Finding time to exercise when you’re juggling work, kids and life can feel impossible. If you’re short on time, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking: “If I can’t do it how I want to do it, it’s not worth doing at all.”
And honestly? That often leads to doing nothing.
Here’s the reality: doing something is always better than doing nothing.
Even on your craziest weeks — kids off school, deadlines piling up, life feeling chaotic — moving your body matters. You don’t need an hour-long class or perfect conditions. Start where you are and remove that pressure of what you feel it “should” look like.
Start Small and Prioritise Health
If you find yourself thinking, “I don’t have ten minutes,” try reframing it: instead of saying “I don’t have time,” say, “I’m choosing not to prioritise my health right now.” Harsh? Maybe. Honest? Definitely.
If you do want to be healthy and fit, you need to make it a priority.
Sometimes that means taking the pressure off and doing what you can rather than waiting for the perfect conditions that rarely exist.
The Guidelines You Should Know
To give you a framework, here’s what the World Health Organization and UK government recommend:
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150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise
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At least 2 strength sessions per week covering all major muscle groups
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Aim for 7,500 steps per day on average for overall health and heart health
These numbers might feel intimidating, but the good news is you don’t need to do it all at once. Start small and gradually increase by around 20 percent at a time until you’re hitting the recommended levels.
How Online Fitness Classes Can Help
Our online fitness classes for busy mums are designed to make hitting these targets easy and realistic. Here’s how:
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Strength sessions: We do two per week that cover the full body
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Cardio sessions: Moderate or vigorous, including HIIT, aerobics, dance fitness and combat.
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Holistic sessions: Pilates, yoga and stretch classes for mobility, flexibility and core strength
Follow our class timetable — live, on replay or on demand — and you’re hitting strength, cardio and mobility goals without added stress. Add in your daily steps and you’re covering all the official recommendations for a healthy balanced routine.
Tips to Make It Work
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Choose a consistent time for workouts: I find Monday to Friday at the same time works best because it becomes automatic like brushing your teeth
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Be flexible: Life happens. Missed a session? Don’t worry, fit it in later even if that means working out at 11pm
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Plan ahead: Use an online journal or planner to map out your weekly schedule and make sure you’re balancing strength, cardio and holistic work
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Increase gradually: If you’re starting low, boost your sessions by 20 percent every few weeks until you reach the recommended targets
The Takeaway
Even if you’re short on time, 20-minute online workouts can be enough to keep you fit, healthy and consistent. Consistency is key, not perfection. By combining strength, cardio and holistic work and hitting your steps each day, you’re giving yourself the tools for long-term health, mobility and strength.
So busy mums, don’t overthink it. Do what you can, stick to the timetable and move your body every day. That’s what really counts.
For more, listen to the full episode here
Love,
Lorna x
www.lornamariefitness.co.uk
