Put yourself first every now and then

When looking after other people is something you do every day sometimes it’s easier to forget about looking after yourself.  Looking after yourself can actually end up adding to the overall work load and make you feel stressed.

Here is an example – when I attend an evening training session I have to move quickly to organise an early dinner for the family.  If this is not going to work I have to prepare a dinner that can be heated up later so that it is easy for the kids to help themselves when I am gone.  This means I have to think about dinner well in advance of dinner time.  I also have to make arrangements for an older sibling to be home while I am out and finally when I get home I have to do the tasks I would have done during the time I was at training.  It would be much easier just to forget about training and stay home to make dinner, supervise dinner and homework and to get some jobs done around the house.

Similarly, getting up that extra bit early to exercise in the park and you are sacrificing a lovely extra hour in bed, or reducing the time you have to get yourself and the family out the door which can be stressful.

Not many of us have the luxury of a whole lot of time to ourselves when there are no other demands on our time and energy.

So if it ends up being more work to make it out the door to get to training why bother?

The reason you should bother is that in the long run you will reap the benefits of regular training.  You will experience increased well being, increased fitness and the feeling of being fit and well and ready to take things on, not to mention the well documented health benefits of regular sweat inducing exercise.

You will also find yourself being a happier carer because you have bothered to care about yourself too.  Taking that extra step, making that  slightly more complicated plan, preparing things in advance, making sure you factor your own training into the family schedule will ultimately be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.