated with consistency? Remember why you stay active and how it makes you feel. There are periods where I would much rather sit on the couch or do anything but workout, but I know I will feel worse and lose steam for all our other activities and responsibilities.
Staying active as a mom doesn’t mean doing it all—it means finding what works in the season you're in. Some weeks, I stick to a schedule. Other times, I adjust and move in ways that simply help me feel better and more grounded. Fitness has become a quiet anchor for me—a way to care for my body, boost my energy, and give myself just a little space to breathe in the middle of a busy day.
Whether you're starting a new routine or simply trying to take small steps toward feeling better, I hope this encourages you to find movement that feels good and fits into your life—not the other way around. And remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.