Parent better, make time work for you

Pilates Lennox Head

Written by Bridgid Pearse

October 14, 2019

Are you someone that struggles to find time to exercise? Then whether you are a parent or not, this one is for you.

I will never forget the slow motion shock after becoming a mother, the realisation that my time would never be ‘mine’ again. Caring for another human being can be extremely rewarding and completely eclipsing and it can be hard to hold your own needs in focus.

A friend had a theory about using time differently once you are a parent. The fact is when you become a parent you have less time to yourself. So you have to make the time you have work for you, that means fulfil your needs. This theory is useful for anyone not just parents.

Imagine your life is a series of cups, lets say five cups, and each cup represents something that is vital for your wellbeing as a person. Mine look something like this:

  • Community
  • Exercise
  • Connection (partner)
  • Reflection (thinking time)
  • Sleep

Then when you are choosing how you spend your time, make sure that whatever you choose fills at least one of these cups.  And when you can fill more than one cup at the same time you start winning.

So, when I do Pilates I get to exercise with a community of people, I get reflective thinking time as I focus on my body and let my thoughts flow and I sleep better. When I do Pilates with my partner I also get a deeper connection in my relationship and I fill 5 cups at the same time!.

What are the things that are vital for your wellbeing as a person? Go on, ask yourself, what do you need to feel well (what are your cups)? Then think about how you spend your time and whether you are fulfilling those cups. 

You might find yourself spending two hours a night watching late night comedy because it gives you a laugh and some reflective time at the end of the day. But it means you don’t get enough sleep and don’t have connection time with your partner.

Scheduling time during the day for some self-care, exercise, things you enjoy means that at the end of the day you feel less depleted and more able to connect with the most important people in your life.

Choosing how you spend your time to support yourself as a parent is a magic key that transforms the experience of being time poor. Instead of feeling like you are constantly coming last, use the time you have to fill as many cups as you can at once!

Move to Nurture Pilates is running a Pilates mat class series especially developed for parents on Thursdays at 2pm finishing just before school pick up.  This is scheduled time for you.  Get stronger, move with more ease, meet community, have fun. For bookings and more information click here.

Pilates Goonellabah

Thanks for reading!

I am Brigid Pearse, comprehensively certified Pilates teacher, ex-dancer, and mid-life mum. In group classes, workshops and private sessions I help women learn to move well for life.

You may also like

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *