How to Get Motivated to Exercise During Nap Time
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The North Face for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hi, guys!
I am still trucking along with the app from Mountain Athletics from The North Face for my workouts, and they’re going really well. I love the variety, intensity, and challenge, and, honestly, I’d rarely work out if I didn’t have this app right at my finger tips. With life being so crazy lately, it’s been kind of tough fitting in my regular sweat sessions.
I typically use The North Face Mountain Athletics app when Quinn is napping, and I often receive questions from readers about how I motivate myself to work out at home, so I wanted to share some of the things that I do to ensure that I stick with my training. Here goes!
Download the Mountain Athletics App
Make my workout non-negotiable and mentally prepare for it
This is essential for my workouts. If I am wishy-washy about whether I am going to work out when Quinn goes down for his morning nap, I’ll never get it done. The night before or even first thing in the morning, I tell myself: You are going to exercise today. No excuses. I almost make myself have tunnel vision, so I can’t come up with reasons why I’m too busy or too tired. Once I start thinking that way, it’s all over, so I make my workout non-negotiable and then just do it. Additionally, I’ll sometimes put my workout on my daily calendar or To Do list for the day, which also helps me commit to it.
Put on my workout gear
Putting on my workout gear is sometimes half the battle for me, so once I’m dressed, I almost feel like it’s a waste of time, effort, and workout clothes if I don’t exercise. I mean, if I made the effort, I might as well get moving, right? On the days that I plan to do a nap time workout, I typically get dressed first thing in the morning while Quinn is eating his breakfast. He’s usually so focused on his “ba-ba” (and usually cottage cheese), I have no excuse not to get out of my PJs and put on my workout gear. Having fun and stylish new clothes from The North Face also motivates me and put me in the right mindset to get my sweat on!
Set up equipment so it’s ready to go
Also while Quinn is eating breakfast, I set up the equipment needed for my workout. I sometimes exercise in our basement, but I’d much rather work out in our driveway where I have a lot more space and fresh air. I’ll carry up barbells and plates, dumbbells, boxes, slamballs… whatever I need for my workout. That way, everything is ready to go as soon as Quinn goes down for his nap. Once again, if I make the effort and get everything ready, I might as well use it. It’s really tough to skip a workout or make an excuse when I have exercise equipment waiting for me.
Have a plan
This is also an important part of what keeps me motivated to exercise at home. If I don’t have a plan of attack for my workout, I end up wandering around aimlessly and not really getting much of a workout. If I have a set workout, I’m a million times more likely to push myself and get a quality workout, which is why I love the The North Face Mountain Athletics app so much. All of the workouts are planned out and you get a little preview of the upcoming one, so you always know what’s going on with your training.
Use a timer
I love working against the clock when I exercise because it’s incredibly motivating and keeps me focused. Once I start the timer, I always finish my workout. No excuses! Plus, keeping track of my time is a good measurement of improvement when it comes to how I am progressing with my fitness.
Utilize quick, high-intensity workouts
I never know when Quinn is going to wake up, so I utilize quick, high-intensity workouts, like the ones in the Mountain Athletics Training app, as part of my regular training. (Here are more of my favorite workouts.) These workouts are efficient, effective, and have helped me reach my goal of fitting in more workouts at home.
Don’t forget the baby monitor
Keeping the baby monitor close to me while I exercise helps me better focus on my workout because I’m not worried about Quinn. I know as long as it’s just a few feet away, I can hear and see him if he needs me.
If you haven’t seen this video from The North Face yet, be sure to check it out. It’s really cool!
Questions of the Day
Moms: When do you work out? If it’s during naptime, how do you get motivated? What type of workouts do you do?
P.S. Just a reminder: The North Face is holding FREE twice-weekly Mountain Athletic workouts in five cities across the country. Each session will be led by two The North Face trainers who will take you through workouts aimed to prepare you to achieve your outdoor goal. FYI: Boston is one of the participating cities. Details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-north-face-mountain-athletics-training-boston-tuesday-tickets-16028434479
Check out The North Face, Facebook for even more!
