Are You a mom? Do You have time for fitness? Moms really have a tough time. They are the cook, the maid, the taxi driver, the teacher, the referee, and the list could go on. If you’re a mom, you know how to get things done for everyone else, but chances are, you don’t take care of you. In the day where children keep parents on the go, it is hard to do the things you’d like to do.

School schedules, car pools and after school activities combined with household chores and a full-time job doesn’t allow for much time to exercise and workout. However, that excuse is no longer good enough. Today’s mom knows how to get things done. They can squeeze in a last minute dentist appointment for little Tamie and show up without a moment to spare for a class play that little Tommy forgot to mention. Super mom can always find time to do whatever needs to be done to run a happy home for all of the occupants. So the “I don’t have time” doesn’t fly anymore. In fact, moms everywhere should be embarrassed to use the excuse when a real mom knows, if you really want to do something it’s like that Divine Sisterhood stuff , scoot on over , because here comes mom!

It is important to take care of yourself. Plenty of rest and exercise should therefore be one of those little things that you mark on the calendar and do. In fact, do it now. Mark in your day planner or on the dry-erase board your “me-time.” Then, dust off that tennis racket and head on out for the courts with one of your girlfriends, or join a Fitness Center, or take up walking for overall health and fitness. Procrastination is a word that has no meaning for moms wanting to do something nice for their children, the same should apply for what you want or need to do.

Flexibility and diversification is a nice thing. Diversify your workout schedule to include solo walks, tennis matches with girlfriends, and horseback riding with your husband. Be creative in planning your week ahead. If you know that on Monday you have to pick up your daughter from school at 3:00, but your son gets out at 2:30, make proper use of your time and throw your Nike shoes in a gym bag and walk while you wait. If your daughter has a volleyball practice 25 minutes across town at the high school, then take your swimsuit and use the school’s swimming pool to swim laps. Most schools don’t mind if you call ahead and some even offer free swims on certain days of the week.

The most important thing for you to remember is that because you are a mom, you may have to jump in and take advantage of a thirty-minute window just to have time to exercise. Be prepared for those opportunities and learn to expect the unexpected and take care to use the time wisely. If your son’s football practice is held over 45 minutes, continue walking around the track until you hear the sweetest words in the world, “MOM, I’m ready to go!” You can accomplish what you want, even as a busy mom.